Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Louisiana
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Louisiana earn a median of $57,470 a year ($27.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,150 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $64,400. Louisiana ranks 46th of 51 states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay. There are 9.1 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $56,590, close to the median.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,810 | $22.03 |
| 25th percentile | $49,650 | $23.87 |
| Median | $57,470 | $27.63 |
| 75th percentile | $61,220 | $29.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Average (mean) | $56,590 | $27.21 |
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 | $4,789.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,394.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,210.38 |
| Weekly | $1,105.19 |
| Hourly | $27.63 |
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 Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $60,640 | 2,940 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $59,700 | 2,900 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $59,500 | 960 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $58,340 | 1,840 |
| Hammond, LA | $55,840 | 470 |
| Monroe, LA | $55,360 | 1,130 |
| Alexandria, LA | $54,880 | 690 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $53,300 | 890 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $53,240 | 520 |
| Lafayette, LA | $51,580 | 2,100 |
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $54,460 | $26.19 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $39,730 | $19.10 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $63,680 | $30.61 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $31,440 | $15.12 |
| Surgical Technologist | $57,370 | $27.58 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $35,530 | $17.08 |
| Paramedic | $56,050 | $26.95 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $80,710 | $38.80 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $50,050 | $24.06 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $36,360 | $17.48 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Louisiana is $57,470 a year, or $27.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $66,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Louisiana earn at least $66,150 a year. The top 25% earn $61,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,810 a year, and a quarter of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $49,650 or less.
How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in Louisiana?
About 17,600 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.