What Is the Starting Pay for an LVN?
The annual starting salary for an LVN, or licensed vocational nurse, is in the $25,000 to $40,000 range. On an hourly basis, salaries for starting LVNs can vary between $14 to $24. In addition to large regional variances, starting salaries also depend on the specialty of the nurse. In general, LVNs earn less than registered nurses (RNs).
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Definition
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A licensed vocational nurse typically has one year of training, usually at a community college or vocational school, and has passed the NCLEX-PN exam. Because an LVN is not yet fully registered, individuals in this position earn less than a registered nurse. Some states use the term "licensed practical nurse" or LPN instead of LVN, though the responsibilities are the same.
Regional Differences
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Starting pay for an LVN varies widely based on the state. For example, Nursinglink lists Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey as the highest paying states for LPNs and LVNs, where starting hourly pay is $24.39, $22.72, $22.50, respectively. North Dakota, Missouri and Louisiana, on the other hand, are the lowest paying states, with average starting hourly compensation ranging between $15 and $15.5.
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Annual Pay
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According to PayScale, the world's largest database of individual employee compensation profiles, starting annual salaries for LVNs range between $25,000 to $40,000. Compensation goes up with experience, of course, and LVNs with one to four years of experience earn between $31,000 and $46,000 annually. However, gaining more experience does not significantly boost the earning power of an LVN. Vocational nurses with more than 20 years of experience earn between $33,000 and $49,000 per year.
Specialty Matters
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The kind of nursing performed by an LVN also influences his or her salary. LVNs who specialize in home care, for example, are paid an average annual salary of $40,783, while those in a nursing home earn $41,315. School nurses are, relatively speaking, poorly paid, making only $31,678 annually. The best paid LVNs are are self-employed, earning $54,000 per year, on average.
Bright Future
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Due to its aging population, the United States has a growing need for nurses. NursingLink states that an estimated 309,000 LVNs will be needed in the United States by 2016. Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio already need more than 1,000 new LVNs every year. With such demand, it's estimated that the average income for LVNs will only increase with time.
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References
- Photo Credit nursing duties image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
