Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Watertown, NY: $63,758 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Watertown, NY earns a median $63,758/year (≈ $30.65/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Watertown's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.7), that paycheck buys what $72,708 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.1% below the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Watertown, NY, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) earn a median annual salary of $63,758 in 2026, which reflects a competitive local wage compared to the national median of $68,071. The salary range for LPNs in this area spans from $50,895 at the 10th percentile to $76,548 at the 90th percentile, based on projections derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data. This compensation is influenced by New York’s robust LPN scope of practice, which includes responsibilities like IV therapy administration and patient assessment. Such responsibilities not only enhance the role's complexity but can also translate to higher earning potential within various healthcare settings, particularly in skilled nursing facilities and long-term care environments prevalent in the Watertown market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,895 | $24.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,879 | $26.38 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $63,758 | $30.65 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,895 | $33.13 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76,548 | $36.80 |
Median Salary Position
6.34% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Watertown
In Watertown, NY, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,653 (2026 est.). At $63,758, the local median is 6.34% below the national median of $68,071.
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At 40 hours/week in Watertown: You'd be above the median
How Watertown Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Watertown median: $63,758/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Watertown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $66,484 | -4.10% less |
| National Average | $68,071 | -6.34% less |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Watertown, NY earn a median of $63,758 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.34% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 4.10% below the New York state average of $66,484.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Watertown has a cost of living 12.31% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Watertown, NY has a cost-of-living index of 87.69 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $63,758 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,708 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.04% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$38,970
2025 BLS Actual
$60,320
2026 Current Est.
$63,758
2019–2027 Growth
+72.9%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Watertown (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $38,970 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,810 | Actual |
| 2021 | $43,220 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,970 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,240 | Actual |
| 2024 | $55,660 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,320 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,758 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,392 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Watertown metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 54.8% from $38,970 (2019) to $60,320 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,392 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,422 (72.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Watertown 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) | $50,895 – $54,879 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,879 – $63,758 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $63,758 – $68,895 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,895 – $76,548 |
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 Watertown
With approximately 360 licensed practical nurses currently working in Watertown, the job market remains relatively stable, particularly given the region's cost-of-living index of 87.69, which is below the national average. This lower cost of living can effectively stretch LPN salaries further, allowing for improved purchasing power compared to many higher-cost metropolitan areas. Top employers, including skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies, typically offer the highest compensation, especially when considering shift differentials and certification stipends for skills like IV therapy. Additionally, those interested in maximizing their licensed practical nurse pay in Watertown, NY, should focus on gaining experience in long-term care settings, pursue additional certifications, and be open to working varied shifts, as these factors can significantly influence overall earnings in this competitive field.
More salary data for Watertown, NY:
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 $60,320 for licensed practical nursesin the Watertown 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