Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in El Paso, TX: $62,120 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in El Paso, TX earns a median $62,120/year (≈ $29.87/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in El Paso's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.9), that paycheck buys what $69,090 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In the continually evolving healthcare environment of El Paso, TX, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) can expect a median annual salary of $62,120 in 2026, nearly 8.74% lower than the national median of $68,071. With salaries ranging from $49,341 at the lower end (P10) to $72,817 at the upper end (P90), the compensation for LPNs highlights the implications of Texas' specific scope-of-practice rules, particularly in areas like IV therapy and patient assessment. This data, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reveals a stable demand for practical nursing roles within the local job market, marked by 1,750 LPN positions employing professionals across various healthcare settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,341 | $23.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,566 | $26.71 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,120 | $29.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,999 | $31.73 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $72,817 | $35.01 |
Median Salary Position
8.74% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Paso
In El Paso, TX, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,476 (2026 est.). At $62,120, the local median is 8.74% below the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in El Paso: You'd be above the median
How El Paso Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
El Paso median: $62,120/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Paso Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $63,517 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $68,071 | -8.74% less |
Licensed Practical Nurses in El Paso, TX earn a median of $62,120 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.74% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 2.20% below the Texas state average of $63,517.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Paso has a cost of living 10.09% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Paso, TX has a cost-of-living index of 89.912 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $62,120 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,090 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.22% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$47,120
2025 BLS Actual
$58,770
2026 Current Est.
$62,120
2019–2027 Growth
+39.3%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in El Paso (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $47,120 | Actual |
| 2020 | $48,810 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,910 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,290 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,860 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,740 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,770 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,120 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,661 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Paso metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 24.7% from $47,120 (2019) to $58,770 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,661 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,541 (39.35%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Paso 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) | $49,341 – $55,566 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,566 – $62,120 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,120 – $65,999 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,999 – $72,817 |
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 El Paso
The job market for licensed practical nurses in El Paso remains robust, yet faces challenges rooted in the cost of living, indexed at a competitive 89.912. This value suggests that LPNs often find their purchasing power impacted, despite an annual growth rate projected at 5.70% for nursing positions over the coming years. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities typically offer higher wages compared to home health agencies and physician offices. To maximize earning potential, LPNs should consider additional certifications, such as IV therapy, and be open to roles in long-term care or facilities that offer shift differentials and holiday premiums. Understanding these nuances not only enhances compensation opportunities but also provides a pathway for further career advancement in the nursing field.
More salary data for El Paso, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do licensed practical nurses make in El Paso, TX in 2026?
Is El Paso, TX a good place to work as a licensed practical nurse?
Can licensed practical nurses make $100K in El Paso?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted licensed practical nurse salary in El Paso?
How much does a licensed practical nurse make per hour in El Paso?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Texas
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 $58,770 for licensed practical nursesin the El Paso 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