### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses imageLicensed practical and licensed vocational nurses discuss the care they are providing with patients.							
						Quick Facts:     Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses2023     Median Pay
            						$59,730     per year
										$28.72     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Postsecondary nondegree awardWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    655,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    34,900What Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Do
                                                
                        
                        
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in a variety of settings, including nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, physicians’ offices, and private homes. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse
                                                
                        
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses must complete a state-approved educational program, which typically takes about 1 year. They must be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $59,730 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 54,400 openings for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Do 
            

			Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesIn some states, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can give medication or start intravenous (IV) drips.			
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care to ill, injured, or convalescing patients or to persons with disabilities. Responsibilities for LPNs and LVNs are nearly identical; their title depends on the state in which they work.
Duties
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically do the following:
Monitor patients’ health by checking their blood pressure, body temperature, and other vital signs
Provide basic patient care and comfort, including changing bandages and helping with bathing or dressing
Discuss care with patients and listen to their concerns
Report patients’ status and concerns to registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, or physicians
Document patient care and maintain health recordsResponsibilities of LPNs and LVNs vary by work setting. For example, in private homes, they may reinforce registered nurses’ instruction regarding how family members should care for a relative. In hospitals, they might collect samples for testing and do routine laboratory tests. In nursing and residential care facilities, they may feed patients who need help eating.
LPN and LVN duties also may depend on the state in which they work. For example, in some states, LPNs with proper training may give medication or start intravenous (IV) drips.
LPNs and LVNs typically work under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors. States determine the extent to which LPNs and LVNs must be directly supervised. Some states allow experienced LPNs and LVNs to oversee other LPNs and LVNs or unlicensed medical staff.
 Work Environment
			Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesLicensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in hospitals and other healthcare settings.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses held about 655,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses were as follows:
        Nursing and residential care facilities
                35%Hospitals; state, local, and private
                15Home healthcare services
                13Offices of physicians
                12Government
                6Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) may spend a lot of time walking, bending, stretching, and standing. Because they often move or lift patients, LPNs and LVNs must use proper lifting techniques to guard against back injury.
The work of LPNs and LVNs may put them in close contact with people who have infectious diseases, and they frequently come into contact with potentially harmful and hazardous drugs and other substances. Therefore, LPNs and LVNs must follow strict guidelines to guard against diseases and other dangers, such as accidental needle sticks and exposure to radiation or to chemicals used in creating a sterile environment.
Work Schedules
Most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs) work full time. Some work nights, weekends, and holidays, because medical care takes place at all hours. They may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours.
 How to Become a Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse

			Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesLicensed practical and licensed vocational nurses need compassion in caring for patients.			
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) must complete a state-approved educational program, which typically takes about 1 year. They also must have a license.
Education
LPNs and LVNs must complete an approved educational program. Certificate and diploma programs are commonly found in community colleges and technical schools, including some high schools, and typically take about 1 year to complete.
Practical nursing programs include subjects such as nursing fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, and pharmacology. All programs also include supervised clinical experience.
For a list of approved programs, contact your state board of nursing.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
After completing a state-approved educational program, prospective LPNs and LVNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN). For more information on the NCLEX-PN, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Optional certifications for LPNs and LVNs are available through professional associations in areas such as gerontology, wound care, and intravenous (IV) therapy. Certifications show that an LPN or LVN has an advanced level of knowledge about a specific subject.
Some employers require or prefer that candidates have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS) certification.
Advancement
With experience, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses may advance to supervisory positions. Some LPNs and LVNs transfer into other healthcare occupations. For example, an LPN may complete an LPN-to-RN education program to become a registered nurse.
Important Qualities
***Compassion.*** LPNs and LVNs must be empathetic and caring toward the people they serve.
***Communication skills.*** LPNs and LVNs must be able to convey information effectively. For example, they may need to relay a patient’s test results to a registered nurse.
***Detail oriented.*** LPNs and LVNs need to pay attention to minutiae because they must ensure that patients get the correct care at the right time.
***Interpersonal skills.*** LPNs and LVNs must be able to build a rapport to interact with patients and other healthcare providers.
***Multitasking skills.*** LPNs and LVNs often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs. They must ensure that each patient receives appropriate care and attention.
***Physical stamina.*** LPNs and LVNs should be able to perform physical tasks, such as bending over patients for a long time.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesMedian annual wages, May 2023Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$59,730  Health technologists and technicians$51,250  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses was $59,730 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,870.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $63,340Nursing and residential care facilities
                61,690Home healthcare services
                58,620Hospitals; state, local, and private
                54,490Offices of physicians
                51,820Most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs) work full time. Some work nights, weekends, and holidays, because medical care takes place at all hours. They may be required to work shifts of longer than 8 hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Health technologists and technicians7%  Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 54,400 openings for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
As the baby-boom population ages, the overall need for healthcare services is expected to increase. LPNs and LVNs will be needed in residential care facilities and in home health environments to care for older patients.
A number of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, have become more prevalent in recent years. LPNs and LVNs will be needed to assist and care for patients with these and other conditions. In addition, many procedures that once could be done only in hospitals are now being done outside of hospitals, creating demand in other settings, such as outpatient care centers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses**
			29-2061
			655,000
			689,900
			5
			34,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Nursing Assistants and Orderlies**
            Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
            See How to Become One
            $38,130**Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides**
            Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
            See How to Become One
            $65,450**Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides**
            Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses.
            See How to Become One
            $58,740**Psychiatric Technicians and Aides**
            Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental conditions or developmental disabilities.
            See How to Become One
            $39,610**Registered Nurses**
            Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $86,070**Surgical Assistants and Technologists**
            Surgical assistants and technologists help with surgical operations.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $60,370**Medical Assistants**
            Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $42,000
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses, visit
National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses
For more information about the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) and a list of individual state boards of nursing, visit
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (PDF)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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