LVN/LPN SALARY CONTINUES TO CLIMB

LVN/LPN SALARY CONTINUES TO CLIMB

LVN Salary Outlook In California & LA County

In recent years, the average (median) salary of a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in Los Angeles has witnessed considerable growth, more so than other occupations. This can largely be attributed to the current increase in demand for vocational nurses who are qualified and well trained. This can be termed as a classic case of supply and demand. The average pay for vocational nurses is $34.12 as of August 2023.

More and more LA County employers are seeking to take in the best workers in an effort to improve the quality of the services they offer. Therefore, the average salary of LVNs may continue to increase until this demand is met. As far as salaries go, this profession is turning out to be quite the excellent choice.

We are able to assist individuals who are planning on moving out of state or those who seek information on comparable LVN salary numbers from the United States. It is important to note that the term Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is only applicable in California and Texas. The equivalent of this title in all other states is Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Members of these two professions have basically the same responsibilities anywhere in the United States.

Work Experience for Los Angeles & California LVN’s

As evident in all other occupations, the money an LVN can expect to have on their paycheck is largely dependent on the amount of experience they have on the job. This not only applies to their current job position but also to those expected in future.

Experience will function as leverage for Los Angeles-based LVN’s during salary negotiations with future employees. A few years of experience means a vocational nurse takes home a bigger paycheck than say, a new grad from one of the local LVN programs.

Going by approximates, for every 10 years of experience, a 4% increase in salary is expected for LVNs. Raises in cost of living as well as annual reviews are the major contributors to most of the increases. For LVNs, 10 years on the job means they are nearly reaching the upper limit of salary increment. Increase in salary is still possible but they may fall to about 2% to 3% every year.

A large number of vocational nurses in California will often seek to further their profession after 10 years or so. This is mainly due to the realization of the aforementioned upper limit in terms of salary increment. There are two main ways vocational nurses go about this; making a shift into the private sector or enrolling into bridge programs in order to become Registered Nurses (RN).

In either of the two options, a considerable amount of experience is also required to realize success. This further emphasizes the importance of experience in this profession. It is a determining factor in the LVN salaries as well as other unilateral career movements.

LVN Specialization in LA County & California

One of the most effective ways to increase one’s salary in any profession is through specialization. This aspect is also applicable to LVNs. Vocational nurses with specialist training make significantly more money than those with only general training.

This is also evident in other health care sectors. Specialization also has another benefit in addition to increasing the salaries of LVNs. Those with certifications improve their marketability to other employees considerably.

Vocational nurses in Los Angeles currently have more than 20 distinct types of certifications at their disposal that they can earn. Some certifications are even available while the student is currently in nursing school.  Organizations such as the National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES) and the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses (NFLPN) are responsible for sponsoring and administering these certifications. There are some popular certifications among Licensed Vocational Nurses and they include:

  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Certified Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse (CPDN)
  • Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN)
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Type of Employer the LVN Will Be Working For

It is not surprising that the type of employer is a determining factor in the LVN salary. This also holds true for all other professions health care or otherwise. The type of employer as referenced herein refers to the type of health facilities that vocational nurses are employed in.

Recently, GlassDoor.com documented a list of various LVN employers according to how they pay. They are mentioned below from the highest paying to the lowest paying:

  • Home care agencies
  • Correctional facilities
  • Veteran services (VA)
  • General hospitals

It is important to note that this listing does not mean that a vocational nurse working at a general hospital cannot take home a bigger paycheck than one working at a correctional facility or home care agencies. It merely implies that the nurses at the correctional facilities and home care agencies earn more on average. The pay structure is also analyzed using a combination of several factors.

The Veteran’s Administration (VA), which is sponsored by the United States government, has recently been looking to enlist the services of well-trained vocational nurses. This presents a good avenue for LVNs to better their situation even though government sponsored agencies exhibit very structured LVN salaries. However, this will depend on the individual LVN’s current position.

Reasons For Regional Vocational Nursing Salary Differences

There are numerous reasons that lead to the large variations of Licensed Practical Nurses across the United States. Three particular reasons have been forwarded as the most likely cause of this disparity; cost of living, state health care budgets and the local labor market.

This is well known to be one of the top influencer of LVN salary differenced in the country. Employees have to base their salaries on the cost of aspects such as housing, utilities and food in the respective areas. As such, state like California which has a high cost of living will exhibit higher salaries.

Supply and demand also plays a role in Licensed Vocational or Practical Nurses salary variations. Many employers are often forced to set higher salaries where there is a short supply of vocational nurses. Fortunately for LVN’s, there seems to be a chronic shortage of nurses in Los Angeles. This is done in order to stimulate the market by enticing new employees. The reverse also holds true. Situation where there is an excess of available labor will naturally demand lower wages if unemployment is to be avoided.

Individual Los Angeles City & County budgets allocated to health care are also to blame for the LVN salary differences. For instance, California is among the top well-funded states in the country in terms of health care. As a result, the LVN salaries in the state are considerably higher than other states.

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