Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Merced, CA
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $75,890 a year ($36.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,200 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $64,400. Pay here is 5% lower than the California statewide median of $79,750. There are 3.8 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $73,720, close to the median.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| 25th percentile | $64,540 | $31.03 |
| Median | $75,890 | $36.49 |
| 75th percentile | $78,330 | $37.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Average (mean) | $73,720 | $35.44 |
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 | $6,324.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,162.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,918.85 |
| Weekly | $1,459.42 |
| Hourly | $36.49 |
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 other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| 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 or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $52,570 | $25.27 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $101,400 | $48.75 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| Paramedic | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Registered Nurse | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| Pharmacist | $154,870 | $74.46 |
| Dental Hygienist | $117,400 | $56.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $158,750 | $76.32 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Physicians, All Other | $273,110 | $131.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Physician Assistant | $164,080 | $78.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the Merced, CA metro area is $75,890 a year, or $36.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $83,200 a year. The top 25% earn $78,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,840 a year, and a quarter of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $64,540 or less.
How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in Merced, CA?
About 300 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.