Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in California
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in California earn a median of $79,750 a year ($38.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 82,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,450 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $64,400. California ranks 6th of 51 states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay. There are 4.5 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $82,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,390 | $30.96 |
| 25th percentile | $74,840 | $35.98 |
| Median | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| 75th percentile | $93,720 | $45.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,450 | $48.29 |
| Average (mean) | $82,340 | $39.59 |
Half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,645.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,322.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,067.31 |
| Weekly | $1,533.65 |
| Hourly | $38.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,320 | 3,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,310 | 8,800 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,580 | 870 |
| Vallejo, CA | $85,430 | 870 |
| Napa, CA | $83,690 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,570 | 4,760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $81,000 | 340 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,910 | 710 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,940 | 440 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | 6,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,310 | 33,590 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $79,020 | 1,230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,010 | 650 |
| Chico, CA | $78,750 | 380 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,260 | 330 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,200 | 1,120 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,830 | 1,430 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $77,650 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,970 | 8,200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,130 | 1,480 |
| Merced, CA | $75,890 | 300 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,580 | 2,360 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,710 | 300 |
| Redding, CA | $74,140 | 510 |
| Visalia, CA | $73,540 | 830 |
Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 |
| Alaska | $80,800 |
| Oregon | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 |
| California | $79,750 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 |
| Arizona | $77,070 |
| Nevada | $76,160 |
| District of Columbia | $75,740 |
See Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,810 | $29.71 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Dietetic Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Paramedic | $74,590 | $35.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in California?
The median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in California is $79,750 a year, or $38.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in California?
The top 10% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in California earn at least $100,450 a year. The top 25% earn $93,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,390 a year, and a quarter of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $74,840 or less.
How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in California?
About 82,850 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.