LVN Salary in Sacramento, CA
Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro earn a median of $69,890 per year ($33.60/hour), according to O*NET — above the national LPN/LVN median and close to California's statewide median.
Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro earn a median of $69,890 per year ($33.60/hour), according to O*NET — above the national LPN/LVN median and close to California's statewide median.
According to O*NET, the top 10% of LVNs in Sacramento earn more than $84,700 per year — that's roughly $15,000 above what top earners take home in the average U.S. metro for the same role.
O*NET reports the median LVN salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro at $69,890 per year, or about $33.60 per hour. Entry-level LVNs at the 10th percentile earn around $52,310, while top earners at the 90th percentile pull in over $84,700. That puts Sacramento roughly 4% below the California state median of $72,580 but about 23% above the national LPN/LVN median of $56,770. O*NET counts roughly 3,260 LVN jobs across the Sacramento metro, making it one of Northern California's largest practical-nursing job markets outside the Bay Area.
What creates the spread within Sacramento? Work setting is the biggest single factor — hospital systems like UC Davis Health, Sutter, Dignity Health/Mercy, and Kaiser Permanente generally pay more than skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and home health agencies. Shift selection matters too: nights, weekends, and holidays carry differentials that can add 10–20% on top of base pay. Northern California's persistent staffing shortages also mean overtime is widely available, and LVNs willing to work extra shifts can meaningfully boost annual earnings.
How Sacramento LVN pay spreads from entry-level to top earners, based on O*NET wage data.
| Percentile | Sacramento Annual | Sacramento Hourly | CA Annual | National Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $52,310 | $25.15/hr | $53,860 | $38,100 |
| 25th | $62,450 | $30.02/hr | $64,210 | $46,440 |
| 50th (Median) | $69,890 | $33.60/hr | $72,580 | $56,770 |
| 75th | $78,320 | $37.65/hr | $80,910 | $66,840 |
| 90th | $84,700 | $40.72/hr | $87,330 | $77,870 |
Sacramento LVNs earn close to the California median and well above the national median — and pair that pay with housing costs noticeably lower than the Bay Area, giving a real take-home advantage.
| Metro Area | Median Salary | vs Sacramento | vs CA State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $66,420 | -$3,470 | -8% |
| Modesto, CA | $64,780 | -$5,110 | -11% |
| Vallejo, CA | $73,940 | +$4,050 | +2% |
| Yuba City, CA | $63,210 | -$6,680 | -13% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,170 | +$12,280 | +13% |
Three big levers move LVN pay in the Sacramento area: where you work, how long you've been at it, and whether you bridge to RN.
Sacramento's biggest healthcare employers — UC Davis Health, Sutter Health, Dignity Health/Mercy, and Kaiser Permanente — typically pay LVNs at the higher end, often $72,000–$85,000. Skilled nursing facilities and clinics employ more LVNs by headcount but usually pay closer to the metro median or below.
New LVNs in Sacramento often start near the 10th-to-25th percentile ($52,000–$62,000), while experienced LVNs climb toward the 75th–90th ($78,000–$85,000). Night and weekend differentials add 10–20%, and Northern California staffing shortages make overtime widely available year-round.
California's RN median sits near $137,690 — nearly double the Sacramento LVN median of $69,890. LVN-to-RN bridge programs at Sacramento City College, American River College, and Sierra College, plus BSN options at Sacramento State, make advancement realistic without leaving the region. LVN licensure requirements in California are governed by the BVNPT.
If you want the strongest base pay in Sacramento, target the big health systems — UC Davis Health, Sutter, Dignity Health/Mercy, and Kaiser Permanente — where contracts and union scales push wages toward the top quartile. Pick up night, weekend, or holiday shifts for 10–20% differentials, and add certifications like IV therapy and wound care that hospitals and SNFs actively need. With Northern California's chronic staffing shortages, overtime is almost always available for LVNs willing to work it.
The biggest long-term move is the LVN-to-RN bridge. California RNs earn a median near $137,690 — roughly double Sacramento's LVN median — and local bridge programs at Sacramento City College, American River College, and Sierra College feed directly into BSN completion at Sacramento State. Many major employers offer tuition reimbursement while you work. Building an RN career in Sacramento also stretches further than the Bay Area, where higher wages get eaten by housing costs.
Search accredited LVN programs in and around the Sacramento area to compare schedules, NCLEX-PN pass rates, total cost, and bridge options.
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Sacramento LVNs earn slightly less than Bay Area peers but face housing costs roughly 40–50% lower, often making take-home value stronger than San Francisco or San Jose.
LVNs at UC Davis Health, Sutter, Kaiser, and Dignity Health/Mercy commonly earn $72,000–$85,000 — well above the metro median of $69,890 reported by O*NET.
Northern California's nursing shortage means Sacramento LVNs can almost always pick up extra shifts, with overtime adding $5,000–$15,000 to annual earnings for those who want it.
California's RN median of about $137,690 is nearly double Sacramento's LVN median. Local bridges at SCC, ARC, and Sierra College make the jump achievable in 12–18 months.
Sacramento's $69,890 LVN median sits about 23% above the national figure of $56,770 but trails San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont's $82,170 — a fair middle ground for Northern California.