Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Houston, TX: $67,299 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Houston, TX earns a median $67,299/year (≈ $32.35/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $68,234 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.9% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Skilled nursing facilities generally offer higher compensation for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Houston compared to home health agencies and physician offices. In 2026, the median annual salary for LPNs in this city is projected to be $67,299, which reflects a modest decline compared to the national median of $68,071. Salaries for LPNs in Houston can vary widely, with a range from $54,805 at the 10th percentile to $82,351 at the 90th percentile, according to 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026. This salary landscape can impact job offerings, making skilled nursing an attractive career path for those in the practical nursing field looking for competitive compensation in a city with a robust healthcare job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,805 | $26.35 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,346 | $30.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,299 | $32.35 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,104 | $36.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,351 | $39.60 |
Median Salary Position
1.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $27,546 (2026 est.). At $67,299, the local median is 1.13% below the national median of $68,071.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Houston Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Houston median: $67,299/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $63,550 | +5.90% more |
| National Average | $68,071 | -1.13% less |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Houston, TX earn a median of $67,299 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.13% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 5.90% above the Texas state average of $63,550.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $67,299 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $68,234 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$48,090
2025 BLS Actual
$63,670
2026 Current Est.
$67,299
2019–2027 Growth
+47.9%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48,090 | Actual |
| 2020 | $49,050 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $54,880 | Actual |
| 2023 | $59,190 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,700 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,670 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,299 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,135 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 32.4% from $48,090 (2019) to $63,670 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,135 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,045 (47.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $54,805 – $63,346 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,346 – $67,299 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,299 – $76,104 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,104 – $82,351 |
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 Houston
Houston's job market for licensed practical nurses remains strong, with approximately 10,730 LPNs employed in the area. The cost of living index in Houston, currently at 98.629, is below the national average, which can enhance the purchasing power of nurses' salaries. Among the various employers, skilled nursing facilities tend to provide the best compensation, often driven by the complexities of patient care in long-term settings. Differences in pay arise from various factors, such as shift differentials, specialty certifications like IV therapy, and bonuses for working weekends or holidays. To maximize earnings in the Houston TX market, LPNs should consider seeking roles in higher-paying environments, obtaining additional certifications, and pursuing LPN-to-RN bridge programs to expand their scope of practice and potential salary.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $63,670 for licensed practical nursesin the Houston 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