Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Garden City, KS: $61,324 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Garden City, KS earns a median $61,324/year (≈ $29.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Garden City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $67,463 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% below the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the licensed practical nurse salary in Garden City, Kansas, stands at a median of $61,324, which reflects local conditions and cost-of-living adjustments. This salary range varies from $48,663 for the lowest 10% to $75,135 for the top 10%, indicating that opportunities exist across a broad spectrum of healthcare settings. The local estimates, derived from BLS state-level data and BEA Regional Price Parities, suggest a competitive pay environment despite being approximately 9.91% below the national median of $68,071. Those working in skilled nursing facilities may experience higher wages compared to their counterparts in home health or outpatient clinics, emphasizing the significance that the work setting has on overall earnings in this region.
About the Garden City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,663 | $23.39 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,505 | $27.16 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,324 | $29.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $71,851 | $34.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $75,135 | $36.12 |
Median Salary Position
9.91% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Garden City
In Garden City, KS, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,472 (2026 est.). At $61,324, the local median is 9.91% below the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Garden City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Garden City Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Garden City median: $61,324/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Garden City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $61,881 | -0.90% less |
| National Average | $68,071 | -9.91% less |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Garden City, KS earn a median of $61,324 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.91% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 0.90% below the Kansas state average of $61,881.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Garden City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Garden City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $61,324 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $67,463 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$42,774
2025 BLS Actual
$58,017
2026 Current Est.
$61,324
2019–2027 Growth
+51.5%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Garden City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,774 | Actual |
| 2020 | $43,981 | Actual |
| 2021 | $43,306 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,206 | Actual |
| 2023 | $53,810 | Actual |
| 2024 | $46,845 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,017 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,324 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,819 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Garden City metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 35.6% from $42,774 (2019) to $58,017 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,819 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,045 (51.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Garden City 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) | $48,663 – $56,505 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,505 – $61,324 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,324 – $71,851 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $71,851 – $75,135 |
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 Garden City
In addition to a salary structure that accommodates six licensed practical nurses in the Garden City area, the cost of living index, set at 90.9, points to an affordability factor that can enhance take-home purchasing power. Facilities that tend to offer the highest wages primarily include skilled nursing homes and long-term care settings, where LPNs typically earn more than those in home health agencies or hospital environments. The disparity in earnings can be attributed to various factors such as shift differentials for weekends and holidays, additional pay for IV therapy certification, and even charge LPN rates. For those seeking to optimize their earning potential, pursuing positions in long-term care, obtaining specialized certifications, or seeking roles that offer shift or weekend differentials are practical strategies to consider in the Garden City market.
More salary data for Garden City, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Garden City, KS in 2026?
Is Garden City, KS a good place to work as a licensed practical nurse?
Can licensed practical nurses make $100K in Garden City?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted licensed practical nurse salary in Garden City?
How much does a licensed practical nurse make per hour in Garden City?
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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 $58,017 for licensed practical nursesin the Garden City 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
Salary data for Garden City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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