An LPN has many responsibilities, some of these include taking a patients vital signs, feeding patients, keeping logs of patient’s progress and/or changes, applying bandages or dressings and collecting lab samples. An LPN has a tremendous amount of patient responsibility, and getting an education and a license in required. Usually an LPN certificate program can be completed in about a year.

In May 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average annual LPN salary was $39,030.00, but this can vary from state to state. As would be expected, LPN’s that are employed in larger cities are paid more than those living in smaller towns. The highest paid LPN’s usually work for an employment agency, followed by working at a nursing home or long term health care home and finally the lowest paid LPN’s tend to work in hospital or doctor office settings. Another thing to consider are those dreaded graveyard and weekend shifts, they tend to pay a higher hourly rate at nursing homes and hospitals.

When first entering the LPN work force, expect heavy workloads and stress. Caring for patients is a job that comes from the heart. It takes a very special and unique person to make taking care of other people their life’s work. Most patients, when asked, will remember the LPN’s and nurses that cared for them during their stay at a hospital, ER, outpatient facility, etc., more than they will remember the doctors. Patients can be confused, frightened and very vulnerable and for these reasons as well the workload and stress involved, LPN’s are compensated well.

The need for medical personnel, in all areas, is projected to grow faster than ever in the next few years. This need will influence the current pay scale, as more and more LPN’s will be needed. The average salary should increase for the LPN work force.

The medical field is in constant motion…always expanding, introducing new procedures, new medications, etc., to make life easier for the patients and their families. For that purpose continuing education as an LPN will always benefit the employee as well as the employer and the patients.

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.