Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in St. Louis, MO: $68,832 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in St. Louis, MO earns a median $68,832/year (≈ $33.09/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $72,388 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.7% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a median annual salary of $68,832 in 2026, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in St. Louis, MO, earn slightly above the national median of $68,071. This compensation reflects the significant responsibilities allowed under Missouri's LPN scope of practice, particularly their authority to administer IV therapy and conduct patient assessments. Entrants into the profession can expect to see salaries ranging dramatically from around $59,837 at the 10th percentile to $84,127 at the 90th percentile, based on official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys. These figures highlight the diverse opportunities available for LPNs seeking employment in various healthcare settings across St. Louis, which can impact overall earnings significantly.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,837 | $28.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64,488 | $31.00 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $68,832 | $33.09 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,512 | $38.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $84,127 | $40.44 |
Median Salary Position
1.12% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $24,290 (2026 est.). At $68,832, the local median is 1.12% above the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Louis Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $68,832/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $64,510 | +6.70% more |
| National Average | $68,071 | +1.12% more |
Licensed Practical Nurses in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $68,832 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.12% higher than the national median of $68,071 and 6.70% above the Missouri state average of $64,510.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $68,832 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,388 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$46,590
2025 BLS Actual
$65,120
2026 Current Est.
$68,832
2019–2027 Growth
+56.2%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,520 | Actual |
| 2021 | $48,010 | Actual |
| 2022 | $55,200 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,730 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,540 | Actual |
| 2025 | $65,120 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68,832 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,755 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 39.8% from $46,590 (2019) to $65,120 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,755 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,165 (56.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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) | $59,837 – $64,488 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $64,488 – $68,832 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $68,832 – $80,512 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,512 – $84,127 |
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 St. Louis
The job market for licensed practical nurses in St. Louis is robust, with approximately 5,180 LPNs currently employed in the area. Despite the competitive salary environment, the cost of living index in St. Louis stands at 95.088, below the national average, which means LPNs can enjoy greater purchasing power compared to many other cities. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities often provide the highest wages, followed closely by hospitals and home health agencies. The variability in pay can be attributed to multiple factors including certification stipends for IV therapy, shift differentials, and additional compensation for weekend and holiday work. To maximize earnings, LPNs in St. Louis should consider seeking positions in long-term care facilities, pursuing additional certifications, and looking for opportunities that offer overtime or charge LPN roles, which can significantly boost hourly wages.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
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 $65,120 for licensed practical nursesin the St. Louis 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