Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Alaska make a median of $80,800 a year, or about $38.85 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $77,461 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 30.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Alaska?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by metro in Alaska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $82K | +2% | 160 |
| Fairbanks-College | $77K | -5% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 30.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,744/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $81K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
Alaska pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Alaska?
The median is $80,800 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,400, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $96,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 30.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary is worth about $77,461 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.