Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in California
In California, the median pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is $38.34 an hour ($79,750 a year). About 82,850 people work in this job there.
That is 24% higher than the U.S. median ($64,400). California ranks 6th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $30.96 | $64,390 |
| 25% of workers | $35.98 | $74,840 |
| Half of workers (median) | $38.34 | $79,750 |
| 75% of workers | $45.06 | $93,720 |
| 90% of workers | $48.29 | $100,450 |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $95,320 | 3,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $94,310 | 8,800 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $92,580 | 870 |
| Vallejo | $85,430 | 870 |
| Napa | $83,690 | 280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $81,570 | 4,760 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $81,000 | 340 |
| Salinas | $80,910 | 710 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $79,940 | 440 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $79,720 | 6,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $79,310 | 33,590 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $79,020 | 1,230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $79,010 | 650 |
| Chico | $78,750 | 380 |
| Yuba City | $78,260 | 330 |
| Modesto | $78,200 | 1,120 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $77,830 | 1,430 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $77,650 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $76,970 | 8,200 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $76,130 | 1,480 |
| Merced | $75,890 | 300 |
| Fresno | $75,580 | 2,360 |
| El Centro | $74,710 | 300 |
| Redding | $74,140 | 510 |
| Visalia | $73,540 | 830 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +3% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 51,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Medical Assistants | $49,660 |
| Nursing Assistants | $47,630 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $168,520 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians | $46,380 |
| Paramedics | $74,590 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $292,410 |
| Nurse Midwives | $203,840 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.