Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Virginia Beach, VA: $68,039 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time licensed practical nurse in Virginia Beach, VA earns a median $68,039/year (≈ $32.71/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Once you factor in Virginia Beach's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $69,469 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.9% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $68,039 for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Virginia Beach in 2026, the compensation here is quite competitive, especially when compared to the national median of $68,071. The salary range for LPNs in this region spans from $54,150 at the 10th percentile to $81,727 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics (OEWS) surveys, reflects the local healthcare landscape, which includes opportunities for lucrative shift differentials and weekend premiums that are often offered in long-term care settings. As the local demand for professional nursing proficiency continues to grow, Virginia Beach's market for LPNs is expected to flourish alongside these salary prospects.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,150 | $26.03 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,183 | $29.90 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $68,039 | $32.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,833 | $36.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,727 | $39.30 |
Median Salary Position
0.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Virginia Beach
In Virginia Beach, VA, the licensed practical nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $27,577 (2026 est.). At $68,039, the local median is 0.05% below the national median of $68,071.
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At 40 hours/week in Virginia Beach: You'd be above the median
How Virginia Beach Licensed Practical Nurse Pay Compares
Virginia Beach median: $68,039/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Virginia Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $64,861 | +4.90% more |
| National Average | $68,071 | -0.05% less |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Virginia Beach, VA earn a median of $68,039 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.05% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 4.90% above the Virginia state average of $64,861.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Virginia Beach has a cost of living 2.06% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Virginia Beach, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.941 (below the national average of 100). A licensed practical nurse earning $68,039 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,469 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$43,570
2025 BLS Actual
$64,370
2026 Current Est.
$68,039
2019–2027 Growth
+65.1%
Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Virginia Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,570 | Actual |
| 2020 | $44,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,990 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,320 | Actual |
| 2023 | $57,360 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68,039 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,917 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Virginia Beach metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 47.7% from $43,570 (2019) to $64,370 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,917 by 2027 — a total increase of $28,347 (65.06%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Virginia Beach 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) | $54,150 – $62,183 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,183 – $68,039 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $68,039 – $76,833 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,833 – $81,727 |
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 Virginia Beach
An impressive 3,410 licensed practical nurses are currently employed in Virginia Beach, which highlights the robust job market for this profession. With a cost-of-living index of 97.941, living expenses in the area are below the national average, meaning that take-home pay can stretch further for LPNs here compared to other regions. Among the various employment settings, skilled nursing facilities typically offer the highest pay for LPNs, followed by home health agencies and sometimes hospitals. A variety of factors contribute to the salary range in Virginia Beach, including work setting, the availability of benefits like IV therapy certification stipends, and weekend or holiday pay differentials. To maximize earnings in this local market, it is beneficial for LPNs to consider positions in long-term care, explore opportunities for additional certifications, and pursue roles that offer shadowing or charge LPN responsibilities, which can significantly enhance their pay potential.
More salary data for Virginia Beach, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can licensed practical nurses make $100K in Virginia Beach?
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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 $64,370 for licensed practical nursesin the Virginia Beach 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