An Overview of LPN Wages
A lot of factors may influence LPN wages. The salary ranges for licensed practical nurses can vary significantly, depending on (but not limited to) your experience and qualifications, geographic location, and what type of nursing facility you are employed in.
According to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2007 the average salary for an LPN was around $39,000 per year. Due to the varied employment expectations, however, the salary range covers a wide spread. The top earning ten percent of LPN’s earned more than $52,000 a year, yet the bottom earning ten percent of LPN’s earned less than $27,000 per year.
With an increase in experience, you can also expect to see a steady increase in LPN wages. According to Payscale, experience can make a tremendous difference in annual earnings, with newly qualified LPN’s earning an annual wage of around $29,000. Compare this to the average, and you can see the difference brought about by experience.
The expected LPN salary also varies significantly from one geographical location to the next. Some areas tend to pay better than others, but the gross figures may be deceiving. Keep in mind that better paying areas tend to have higher living costs associated, so you may not necessarily be better off financially by chasing a bigger paycheck. You will have to calculate what your buying power will be with your available salary before you can make a true comparison. The five states that have the highest LPN salaries are Connecticut, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, all of these ranging from $47,000 to around $52,000 per year.
LPN wages are also dependent on the industry, but sadly the better paying industries (around 80 % of the top paying sectors) do not employ many people. The wages offered are very good, up to $51,000 a year, but opportunities are few and far between.
Another way to access better wages is by taking traveling assignment jobs. These can range from three months to a year, but since all of these opportunities are brought about by demand, they tend to offer better wages and fringe benefits as well.
