Alaska pays the highest average salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics with an average annual wage of $67,620 and an hourly wage of $32.51, though Alaska employs less than 350 LPNs in the state. The next highest paying state California also employs the most LPNs in the country at more than 70,000. LPNs in California get paid an average salary of $64,090 per year and $30.81 per hour, followed by Massachusetts ($60,400 per year, $29.04 per hour), Washington ($59,780 per year, $28.74 per hour), Nevada ($59,700 per year, $28.70 per hour), and Rhode Island ($59,090 per year, $28.41 per hour).
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses seeking the highest paying contract should also be considering the cost of living in the state the position is located in. When comparing adjusted LPN/LVN salaries, Illinois is the highest paying state for LPN and LVN jobs. The other states with the highest adjusted salary for LPN positions are Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona.