Compensation

• The annual wages for licensed practical nurses nationwide ranged from less than $28,890 to more than $55,090 as of May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage for an LPN was $39,820, or $19.14 per hour. A number of factors can affect an LPNs pay rate including the geographic location where she practices, the type of employer and her level of experience. The starting salary for LPNs is typically less than those who have more experience.
  
  

Location

• As of 2009, licensed practical nurses who practiced in Connecticut earned the highest mean hourly wage in the country at more than $25.00 per hour. LPNs in Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island earned a mean annual wage in excess of $50,000. California offered the greatest number of jobs to LPNs and also ranked among the top five wage paying states for LPNs.
  
  

Experience

• The pay rate for LPNs, like many career fields, is determined in part by experience. Those who are just beginning their career can expect to earn a starting wage of between approximately $12.68 and $17.59 as of January 2011, according to PayScale.com. LPNs with more than five years experience may earn up to $20.00 per hour while those with who have been on the job for more than 20 years may command more than $22.00 per hour.
  
  

Employer

• Nursing care facilities, general hospitals and surgical hospitals offer the greatest number of job opportunities for licensed practical nurses. LPNs working for these types of employers earned a mean hourly wage of between $$19.22 and $20.34 as of May 2009. LPNs who worked for less traditional employers, such as employment services or dentist offices, earned a higher pay rate with a mean hourly wage of between $20.55 and $22.21.