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Top 10 Best and Worst States to be a LPN/LVN
NursingLink / CareerVoyages.gov
There is a projected need for 309,000 LPN and LVNs needed in the United States by 2016. LPN and LVNs are one of the most in demand professions in America, but with so many job openings, it begs the question: Where should you work? NursingLink is committed to providing its members with the most most pertinent career research available. Below is the 10 best and worst places to be a LPN and LVN based on starting salary and job openings.
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10 Lowest Paying States for LPN/LVNs
| State | Salary (hourly) |
| 1. North Dakota | $15.41 |
| 2. Missouri | $15.38 |
| 3. Louisiana | $15.14 |
| 4. Montana | $14.85 |
| 5. Arkansas | $14.72 |
| 6. Oklahoma | $14.49 |
| 7. South Dakota | $14.37 |
| 8. Alabama | $14.34 |
| 9. Mississippi | $14.15 |
| 10. West Virginia | $14.15 |
imamichigannurse
23 days ago
2 comments
I make $20.60 being a night shift LPN in a LTC facility in Michigan. Considering a move to Sarasota, Florida. Good or bad move if I need financial gain ?
barchambeault
about 1 month ago
2 comments
I concur with nursesrit LPNs are no longer needed with MA's or PCT/PCA's replacing our duties, here in New England we now have med techs as well. We hear of the continually need for nurses yet we are the forgot ones, LPNs were establish early in WW2 to be the bedside nurse now we are being replace with those with less education and oversite. As an unemployed LPN w/17yrs experience and BS you would think I could secure work, NO WAY, I am reminded each day that I am not a RN and my services are not needed. This saddens me that if LPNs' were utilized like they were in the 1950's-1980's there would be no nursing shortage. Since I am gripping today LPNs not you like it when someone asks you what kind of nurse you are if you answer proud LPN they respond with Oh....
nursesrit
4 months ago
38 comments
With the unstable economy and changes in healthcare
reform, it is quite a challenge to secure a LVN job in
Southern California. I have worked in the insurance industry
as a case manager doing utilization review. The pay.... it
is $35.00 dollars! Great pay!!! But, it s mostly temporary.
When the contract ends, then it's over. Very unreliable, and it
is mainly RN dominant. I have proudly been a LVN for 27 years.
Honestly, I am going back to school to get my RN. More doors
of opportunity are available for RN's than LVN.
marlyelena
4 months ago
2 comments
i made 16.00/hr in the state of florida. thats why they have such a need possibly.
NurseNk
9 months ago
2 comments
i work in N. CAli and I make $6 more than the top state per hour, and thats a day shift, PM and NOc get more per hour. So def dont believe what you read!
curvygirl2
10 months ago
2 comments
I don't know who did this research...but I made $160 a day for 8 hour shift in West Virginia...and that was day shift....so don't believe everything you read!..do your research and KNOW your worth!
Proud LPN of 20 years!
4Celestialstat
11 months ago
2 comments
Well, Im an lpn in TN let me just say it is very hard to get a decent job most are nursing homes, its not the poor residents lets face it having 30 people on day shift is set up for failure nursing homes work u like a never freed slave in 2012. They are all getting worse too much paper work, no decent work schedules just crazy and the people you have to work with in nrsing homes here do not value hard work you will have many many more opportunities with an RN degree. When I completed my LPN program our instructor told us to go straight to the nursing home!!!!
MomOfTwoBratz
11 months ago
2 comments
I live in Upstate NY & jobs here do not pay and the nursing homes are awful. I have never worked in a hospital and don't want to. I love working in nursing homes with the elderly. I want out of this state-NO SNOW-and have not had much luck finding any jobs online. I was considering FL but not sure from things I've read on this & other sites. Anyone have any suggestions????
slb07lpn
11 months ago
2 comments
Looking for a job in washington state around seattle as an LPN. Any good advice as where to look??
grazynurse
12 months ago
2 comments
ms princess let me know where i can work in northern ca i just relocated
msprincess0124
12 months ago
2 comments
I see that California ranks #8 on this list and I don't know where they're getting their data from but I make over $4.00 more an hour than they do in Connecticut and I live in Northern California. My starting pay when I was first hired in 2007 was $24.00 an hour.
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62 comments
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northnurse
over 1 year ago
70 comments
I have been a Lpn for 22 years and left St Paul Mn march 2011 and moved to the Tampa Fl area for nursing as the internet said it was the #2 area in the nation with the most Lpn jobs. Not true, really bad, not to mention the low pay and bad working conditions. I mad great money in Mn. and the working conditions and standards were alot better. But still I want the warm weather. Where do I go?