Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in District of Columbia make a median of $75,740 a year, or about $36.42 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $69,563 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 43.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in District of Columbia?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
District of Columbia sits well above the national pay line for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,146/month, which is 44.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $76K | +0% | 7,170 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 44.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,773/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 District of Columbia?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $76K here vs. $64K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
District of Columbia pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in District of Columbia?
The median is $75,740 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,880, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $87,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,839/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 44.3% 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 District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $69,563 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.