Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Washington make a median of $83,150 a year, or about $39.98 an hour. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $81,512 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $83K get you in Washington?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $86K | +3% | 3,470 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $84K | +1% | 120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $82K | -2% | 230 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $81K | -2% | 330 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $80K | -4% | 240 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $79K | -5% | 670 |
| Bellingham | $79K | -5% | 220 |
| Walla Walla | $79K | -5% | 60 |
| Longview-Kelso | $78K | -6% | 110 |
| Yakima | $76K | -8% | 220 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $76K | -9% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,854/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $83K here vs. $64K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
Washington pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Washington?
The median is $83,150 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,230, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $100,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,574/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 32.8% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $81,512 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.