What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Boston, MA (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Boston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Boston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Boston, MA
Where the Boston market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Boston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($78,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $67,000 and a max of $89,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Massachusetts pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings
What you must post when hiring a LPN in Massachusetts.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay range in job posting | 25+ employees; role in MA | Civil fine up to $500 first violation; up to $1,000 subsequent |
| Provide pay range to applicants on request | All covered employers | Same schedule |
For a LPN role in Boston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $67,000 to $89,000. A compliant range for this role in Boston is $67,000–$89,000.
Top LPN employers in Boston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Boston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass General Brigham | Academic medical center system | $76K–$98K | Sometimes |
| Beth Israel Lahey Health | Health system | $74K–$94K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
| Boston Medical Center | Safety-net hospital | $70K–$88K | Sometimes |
| Tufts Medicine | Academic medical center | $72K–$92K | Sometimes |
| Steward Health Care | Health system | $68K–$86K | Common ($3K–$7K) |
| Hebrew SeniorLife | SNF / continuing care | $62K–$78K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Boston
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Boston.
Boston's LPN demand is concentrated in SNF and home health — Massachusetts's hospital-heavy healthcare economy uses RNs more than LPNs in acute care. The state's new pay transparency law (October 2025) has reshaped how ranges are posted, particularly for the academic medical centers.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Boston, MA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–8% | High |
| Bilingual (Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole) | +4–7% | Very high — Haitian Creole and Portuguese particularly valued |
| Wound care certification | +6–9% | High — SNF demand |
| Geriatric / LTC certification | +3–5% | Very high |
LPN total compensation in Boston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Boston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Boston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Boston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $78,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–18% premium | ~82% |
| Sign-on bonus | $3,000–$7,000 | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $6K–$12K annualized | ~88% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$6,000/yr | ~42% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$92,000–$104,000 | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
LPN pay by setting in Boston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Boston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility / LTC | $72,000 | $64K–$82K | Very high |
| Hospital (limited acute role) | $84,000 | $76K–$94K | Moderate — limited LPN roles |
| Outpatient / clinic | $76,000 | $68K–$86K | Moderate |
| Home health | $78,000 | $70K–$90K | High |
| Physician office | $72,000 | $64K–$82K | Low |
Boston has one of the country's highest SNF concentrations driven by population aging across the metro and Cape Cod. Hospital LPN use is limited by Massachusetts scope-of-practice norms in major academic medical centers.
LPN salary in Boston vs. other Massachusetts and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Boston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston–Cambridge–Nashua, MA-NH | $78,000 | — | Above national avg |
| New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,000 | −9.0% | Above national avg |
| Providence–Warwick, RI-MA | $74,000 | −5.1% | Moderate |
| Hartford, CT | $66,000 | −15.4% | Moderate |
| Massachusetts statewide | $74,000 | −5.1% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Boston, MA
Related LPN pay benchmarks — Massachusetts metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.