LPN Salary Facts

There are a lot of things that affect what LPN wages will be set at. The Licensed Practical Nurse’s, or LPN salary can be greatly different from one LPN to the next. Some of the things that effect the LPN salary level are; the LPN’s experience level, his/her qualification, the geographical location, and the type facility he/she works for. It is important to note that there may be other reasons for a variance in LPN salaries.

In May of 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics formulated that the average salary for an LPN was approximately $39,000 per year. Due to the many factors that effect LPN salaries, there is a wide range of actual salaries, this number is simply an average. The LPN’s who are in the top ten percent of the salary range make more than $52,000 per year, whereas the LPN’s on the bottom of the salary range make less then $27,000 per year.

The LPN wages will steadily increase as the LPN gains experience. As a matter of fact, it is surprising how much experience can actually effect a persons earnings. Payscale shows that an LPN who was just licensed will have an average annual wage of approximately $29,000. You can see the difference experience makes by comparing this to the overall LPN salary average.

You also have to remember that the geographical location in which an LPN works also effects the LPN salary. There are some areas that tend to provide a better pay than others. However, the figures as a whole can be deceptive. This is due to the fact that the areas that have the higher wages also have a higher cost of living. What this means is that just because an LPN from a certain area has a better pay check, it does not mean that she is financially better off. In order to truly make a comparison of salaries from one geographical location to another, you have to calculate what your buying power will be with the new salary in the new area. Connecticut, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island have the highest recorded LPN salaries, ranging from $47,000 to $52,000.

What kind of particular medical facility the LPN works for also effects LPN wages. Unfortunately, the operations that pay 80% of the better rates achieved, do not have very many employees. the opportunities in these industries are few and far between even though an LPN salary could still be as much as $51,000 a year.

LPN wages tend to be higher for those who take traveling assignment jobs. Usually each of these assignments can last from three months to a year and are brought about by demand. Due to the demand being high, the wages and fringe benefits also tend to be high.

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