Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in California: $86,049 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 158 metropolitan areas, the average median licensed practical nurse pay sits at $86,049/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2061. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $76,082 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($97,558), Santa Clara ($96,918), Oakland ($96,456).

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California licensed practical nurse salary overview (2026)

$86,049

Avg Median Salary

$41.37

Avg Hourly Rate

82,999

Metro Employed

158

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for licensed practical nurses in California is projected to be $86,049, which is significantly higher than the national median of $68,071, representing a difference of 26.4%. The highest-paying city, Sunnyvale, offers salaries around $103,119, while Visalia, the lowest-paying city, has salaries at $77,732. This $25,387 salary gap is influenced by various factors, including the cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and local economic conditions. California’s licensing requirements and scope of practice laws contribute to the competitive pay for LPNs. The state demands rigorous educational standards that help maintain a highly trained workforce. As healthcare needs continue to rise, particularly in urban areas, the job market for LPNs remains strong, with a projected growth rate of 5.70% annually. The top five cities for LPN salaries reflect this trend, with Santa Clara at $102,442, Oakland at $101,954, San Jose at $100,753, and Fremont at $99,706. The increasing demand for skilled nursing care enhances job stability in this field, making it a viable option for those considering a career in healthcare.

California Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$69,542

avg across 158 cities

Median

$86,049

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$104,723

avg across 158 cities

Overall salary range in California: $57,252 (lowest entry-level) to $139,635 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$86,049

National Median

$68,071

California licensed practical nurses earn 26.41% more than the national median (+$17,978/year difference).

California Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Distribution (2026)

Licensed Practical Nurse salaries in California range from $69,542 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $104,723 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $86,049. The California median is $17,978 above the US national median of $68,071. The average hourly rate is $41.37/hr. Approximately 82,999 licensed practical nurses are employed across 158 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$59,235

2025 BLS Actual

$81,409

2026 Current Est.

$86,049

2019–2027 Growth

+53.5%

Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$59,235	Actual
2020	$62,912	Actual
2021	$63,033	Actual
2022	$66,978	Actual
2023	$75,818	Actual
2024	$78,924	Actual
2025	$81,409	Actual
2026(current)	$86,049	Estimated
2027	$90,954	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 37.4% from $59,235 (2019) to $81,409 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,954 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,719 (53.55%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $49.57/hr

$103,119

+19.84% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $49.26/hr

$102,442

+19.05% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $49.01/hr

$101,954

+18.48% vs avg

San Jose

3,290 employed · $48.44/hr

$100,753

+17.09% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $47.93/hr

$99,706

+15.87% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Visalia	$77,732	-9.67%	$37.38
Redding	$78,366	-8.93%	$37.67
El Centro	$78,968	-8.23%	$37.97
Brea	$79,236	-7.92%	$38.09
Fresno	$79,888	-7.16%	$38.41

Best Value Cities for Licensed Practical Nurses in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for licensed practical nurses.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Jose	$100,753	110.423	$91,243
Sunnyvale	$103,119	113.1	$91,175
Santa Rosa	$97,857	107.784	$90,790
Santa Clara	$102,442	113.1	$90,576
Oakland	$101,954	113.1	$90,145

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$69,542	$33.43	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$86,049	$41.37	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$104,723	$50.35	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 158 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$103,119	$49.57	$78,206	$137,347	26
2	Santa Clara	$102,442	$49.26	$76,613	$131,230	32
3	Oakland	$101,954	$49.01	$75,002	$139,635	78
4	San Jose	$100,753	$48.44	$81,727	$119,674	3,290
5	Fremont	$99,706	$47.93	$69,921	$138,483	43
6	San Francisco	$99,686	$47.92	$80,226	$115,340	8,800
7	Santa Rosa	$97,857	$47.05	$78,514	$116,587	870
8	Petaluma	$96,922	$46.59	$77,606	$126,314	12
9	Vallejo	$90,300	$43.41	$72,648	$112,560	870
10	Santa Ana	$88,486	$42.54	$63,163	$118,409	69
11	Napa	$88,460	$42.53	$73,483	$124,388	280
12	Fontana	$86,848	$41.75	$62,068	$116,263	32
13	Folsom	$86,802	$41.73	$64,471	$110,444	17
14	Irvine	$86,752	$41.71	$65,669	$118,509	72
15	Pomona	$86,329	$41.51	$65,126	$111,772	36
16	Simi Valley	$86,282	$41.48	$65,274	$114,598	23
17	Escondido	$86,262	$41.48	$65,313	$111,319	31
18	Sacramento	$86,219	$41.46	$69,413	$110,858	4,760
19	Fairfield	$86,106	$41.39	$64,861	$110,795	25
20	Roseville	$85,864	$41.28	$68,051	$114,856	35
21	Fullerton	$85,789	$41.24	$63,858	$113,146	25
22	Daly City	$85,715	$41.21	$63,684	$109,704	20
23	El Monte	$85,688	$41.19	$63,964	$112,802	20
24	Vista	$85,641	$41.17	$63,854	$112,419	24
25	Concord	$85,620	$41.16	$63,807	$112,573	29
26	Santa Cruz	$85,617	$41.16	$68,187	$107,624	340
27	Salinas	$85,522	$41.12	$68,007	$101,863	710
28	Clovis	$85,492	$41.11	$63,508	$108,735	19
29	Garden Grove	$85,405	$41.06	$62,960	$111,843	37
30	Temecula	$85,384	$41.05	$63,256	$108,598	25
31	Santa Clarita	$85,327	$41.02	$64,934	$117,035	41
32	Anaheim	$85,323	$41.02	$62,040	$115,682	51
33	Lancaster	$85,215	$40.97	$62,864	$116,728	40
34	Inglewood	$85,215	$40.97	$62,864	$116,728	21
35	Corona	$85,108	$40.92	$62,528	$116,080	24
36	Richmond	$85,095	$40.91	$62,240	$110,799	25
37	Rialto	$85,054	$40.90	$62,488	$110,662	17
38	Torrance	$84,946	$40.84	$61,897	$115,804	26
39	Elk Grove	$84,784	$40.76	$61,780	$109,536	25
40	Oceanside	$84,764	$40.75	$61,733	$109,413	28
41	Whittier	$84,739	$40.74	$65,748	$107,589	22
42	San Rafael	$84,732	$40.74	$65,645	$107,513	11
43	Rancho Cucamonga	$84,656	$40.71	$61,485	$109,109	46
44	Hayward	$84,609	$40.67	$61,376	$114,433	23
45	Woodland	$84,586	$40.66	$65,293	$110,170	15
46	Buena Park	$84,574	$40.66	$65,348	$107,257	20
47	Encinitas	$84,566	$40.65	$65,332	$107,018	16
48	Downey	$84,561	$40.65	$61,012	$114,492	22
49	Dublin	$84,513	$40.63	$65,204	$107,059	14
50	San Luis Obispo	$84,497	$40.62	$69,434	$113,395	440
51	Redlands	$84,487	$40.62	$65,141	$110,054	16
52	Chino	$84,442	$40.60	$64,944	$106,604	17
53	Westminster	$84,415	$40.59	$64,621	$109,812	21
54	Santa Monica	$84,408	$40.58	$64,864	$106,493	20
55	San Mateo	$84,399	$40.58	$60,895	$113,723	21
56	Tulare	$84,375	$40.57	$64,785	$106,385	17
57	Chula Vista	$84,361	$40.56	$58,954	$111,714	51
58	San Buenaventura	$84,345	$40.55	$67,133	$113,760	19
59	Mission Viejo	$84,289	$40.53	$64,665	$106,317	23
60	Moreno Valley	$84,288	$40.53	$62,920	$113,472	53
61	Pleasanton	$84,276	$40.51	$64,632	$109,131	16
62	San Diego	$84,264	$40.51	$68,652	$101,884	6,610
63	Pasadena	$84,156	$40.46	$64,617	$112,900	35
64	Long Beach	$84,109	$40.44	$59,382	$117,144	89
65	Santee	$84,097	$40.43	$64,205	$105,684	9
66	Glendale	$84,021	$40.40	$66,369	$112,664	36
67	Mountain View	$83,979	$40.38	$63,921	$105,293	13
68	Pittsburg	$83,971	$40.37	$63,561	$108,334	19
69	Novato	$83,945	$40.36	$63,756	$104,969	11
70	Costa Mesa	$83,913	$40.35	$64,051	$112,300	23
71	Los Angeles	$83,831	$40.30	$67,859	$102,138	33,590
72	Berkeley	$83,825	$40.30	$65,909	$106,574	23
73	Huntington Beach	$83,805	$40.29	$66,114	$114,837	50
74	Jurupa Valley	$83,731	$40.25	$65,940	$111,469	24
75	Hemet	$83,707	$40.24	$63,275	$104,404	14
76	Union City	$83,701	$40.24	$63,259	$104,382	11
77	West Covina	$83,691	$40.24	$65,846	$111,280	25
78	Chino Hills	$83,667	$40.23	$63,094	$107,098	21
79	Carlsbad	$83,560	$40.18	$65,418	$111,282	23
80	Gilroy	$83,548	$40.17	$62,899	$112,240	10
81	Oxnard	$83,524	$40.16	$68,208	$100,700	1,230
82	Santa Maria	$83,514	$40.16	$69,138	$101,102	650
83	San Marcos	$83,502	$40.14	$62,447	$112,084	17
84	Tustin	$83,429	$40.11	$62,275	$106,540	18
85	San Ramon	$83,423	$40.10	$62,601	$106,305	19
86	Eastvale	$83,343	$40.07	$62,414	$106,044	10
87	Murrieta	$83,340	$40.07	$65,109	$110,159	25
88	Vacaville	$83,340	$40.07	$65,109	$113,478	15
89	Brentwood	$83,303	$40.05	$62,320	$111,417	13
90	Hesperia	$83,264	$40.03	$62,227	$111,285	14
91	Lake Elsinore	$83,257	$40.03	$62,210	$111,048	18
92	Chico	$83,239	$40.02	$67,088	$97,942	380
93	Thousand Oaks	$83,187	$40.00	$66,023	$111,519	32
94	Citrus Heights	$83,151	$39.98	$61,961	$105,626	19
95	El Cajon	$83,077	$39.94	$61,787	$109,500	18
96	San Clemente	$83,052	$39.93	$61,642	$110,363	10
97	Bellflower	$83,019	$39.91	$61,650	$110,466	11
98	Palmdale	$82,982	$39.89	$64,194	$112,056	29
99	La Mirada	$82,982	$39.89	$66,212	$102,107	10
100	Apple Valley	$82,966	$39.89	$61,526	$104,807	19
101	Menifee	$82,942	$39.88	$64,184	$109,051	20
102	Yucaipa	$82,907	$39.86	$61,386	$110,092	14
103	Norwalk	$82,902	$39.86	$64,008	$108,701	22
104	Rancho Cordova	$82,828	$39.82	$61,200	$109,615	20
105	Montebello	$82,748	$39.79	$61,014	$109,563	16
106	Yuba City	$82,721	$39.77	$68,441	$95,944	330
107	Compton	$82,714	$39.76	$60,853	$103,987	25
108	Modesto	$82,657	$39.73	$65,471	$108,691	1,120
109	Porterville	$82,655	$39.74	$60,798	$104,005	11
110	Lompoc	$82,645	$39.73	$65,462	$101,025	8
111	Hawthorne	$82,517	$39.67	$60,474	$103,553	13
112	Antioch	$82,489	$39.66	$63,057	$110,408	17
113	Burbank	$82,483	$39.66	$60,434	$107,533	22
114	Ontario	$82,454	$39.64	$61,240	$108,142	42
115	Alhambra	$82,292	$39.56	$66,535	$108,050	13
116	Livermore	$82,292	$39.56	$63,796	$108,050	21
117	Orange	$82,267	$39.55	$62,629	$106,821	21
118	Stockton	$82,266	$39.55	$67,003	$101,631	1,430
119	South Gate	$82,265	$39.55	$66,134	$107,963	25
120	Victorville	$82,246	$39.54	$62,583	$106,539	30
121	West Sacramento	$82,219	$39.53	$66,023	$107,810	9
122	Poway	$82,198	$39.52	$64,360	$99,803	8
123	San Leandro	$82,087	$39.47	$65,959	$110,158	23
124	Hanford	$82,076	$39.46	$67,394	$82,404	310
125	Indio	$81,994	$39.42	$65,485	$107,068	23
126	Lake Forest	$81,994	$39.42	$65,485	$107,068	14
127	Carson	$81,849	$39.35	$65,475	$109,577	21
128	Rocklin	$81,835	$39.34	$65,442	$109,533	10
129	Newport Beach	$81,697	$39.28	$65,112	$106,092	12
130	Redwood City	$81,689	$39.28	$65,012	$105,808	13
131	Turlock	$81,670	$39.27	$64,965	$108,776	17
132	Manteca	$81,644	$39.26	$64,986	$105,919	13
133	Perris	$81,636	$39.25	$64,636	$105,897	12
134	Madera	$81,571	$39.21	$64,813	$105,472	8
135	San Bernardino	$81,458	$39.16	$57,252	$113,097	33
136	Baldwin Park	$81,425	$39.15	$64,385	$104,997	19
137	Palo Alto	$81,425	$39.15	$64,469	$108,175	15
138	Lakewood	$81,392	$39.13	$64,390	$105,098	19
139	Riverside	$81,357	$39.12	$66,041	$98,491	8,200
140	Beaumont	$81,154	$39.01	$63,496	$104,324	9
141	Tracy	$81,134	$39.00	$63,781	$104,051	14
142	Lodi	$81,131	$39.00	$64,329	$104,787	14
143	Alameda	$81,108	$38.99	$63,719	$106,924	12
144	Laguna Niguel	$81,088	$38.98	$63,340	$107,066	16
145	Milpitas	$81,048	$38.96	$63,579	$106,727	16
146	Camarillo	$80,876	$38.89	$63,175	$103,422	13
147	Oakley	$80,843	$38.87	$61,069	$103,377	8
148	Davis	$80,824	$38.86	$62,968	$102,993	14
149	Upland	$80,763	$38.82	$62,580	$106,004	18
150	La Habra	$80,645	$38.77	$62,550	$105,359	16
151	Lynwood	$80,611	$38.76	$62,554	$102,567	16
152	Bakersfield	$80,469	$38.69	$65,608	$96,673	1,480
153	Merced	$80,216	$38.57	$65,365	$87,942	300
154	Fresno	$79,888	$38.41	$65,703	$99,802	2,360
155	Brea	$79,236	$38.09	$63,714	$100,880	10
156	El Centro	$78,968	$37.97	$65,682	$96,377	300
157	Redding	$78,366	$37.67	$63,906	$97,138	510
158	Visalia	$77,732	$37.38	$64,551	$94,358	830

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore licensed practical nurse hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new licensed practical nurses.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced licensed practical nurses.

Sunnyvale →Santa Clara →Oakland →

Compare Cities in California

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Explore More Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in California in 2026?

The average median licensed practical nurse salary in California is $86,049/year across 158 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $77,732 in Visalia to $103,119 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 26.41% above the national median of $68,071. The state employs approximately 82,999 licensed practical nurses.

What is the highest paying city for licensed practical nurses in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest licensed practical nurse salary in California at $103,119/year ($49.57/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($103,119), Santa Clara ($102,442), Oakland ($101,954). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed licensed practical nurses.

How does California licensed practical nurse pay compare to the national average?

California's average licensed practical nurse salary of $86,049 is 26.41% above the national median of $68,071 in 2026. The state employs approximately 82,999 licensed practical nurses across 158 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level licensed practical nurse salary in California?

Entry-level licensed practical nurses (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $69,542/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $57,252 in lower-paying areas to $81,727 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many licensed practical nurses are employed in California?

California employs approximately 82,999 licensed practical nurses across 158 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of licensed practical nurses nationally. Demand continues to grow as the nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for licensed practical nurses?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Jose offers the highest purchasing power for licensed practical nurses in California, with an adjusted salary of $91,243 (nominal: $100,753, CoL index: 110.423). This means your dollar goes 9% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Daniel Thompson, LPNData verified by Maria Gonzalez, LPN

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 licensed practical nurse compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 158 metro areas — larger metro areas with more licensed practical nursescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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