Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay in Austin, TX: $32.82 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a licensed practical nurse working in Austin, TX runs $32.82 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $68,261 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Weighted against Austin's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.1, 2% below national), each hour of work buys what $33.47 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $40,959 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Austin, the licensed practical nurse hourly pay stands at $32.82, slightly above the national median of $32.73. This rate provides a solid earning potential for part-time and per-diem workers employed in various healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, home health visits, and assisted living medication rooms. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) typically earn between $26.27 and $39.77 per hour, depending on their experience and the specific nature of their work environments. As established by BLS estimates based on 2025 data projected to 2026, these hourly rates reflect the demand for LPNs across diverse clinical backgrounds in Austin, where the role remains crucial for providing patient care.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $26.27 | $210.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $30.18 | $241.42 |
| Median (P50) | $32.82 | $262.56 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.08 | $296.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $39.77 | $318.20 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Austin
Based on $32.82/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $32.82/hr, a licensed practical nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Austin, TX can expect to earn approximately $68,265 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $39,384. With a cost-of-living index of 98.07 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Austin.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Austin
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,312.79 | $5,689 | $68,265 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $787.68 | $3,413 | $40,959 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $525.12 | $2,276 | $27,306 |
Compare LPN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (Austin) | $32.82 |
| 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 Austin, TX earn a median of $68,261 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.28% higher than the national median of $68,071 and 7.40% above the Texas state average of $63,558.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $32.82/hr = $40,959/year (purchasing power: $41,767).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $68,265/year (purchasing power: $69,612).
CoL index: 98.066 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.71/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$31.05/hr
2026 Current Est.
$32.82/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+46.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Austin (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.71/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $23.79/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.38/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $27.31/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $29.08/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.34/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $31.05/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $32.82/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $34.69/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for licensed practical nurses in Austin grew 31.0% from $23.71/hr (2019) to $31.05/hr (2025). At a 5.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $34.69/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 Austin 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 Austin
Examining the earning potential for part-time licensed practical nurses in Austin reveals the feasibility of substantial compensation even while working fewer hours. For example, a LPN working three days a week, or 24 hours, could expect to take home a notable income annually, though it will inherently be lower than a full-time counterpart. Per diem licensed practical nurses can expect to see varied hourly pay, ranging from $28 to $42, with certain agency roles in understaffed facilities commanding rates as high as $60 per hour. Different employer types also influence hourly compensation significantly: while skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies may offer competitive but regulated wages, hospitals increasingly lean toward higher-paying RN staffing models. Thus, some LPNs may opt for lower hourly rates at facilities that provide health benefits. For those negotiating in Austin's healthcare market, understanding the nuances of employer types and overall compensation can be essential in maximizing career and financial outcomes.
More salary data for Austin, TX:
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
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 Austin. 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