Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in California
Licensed Practical Nurses in California earn a median of $79,750 a year, or $38.34 an hour. That ranks California #6 of 51 states and is $15,350 more than the national median.
- Median / year
- $79,750
- Median / hour
- $38.34
- Employed
- 82,850
- National rank
- #6of 51
Pay range in California
Licensed Practical Nurse pay by California metro area
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
FAQ
How much does a licensed practical nurse make in California?
The median annual wage is $79,750 ($38.34 per hour), according to the BLS for May 2025. That is $15,350 above the U.S. median of $64,400.
What do entry-level LPNs make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of California LPNs earned $64,390 or less ($30.96/hour), a reasonable estimate for new graduates.
Where do LPNs earn the most in California?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest metro median at $95,320.
How many LPNs work in California?
About 82,850 LPNs were employed in California in May 2025.