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Occupation · SOC 29-2061

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

There are 648,410 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $64,400 a year. The most jobs are in Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA.

HealthcareTypical education: Postsecondary nondegree award
648,410
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$64,400
Median pay a year
Middle half: $59,000–$76,030
51,800
Annual openings
10-year change: +3%
1
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
One employer filed 100% of them

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 391 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $79,310 · LCA filings 033,590$79,3100
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $75,910 · LCA filings 032,410$75,9100
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $70,710 · LCA filings 015,920$70,7100
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $64,370 · LCA filings 012,590$64,3700
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $78,070 · LCA filings 011,420$78,0700
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $63,670 · LCA filings 010,730$63,6700
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $65,060 · LCA filings 09,710$65,0600
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $62,610 · LCA filings 08,900$62,6100
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $94,310 · LCA filings 08,800$94,3100
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $82,190 · LCA filings 08,410$82,1900

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 3,290 · LCA filings 0$95,3203,2900
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 8,800 · LCA filings 0$94,3108,8000
Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 870 · LCA filings 0$92,5808700
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 3,470 · LCA filings 0$85,6903,4700
Vallejo, CAEmployment 870 · LCA filings 0$85,4308700

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $73,070 · Level III $80,725 · Level IV $88,400$65,395$73,070$80,725$88,400
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $69,264 · Level III $74,963 · Level IV $80,662$63,565$69,264$74,963$80,662
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $65,915 · Level III $70,845 · Level IV $75,795$60,965$65,915$70,845$75,795
Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $61,152 · Level III $66,061 · Level IV $70,970$56,243$61,152$66,061$70,970
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $71,136 · Level III $77,355 · Level IV $83,595$64,896$71,136$77,355$83,595
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $59,987 · Level III $65,250 · Level IV $70,512$54,725$59,987$65,250$70,512
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $58,365 · Level III $64,813 · Level IV $71,282$51,896$58,365$64,813$71,282
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $59,301 · Level III $63,565 · Level IV $67,829$55,037$59,301$63,565$67,829
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $84,968 · Level III $93,392 · Level IV $101,795$76,565$84,968$93,392$101,795
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $73,986 · Level III $80,704 · Level IV $87,402$67,288$73,986$80,704$87,402

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsCIP 51.39OPT · up to 12 months866OPT · up to 12 months

See Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in every metro area

All 391 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Related occupations · Healthcare

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology