Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay in Little Rock, AR: $30.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a licensed practical nurse working in Little Rock, AR runs $30.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $62,617 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Weighted against Little Rock's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.4, 11% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.69 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,569 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Licensed practical nurse hourly pay in Little Rock, AR, is projected to reach a median of $30.10 in 2026, which trails behind the national hourly median of $32.73. This rate can significantly impact part-time and per-diem workers, who typically find employment in diverse settings such as skilled nursing facilities, home health visits, physician office exam rooms, hospice environments, correctional facility infirmaries, and assisted living medication rooms. Those entering the field might earn around $23.66 per hour at the lower end of the spectrum, while experienced practitioners can command upwards of $35.05 per hour. These figures are derived from the official BLS hourly data and represent the financial landscape that aspiring licensed practical nurses can expect as they navigate their careers in Little Rock.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $23.66 | $189.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.13 | $209.03 |
| Median (P50) | $30.10 | $240.83 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $31.28 | $250.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $35.05 | $280.40 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Little Rock
Based on $30.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.10/hr, a licensed practical nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Little Rock, AR can expect to earn approximately $62,615 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $36,124. With a cost-of-living index of 89.36 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Little Rock.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Little Rock
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,204.13 | $5,218 | $62,615 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $722.48 | $3,131 | $37,569 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $481.65 | $2,087 | $25,046 |
Compare LPN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (Little Rock) | $30.10 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) (National Avg) | $18.60 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $19.70 |
| Home Health / Personal Care Aide (National Avg) | $16.80 |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Little Rock, AR earn a median of $62,617 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.01% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 5.60% above the Arkansas state average of $59,296.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.10/hr = $37,569/year (purchasing power: $42,040).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $62,615/year (purchasing power: $70,067).
CoL index: 89.364 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$21.36/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.48/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+49.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Little Rock (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $21.36/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $21.85/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.54/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.84/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.93/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.20/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.48/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.82/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for licensed practical nurses in Little Rock grew 33.3% from $21.36/hr (2019) to $28.48/hr (2025). At a 5.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.82/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem licensed practical nurses can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Little Rock 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.
Working as an Hourly Licensed Practical Nurse in Little Rock
Part-time licensed practical nurses working three days a week (approximately 24 hours) could bring home around $37,385 annually, significantly less than their full-time counterparts but still providing a decent income for those balancing other responsibilities. Per diem licensed practical nurse pay in Little Rock can vary widely, with rates typically falling between $28 and $42 per hour. Meanwhile, agency nurses in high-demand situations at understaffed nursing facilities may see their hourly pay soar to between $45 and $60. Employers such as long-term care facilities and home health agencies tend to offer lower hourly rates than hospitals or specialized clinics, which may provide health insurance and attractive benefits in exchange for a lower rate. Many licensed practical nurses weigh the benefits of steady employment against the potential for higher earnings in more flexible arrangements, making negotiation tactics crucial. For those in the Little Rock area, emphasizing skills, experience, and willingness to fill in gaps during high-demand hours can provide leverage when exploring positions within this diverse healthcare setting.
More salary data for Little Rock, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for licensed practical nurses in Little Rock. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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