What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Houston, TX (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Houston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Houston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Houston, TX
Where the Houston market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Houston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($62,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $53,000 and a max of $71,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings
What you must post when hiring a LPN in Texas.
For a LPN role in Houston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $53,000 to $71,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $53,000–$71,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top LPN employers in Houston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Houston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Methodist | Academic medical center system | $60K–$78K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
| Memorial Hermann Health System | Health system | $58K–$76K | Common |
| MD Anderson Cancer Center | Specialty academic medical center | $62K–$80K | Sometimes |
| HCA Houston Healthcare | Health system | $58K–$74K | Common ($3K–$5K) |
| Harris Health System | Public health system | $56K–$72K | Government benefits |
| Brookdale Senior Living | SNF / assisted living | $48K–$62K | Common ($2K–$5K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Houston
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Houston.
Houston's LPN market is the third-largest in Texas and reflects the state's broader hospital LPN scope. The Texas Medical Center drives outsized hospital demand, while Greater Houston's SNF base serves a rapidly growing senior population.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Houston, TX
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–8% | Very high — TMC hospital scope |
| Bilingual Spanish | +4–7% | Very high — explicit in ~64% of postings |
| Oncology experience | +5–8% | High — MD Anderson demand |
| Wound care certification | +6–9% | High |
LPN total compensation in Houston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Houston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Houston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Houston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $62,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–16% premium | ~82% |
| Sign-on bonus | $3,000–$6,000 | ~52% |
| Overtime opportunity | $5K–$11K annualized | ~92% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $2,500–$5,000/yr | ~38% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$74,000–$84,000 | — |
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 Houston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Houston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital | $68,000 | $60K–$78K | Moderate |
| Skilled nursing facility (SNF) | $54,000 | $48K–$62K | High |
| Outpatient / clinic | $60,000 | $53K–$68K | Moderate |
| Home health | $62,000 | $54K–$70K | High |
| Physician office | $56,000 | $50K–$64K | Low |
Houston has the country's largest medical center (Texas Medical Center) and uses LPNs across hospital, outpatient, and SNF settings. Bilingual Spanish demand is among the highest in the country.
LPN salary in Houston vs. other Texas and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Houston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land, TX | $62,000 | — | Moderate |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $62,000 | 0.0% | Moderate |
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | $64,000 | +3.2% | Moderate |
| San Antonio–New Braunfels, TX | $58,000 | −6.5% | Moderate |
| Texas statewide | $58,000 | −6.5% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Houston, TX
Related LPN pay benchmarks — Texas 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.