How much does a practical nurse make?
a year · about $31 an hour
A typical practical nurse in the United States makes $64,400 a year, about $31 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check patients’ blood pressure and temperature, help with bathing or bandages, and listen to concerns. They record care, watch for changes, and report them to a registered nurse or doctor.
Did you know? In some U.S. states, practical nurses with the right training can start IV drips—a task they cannot do everywhere.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $49,740 and $83,440How do you become one?
In the U.S., complete a state-approved practical nursing program, usually about a year, with classroom lessons and supervised clinical practice. Then pass the NCLEX-PN and meet your state's licensing rules.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like helping and teaching and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, extra certificates, specialty skills, the kind of workplace, location, and how complex the work is. Night shifts may bring extra pay, since some healthcare employers pay more for less popular hours.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($83,150), lowest in Mississippi ($50,220).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
In Japan, a practical nurse averages $28,501. Practical nurse salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $49,740 | $64,400 | $83,440 | about 648,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 | about 7,000 |
| Oregon | $80,470 | about 4,000 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 | about 13,000 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 | about 1,000 |
| California | $79,750 | about 83,000 |
Official definition: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2061.00
- www.ncsbn.org/public-files/2020_NCLEXPN_TestPlan-English.pdf
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/cwc/supplemental-pay-in-the-healthcare-industry-overtime-pa
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY