Entry-Level Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Ogden, UT: $37,048 (2026)
Quick Answer:New licensed practical nurses entering the Ogden, UT job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $37,048 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-2061, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Ogden's local price level (BEA RPP 100.3 — 0% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $36,919 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($66,602) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
New graduates entering the licensed practical nursing (LPN) field in Ogden, UT, can expect an entry-level salary starting around $37,048, which is significantly below the median annual income for LPNs in the city at $66,602. This gap highlights the trajectory that new nurses can anticipate as they gain experience: from the initial pay to the $57,004 mark at the 25th percentile and potentially reaching the median as they further their skills in the first few years. With healthcare demands steadily rising and a projected growth rate of 5.70% annually, Ogden offers a promising landscape for newcomers in the nursing profession, making it an attractive market for recent graduates to launch their careers.
Career Earnings Timeline in Ogden
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ogden
Entry-level licensed practical nurses in Ogden, UT typically start between $37,048 and $57,004 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $42,956 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $66,602 — 2.16% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average nursing program cost in Utah of $12,000 represents just 32.39% of the starting licensed practical nurse pay ($37,048/year) in Ogden. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on state board of nursing-approved practical nursing programs and ACEN-accredited certificate pathways. Tuition varies by community college, technical school, or hospital-based program setting.
LPN Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Ogden
- 1Research the Ogden market: entry-level licensed practical nurse pay ranges from $37,048 to $57,004, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the nursing field — employers in UT often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Ogden, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Ogden for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Ogden's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Licensed Practical Nurse Compensation Range
The licensed practical nurse wage spread in Ogden is $42,956 ( 115.95%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $37,048, experienced hygienists can earn up to $80,004.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$34,140
2025 BLS Actual
$35,050
2026 Current Est.
$37,048
2019–2027 Growth
+14.7%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Ogden (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $34,140 | Actual |
| 2020 | $35,700 | Actual |
| 2021 | $40,830 | Actual |
| 2022 | $45,870 | Actual |
| 2023 | $29,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $31,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $35,050 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37,048 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39,160 | Projected |
Entry-level licensed practical nurse compensation (10th percentile) in Ogden, UT grew 2.7% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $34,140 in 2019 to $35,050 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $39,160. New graduates entering the Ogden job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ogden metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your nursing Career in Ogden
Employers in Ogden who are ready to hire new graduates often include skilled nursing facilities, which typically provide structured onboarding and on-the-job training, making them a go-to choice for first-time LPNs. Home health agencies offer the added benefit of flexible hours, catering to various personal schedules, while physician offices may lean towards applicants with prior clinical exposure. To enhance their starting licensed practical nurse pay in UT, aspiring nurses should prioritize obtaining an active license, completing a 12-18 month practical nursing diploma from an accredited program, and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. Additional credentials like IV therapy certification can further elevate pay prospects. In their initial years, LPNs in Ogden should aim for roles in long-term care settings, which employ around 35% of LPNs nationally, as this experience often leads to openings in LPN-to-RN bridge programs, providing a pathway for career advancement and increased earning potential.
More salary data for Ogden, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Malik, LPN
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse. She specializes in pediatric nursing. Aisha has worked in various outpatient clinics.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new nursing graduates. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Ogden. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for licensed practical nurses (SOC 29-2061).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Malik, LPN, a licensed licensed practical nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov