Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Mississippi make a median of $50,220 a year, or about $24.14 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $56,490 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,077/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Mississippi?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Mississippi runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mississippi
Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by metro in Mississippi
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $56K | +12% | 1,000 |
| Jackson | $54K | +7% | 2,050 |
| Hattiesburg | $48K | -4% | 530 |
Compare to other states
Track licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 32.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,359/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 46% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $50K here vs. $64K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
Mississippi pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $56K — below the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Mississippi?
The median is $50,220 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,320, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $60,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 32.3% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary is worth about $56,490 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.