SalariesState
Vocational nurse pay in California
Half of the 82,850 licensed vocational and practical nurses here earn more than $79,750 ($38.34 an hour) and half earn less.
The whole distribution
$64,390$79,750 median$100,450
| Percentile | A year | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,390 | Entry level, or a slow local market |
| 25th | $74,840 | Early career |
| 50th | $79,750 | The middle of the market |
| 75th | $93,720 | Experienced, or a demanding setting |
| 90th | $100,450 | Top of the local scale |
California: common questions
- How much does an LVN make in California?
- The median is $79,750 a year, or $38.34 an hour, across the 82,850 licensed vocational and practical nurses counted in California. Half earn more than that and half earn less. The figures are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- What do the best paid vocational nurses in California earn?
- The ninetieth percentile is $100,450 a year and the tenth is $64,390, a spread of $36,060 between the top and bottom tenth of the same licence in the same place. The survey reports the spread but not what drives it for any one nurse.
- How do I become a licensed vocational nurse in California?
- Complete a board-approved vocational nursing program in California, then pass the NCLEX-PN. This site lists every approved California program with its board-reported tuition and its published NCLEX-PN pass rate, and the exam is the same national test wherever you sit it.
- Do these figures cover LPNs as well as LVNs?
- Yes. They are a single federal occupation, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. California and Texas call the licence vocational and the other 48 states call it practical, but it is the same NCLEX-PN exam, the same scope of practice and the same wage series.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025