Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse salary in California
What licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$79,750$38.34 per hour
vs U.S.+24%U.S. median $64,400
Middle half earn$74,840 – $93,720Top 10%: $100,450+
Jobs82,8501.09× the U.S. concentration
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,310 | $38.13 | 33,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,310 | $45.34 | 8,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,970 | $37.01 | 8,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | $38.33 | 6,610 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,570 | $39.22 | 4,760 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,320 | $45.83 | 3,290 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,580 | $36.34 | 2,360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,130 | $36.60 | 1,480 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,830 | $37.42 | 1,430 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $79,020 | $37.99 | 1,230 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,200 | $37.59 | 1,120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,580 | $44.51 | 870 |
| Vallejo, CA | $85,430 | $41.07 | 870 |
| Visalia, CA | $73,540 | $35.36 | 830 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,910 | $38.90 | 710 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,010 | $37.99 | 650 |
| Redding, CA | $74,140 | $35.64 | 510 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $80,020 | $38.47 | 450 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,940 | $38.43 | 440 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $78,330 | $37.66 | 430 |
| Chico, CA | $78,750 | $37.86 | 380 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $81,000 | $38.94 | 340 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,260 | $37.63 | 330 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $77,650 | $37.33 | 310 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,710 | $35.92 | 300 |
| Merced, CA | $75,890 | $36.49 | 300 |
| Napa, CA | $83,690 | $40.24 | 280 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $77,830 | $37.42 | 260 |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay in similar states
Alaska · $80,800 Oregon · $80,470 Massachusetts · $80,220 Rhode Island · $80,090 New Hampshire · $77,110 Arizona · $77,070
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590 Nurse Practitioners · $168,520
Questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in California?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in California earned a median of $79,750 a year ($38.34 an hour) in May 2025, 24% more than the national median of $64,400. The middle half earned $74,840 to $93,720.
Where in California do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $95,320.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.