Long Beach LVNs earn a median of about $69,520 per year ($33.42/hour), according to O*NET data for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro. That's roughly 5% below California's state median but about 22% above the national LPN/LVN median.
Per O*NET, the top 10% of LVNs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro earn over $86,720 per year — nearly double what entry-level LVNs make in the same metro and well above the national 90th percentile of $72,650.
According to O*NET, LVNs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro earn a median salary of $69,520 per year, or about $33.42 an hour. Entry-level LVNs at the 10th percentile start near $52,180, while top earners at the 90th percentile clear $86,720. The metro employs roughly 18,400 LVNs total. Long Beach sits about 5% below California's state median of $73,150 but roughly 22% above the national median of $57,080. The tradeoff is real — wages are strong, but Long Beach housing and commute costs absorb part of that advantage compared to inland California.
What creates the spread within Long Beach is mostly where you work. Hospital systems like MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and VA Long Beach pay noticeably more than skilled nursing facilities or small clinics, and they offer structured wage ladders tied to experience. Shift selection matters too — nights, weekends, and per diem assignments typically add 10–20% on top of base pay. Southern California's chronic healthcare staffing pressure also means consistent overtime availability, which is how many mid-career LVNs push past the 75th percentile.
Annual O*NET wage percentiles for LVNs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area.
| Percentile | Long Beach Annual | Long Beach Hourly | CA Annual | National Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,180 | $25.09/hr | $54,360 | $38,460 |
| 25th | $60,340 | $29.01/hr | $63,290 | $46,720 |
| 50th (Median) | $69,520 | $33.42/hr | $73,150 | $57,080 |
| 75th | $78,890 | $37.93/hr | $82,470 | $66,440 |
| 90th | $86,720 | $41.69/hr | $90,310 | $72,650 |
Long Beach LVN wages sit just below California's state median but well above the national median, with a high coastal cost-of-living tradeoff that inland metros like Bakersfield and Fresno don't share.
| Metro Area | Median Salary | vs Long Beach | vs CA State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,820 | -$4,700 | -11% |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $68,140 | -$1,380 | -7% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $66,790 | -$2,730 | -9% |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61,250 | -$8,270 | -16% |
| Fresno, CA | $62,490 | -$7,030 | -15% |
Three factors drive most of the pay differences you'll see between Long Beach LVNs: where you work, how long you've worked, and whether you advance.
Setting is the single biggest pay lever in Long Beach. Large hospital employers like MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, Miller Children's, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, and Dignity Health St. Mary pay near the 75th percentile. Skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics typically sit closer to the 25th–50th percentile range.
Entry-level Long Beach LVNs typically start near $52,000, while LVNs with 5+ years cross $70,000 and senior charge LVNs push past $80,000. Night, weekend, and per diem shifts typically add 10–20%, and overtime is widely available given Southern California's persistent nursing staffing pressure.
The biggest long-term move is the LVN-to-RN bridge. California RNs earn a median around $137,690, nearly double Long Beach's LVN median of $69,520. Long Beach City College, Cerritos College, and nearby Los Angeles and Orange County community colleges offer LVN-to-RN bridge programs that fit working schedules.
If you want to maximize earnings as a Long Beach LVN, target the large hospital systems first — MemorialCare, VA Long Beach, St. Mary, and Kaiser facilities in the surrounding South Bay/Harbor area pay the strongest base wages and have structured step increases. Pick up night, weekend, or per diem shifts when you can; differentials of 10–20% add up fast. Certifications in IV therapy and wound care also open doors to higher-paying SNF and home health roles where those skills are in constant demand.
The long-term move is the LVN-to-RN bridge. California RNs earn nearly twice what LVNs do, and Long Beach City College and Cerritos College both offer bridge pathways that fit around full-time work. Many local employers — MemorialCare, Kaiser, and VA Long Beach in particular — offer tuition reimbursement and flexible scheduling for nurses pursuing their RN. That lets you build a long-term Southern California nursing career without relocating to the Bay Area, where wages are higher but housing costs are dramatically worse.
Search accredited LVN programs in and around Long Beach to compare cost, schedule, NCLEX-PN pass rates, and LVN-to-RN bridge options.
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Long Beach LVNs benefit from a dense cluster of major employers — MemorialCare, VA Long Beach, St. Mary, and nearby Kaiser facilities — that compete on wages, pushing hospital pay closer to the metro's 75th percentile of $78,890.
Night, weekend, and per diem differentials of 10–20% are standard at Long Beach hospital systems. An LVN earning the median $69,520 can push past $80,000 by working two or three premium shifts each week.
California RNs earn a median around $137,690 versus $69,520 for LVNs. Long Beach City College and Cerritos College both offer LVN-to-RN bridge programs designed for working nurses, making advancement realistic without relocation.
Long Beach LVN wages beat the national median by about $12,440, but coastal Los Angeles County housing costs absorb a chunk of that advantage. Inland metros like Bakersfield pay less but cost dramatically less to live in.
With around 18,400 LVN positions across the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro per O*NET, Long Beach LVNs have unusual mobility — moving from a SNF role to a hospital job can mean a $10,000+ raise.