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California is consistently at the top when it comes to wages for LVN/LPNs. As 2024 comes to a close, nurses' pay is at an all-time high. Both Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses are more in demand than ever before. The Bureau of Labor Statistics(part of the US Department of Labor) released the average salary information for LVN/LPNs.
The 2024 median pay for LVNs was $48,820 per year. But that figure is nationwide. Some states, such as Louisiana and Arkansas average $46,000 and $47,500 per year. Other states, such as California and Massachusetts, have a higher than average annual salary.
California's Employment Development Department lists the median salary for LVNs at $63,676. That works out to $30.62. In fact, the pay for Licensed Vocational Nurses is expected to increase every year until at least 2025!
California has 58 counties. Pay for Licensed Vocational Nurses vary widely from county to county. They also vary by metro area. LVNs in the San Francisco Bay area have the highest overall pay, with the median salary being $77,896. On the other end of the spectrum, LVNs in the Imperial Valley make a median annual salary of $50,004.
In 2020, LVNs in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties made an average annual salary of $67,383. In Northern California, Bay Area licensed vocational nurses averaged $77,896. In Central California, including Modesto, Kern, and Fresno counties was $54,082.
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Sometimes, all you need to get a salary increase is investing some of your time within the institution you are working for.
Various hospitals have mentoring programs and committees for nurses, which you can join as a mentor for people who are new to this kind of career. By doing so, you portray a leadership and initiative trait which can see your pay rate increased.
There are also plenty of certifications available to show expertise in a particular field of nursing. For example, LVNs who become certified in IV Therapy/Blood Withdrawal are usually more in demand than nurses who don't have it.
While many employers like to see their employees stationed in one position as a show of dedication, hospitals operate differently. You might be expected to stay in a particular position for a little while before moving to a new one.
Embrace the idea of holding different positions within the hospital, as this will see you acquire more experience. Moreover, more experience increases your likelihood of earning increased pay.
Your salary as an LVN is inevitably fixed. Your location plays a part in changing it if you are willing to relocate. While advancing your degree might seem like the best solution to having a salary increase, sometimes, you might not have the time to study. However, this does not mean you should get stuck with the same low rate as there are plenty of other options.
Just like in California, the pay Licensed Vocational Nurses receive is based on many factors, such as: years of nursing experience, what nursing field you’re working in, and whether or not you’ll be working in a large city. In States outside of California and Texas, LVN’s are known as LPN’s(Licensed Practical Nurse).
In 2021, the LVN salary in Texas is $48,380. The city with the highest Licensed Vocational Nurse pay is Dallas and the surrounding Metropolitan area with an annual salary of $62,810.
The Austin-Round Rock area is a close second with an average annual salary of $61,221. Rounding out the top three areas for LVN salary is the Houston-Sugarland area with the annual pay of $59,870.
You can see a more complete breakdown of the average LVN salary in Texas to get an idea of the pay differences between LVN’s in California and Texas. LVN’s who work in hospitals make the most, with outpatient dialysis clinics coming in second.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area has the highest number of LVN’s with 17410 licensed nurses. The city with the fewest Licensed Vocational nurses is Odessa, with 310 maintaining their licenses.
Try any or all of the above tactics and see which one will bear fruit. Remember, some of these tactics may lead to an increased salary in a shorter period.
Also, keep those specialty certifications in mind! Each state is different when it comes to certifications. California recognizes most or all of the most popular certifications. Wound Care is another certification that is consistently in high demand.
As of January 2024, there are now 203 accredited LVN programs in California. That means that 203 programs have been approved by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians(BVNPT) to offer vocational nurse training. Most California cities with a population over 100,000 people will have at least 1 accredited LVN program. Here in Bakersfield Ca, there are now 7 accredited programs.
Although the need for licensed nurses continues to skyrocket, the numbers of programs that are accredited to teach vocational nursing has not kept pace. The population continues to age, and newer, complicated medical procedures are developed, there's never been a better time to consider a career in nursing.
2023 has brought massive changes for nursing schools across the country. Many now use a "hybrid" model for education. For example, many prerequisite courses such as Anatomy & Physiology, English, Algebra, and more can now be taken online. All 4 of the accredited RN programs in Bakersfield use some version of the hybrid model.
What CANNOT be done online are clinical rotations. That's because clinical rotations are the parts of nursing school where students are working directly with patients. Online LVN programs must have in-person clinical rotations.