Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $68,356 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $68,356/year (≈ $32.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $74,318 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, licensed practical nurses in Fayetteville, North Carolina, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $68,356, slightly above the national median of $68,071. The salary range for this role varies from $57,184 at the lower tenth percentile to $82,076 at the upper ninetieth percentile, highlighting the breadth of compensation available within the market. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, suggests that shift differentials and weekend premiums are significant drivers of pay in the local long-term care landscape. With an increasing demand for healthcare professionals, especially in long-term care settings, Fayetteville's job market is poised for growth, attracting those looking to start or advance their careers in practical nursing.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $57,184 | $27.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,982 | $29.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $68,356 | $32.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,660 | $36.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,076 | $39.46 |
Median Salary Position
0.42% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $24,892 (2026 est.). At $68,356, the local median is 0.42% above the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $68,356/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $67,016 | +2.00% more |
| National Average | $68,071 | +0.42% more |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $68,356 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.42% higher than the national median of $68,071 and 2.00% above the North Carolina state average of $67,016.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $68,356 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,318 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$46,150
2025 BLS Actual
$64,670
2026 Current Est.
$68,356
2019–2027 Growth
+56.6%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,440 | Actual |
| 2022 | $51,000 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,820 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,670 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68,356 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $72,252 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 40.1% from $46,150 (2019) to $64,670 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,252 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,102 (56.56%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $57,184 – $61,982 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,982 – $68,356 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $68,356 – $75,660 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,660 – $82,076 |
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 Fayetteville
Fayetteville currently employs around 980 licensed practical nurses, indicating a strong job market for this profession. The area's cost of living index stands at 91.978, indicating housing and general expenses are lower than the national average, which can positively affect take-home pay for nurses. Among the various employers in Fayetteville, skilled nursing facilities typically offer the most competitive wages, followed by home health agencies and hospitals. Factors such as shift differentials, IV therapy certification stipends, and weekend or holiday premiums contribute to the discrepancies between lower and higher salaries. Nurses aiming to maximize their pay can focus on gaining specialties, seeking employment in long-term care or skilled nursing facilities, and enhancing their education through LPN-to-RN bridge programs to open up additional opportunities in the healthcare field.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in Fayetteville, NC in 2026?
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Related Pages
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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 $64,670 for licensed practical nursesin the Fayetteville 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