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What Is The Starting Salary For An LPN?

There is no clear-cut answer to the question of anticipated remuneration for an entry-level licensed practical nurse, but there are avenues you can utilize to ascertain a close approximation.  Firstly, three major factors determine a starting wage for an LPN.  These are location, employer and type of employment position.

Government agencies, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), will provide you with a general idea; however, you should keep in mind the median salary of $40,900 ($19.66 hourly) indicated by the BLS is averaged from across the United States and does not take into account years of experience.

Location plays an important part in the starting salary for an LPN.  For instance, an entry-level pediatric LPN position in Trenton, New Jersey, may be obtained for an hourly wage of $25.  The same pediatric LPN position in Gastonia, North Carolina, pays $17 per hour.  The starting salary for an LPN varies widely within a state as well.  A pediatric LPN in Monroe, North Carolina, may earn as high as $24 per hour, while the Gastonia pediatric LPN receives considerably less.

The starting salary for an LPN depends greatly on the employer.  This is especially true of large corporations, including, for example, Bayada Nurses Home Care Specialists.  This employer may offer $15 to $17 per hour across the board, while a smaller home care corporation may pay more or less based on the local economy.

Lastly, the type of employment is a dominant element.  Home care pays relatively low wages in comparison to other specializations.  Residential care is second from the bottom of salary ladder with a slightly higher hourly rate.  Pediatric nurses and health centers offer median wages of between $24 and $32 hourly.  Clinical research or a position with a government department pays the highest wages (low $30’s to mid $40’s per hour).

A valuable tool for estimating the starting wage for an LPN in your area is the Internet.  Searching major job websites for entry-level LPN positions will disclose salary information.  Telephoning local employers to ask what entry-level LPNs earn at their company is another worthwhile technique.

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