Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Riverside, CA: $81,357 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Riverside, CA earns a median $81,357/year (≈ $39.12/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Riverside's price level (6% above national, BEA RPP 106.4), that paycheck buys what $76,433 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.6% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, licensed practical nurses in Riverside, California, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $81,357, significantly higher than the national median of $68,071. With a salary range extending from $66,041 at the 10th percentile to $98,491 at the 90th percentile, LPNs in Riverside benefit from a robust compensation structure influenced by state regulations that allow for a wider scope of practice, including IV therapy and patient assessments. This higher earning potential reflects not just the specific responsibilities of LPNs in this state, but also the evolving demand for nursing expertise in various healthcare settings across Riverside.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $66,041 | $31.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $72,891 | $35.04 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $81,357 | $39.12 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $87,668 | $42.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $98,491 | $47.35 |
Median Salary Position
19.52% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Riverside
In Riverside, CA, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $32,450 (2026 est.). At $81,357, the local median is 19.52% above the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Riverside: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Riverside Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Riverside median: $81,357/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Riverside Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $83,529 | -2.60% less |
| National Average | $68,071 | +19.52% more |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Riverside, CA earn a median of $81,357 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.52% higher than the national median of $68,071 and 2.60% below the California state average of $83,529.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Riverside has a cost of living 6.44% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Riverside, CA has a cost-of-living index of 106.442 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $81,357 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $76,433 — a 6.05% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,250
2025 BLS Actual
$76,970
2026 Current Est.
$81,357
2019–2027 Growth
+52.9%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Riverside (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,860 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,380 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,060 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,970 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $81,357 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $85,995 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Riverside metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 36.8% from $56,250 (2019) to $76,970 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $85,995 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,745 (52.88%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Riverside 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $66,041 – $72,891 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $72,891 – $81,357 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $81,357 – $87,668 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $87,668 – $98,491 |
LPN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual licensed practical nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Licensed Practical Nurse Job Market in Riverside
Riverside's local job market supports around 8,200 employed licensed practical nurses, indicating strong demand. The cost of living index for the area sits at 106.442, suggesting that while salaries may be higher than the national average, LPNs should remain vigilant about their purchasing power. Skilled nursing facilities often offer the highest pay among employers in Riverside, followed by home health agencies and hospitals. The disparity in earnings can be attributed to various factors, including shift differentials, IV therapy certification stipends, and extra pay for weekends or holidays in long-term care. For those seeking to maximize their licensed practical nurse salary in Riverside, targeting skilled nursing environments, considering additional certifications, and seeking roles that offer higher demand—such as weekends or overtime—may enhance financial outcomes considerably.
More salary data for Riverside, CA:
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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $76,970 for licensed practical nursesin the Riverside metropolitan area. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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