LPN Salary Info

A licensed practical nurse (LPN) also goes by the name Licensed vocational nurse or even registered practical nurse. Generally, you will need to complete a certified course of 9 to 12 months in duration in order to qualify for a decent paying job in the medical community. The kind of schools you choose to attend will play an important role in determining your lpn salary as well as the quality of job you get.

 

LPN Salary Ranges

An lpn salary ranges from minimum wages going up to $40,000 annually. Starting pay can begin at $20 an hour and will vary depending on how experienced you are and how well you perform while on the job. If you are starting out and trying to determine what is the best paying line to get into, then here are some pointers. One of the lowest salaries is when you are working for any schools. The maximum you can hope to earn in such employment is $20,000 a year. If you a looking for the highest paying jobs, then these are most often found in the home health care sector. However, what you have to understand here is that you will be looking after senior citizens and they often require specialized care. You will need experience so this is a job that you will have to work towards.

lpn salaryIf you choose to work in urban locations, then the chances of lpn salary being higher then usual are more. This is because you will have a larger group of people to service. In such sectors, if you have a few months of experience on your side, then you could get anywhere from $28,000 to $39,000 a year. For those who come with around 15 years or more of experience, salaries peak at $47,000 a year.

The pay scale in the public as well as private sector can reach as high as $53,000 annually. Generally, one can expect as much as $32,000 for a fresher.

 

Increasing your LPN Wages

If you are looking at increasing the wages you are paid as an LPN, then you must attain extra qualifications. An LPN with a practical nursing degree will definitely see a boost of around $2000 in her starting salary package for the year with starting pay beginning at $30,000. This is of course after you have registered with your state board for your practicing license.

There are several other general factors that determine the range of your lpn salary. You will have to look into the standard of pay in the industry in which you are looking for a job. Your education, where you obtained it and how you have applied it in your work experience will also make a difference. On any given day, nurses who find jobs in nursing facilities will score higher in terms of salary over their counterparts who work in public medical places. Some of the highest paying states for this job are that of New Jersey, Connecticut, California as well as New Mexico. Similarly, there are several low paying states as well and these include Tennessee, North Dakota as well as Arkansas.

Now, if you are out scouting for a job and hoping to get a good lpn salary, then research is the key. Most newcomers will start at general hospitals, as these are places that require a massive contingent of people to keep it running all the time. In a regular hospital, there are several aspects that you should look into and these range from administrative jobs, to those in the medicolegal section as well as in accounting and other such departments.

Patient care is not an easy job and there is a constant need for nurses to ensure that patients are getting personalized care. If a patient is not, then it can work negatively for the hospital. LPNs are always going to be in demand in hospitals and listed below are some of the questions you need to ask:

  • Which are the best cities to find a job?
  • Is the salary I am getting in my hometown up to my expectations?
  • Although the pay is low for this job, will I be able to get the experience I am looking for?
  • Will I be able to improve on my set of skills with the job I am about to take?

When you are online researching the various lpn salary figures, you will find a number of sites that will give you extensive information on the kinds of salaries to expect in different parts of the country. Such a site will also provide you with details on the kind of work experience employers are looking for, the hours of work needed, any bonuses that you can expect and the vacation time you should expect. For the most accurate information, it is essential that you look for the statistics that apply to the state in which you will be working.