SalariesMetro area
Vocational nurse pay in Salinas, CA
Half of the 710 licensed vocational and practical nurses here earn more than $80,910 ($38.90 an hour) and half earn less. Among the 393 metro areas the federal government publishes, this median ranks 18th highest.
The whole distribution
$64,340$80,910 median$96,370
| Percentile | A year | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,340 | Entry level, or a slow local market |
| 25th | $74,870 | Early career |
| 50th | $80,910 | The middle of the market |
| 75th | $91,520 | Experienced, or a demanding setting |
| 90th | $96,370 | Top of the local scale |
That median sits $1,160 above the California figure of $79,750.
Salinas, CA: common questions
- How much does an LVN make in Salinas, CA?
- The median is $80,910 a year, or $38.90 an hour, across the 710 licensed vocational and practical nurses counted in Salinas, CA. 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 Salinas, CA earn?
- The ninetieth percentile is $96,370 a year and the tenth is $64,340, a spread of $32,030 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.
- Where does Salinas, CA rank for vocational nurse pay?
- Salinas, CA has the 18th highest median of the 393 metro areas the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes for this occupation. The rank is on the median wage alone and takes no account of what it costs to live there.
- Is Salinas, CA above or below the California median?
- The Salinas, CA median of $80,910 sits $1,160 above the California median of $79,750. Both come from the same survey and the same release, so it is a like-for-like comparison.
- 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