What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Los Angeles, CA (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Los Angeles
Three pay positions, modeled against current Los Angeles market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Los Angeles, CA
Where the Los Angeles market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Los Angeles employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($77,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $65,000 and a max of $88,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
California pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings
What you must post when hiring a LPN in California.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay scale in job posting | 15+ employees, ≥1 in California | $100–$10,000 per violation |
| Good-faith range (no inflated bands) | All covered postings | $100–$10,000 per violation; escalates for repeat |
| Include bonuses and incentive pay (SB 642) | All covered postings from 2026 | Same penalty schedule |
| Provide pay scale to current employees on request | Any covered employer | $100–$10,000 per violation |
| Maintain wage history records for 3 years | All employers | Presumption against employer in disputes |
For a LPN role in Los Angeles, a compliant good-faith range looks like $65,000 to $88,000. A good-faith range for this role is $65,000–$88,000. Ranges wider than ~50% have been challenged under CA enforcement actions.
Top LPN employers in Los Angeles — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Los Angeles metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | Integrated health system | $72K–$94K | Sometimes ($1K–$3K) |
| Cedars-Sinai | Academic medical center | $78K–$98K | Rare |
| UCLA Health | Academic medical center | $74K–$92K | Sometimes ($2K–$5K) |
| Providence Health | Health system (multi-site) | $68K–$86K | Common ($3K–$7K) |
| CommonSpirit / Dignity Health | Health system | $66K–$84K | Common ($3K–$8K) |
| AltaMed Health Services | FQHC / community health | $62K–$78K | Occasional |
| Brookdale Senior Living | SNF / assisted living | $60K–$76K | Common ($2K–$5K) |
| Genesis Healthcare | SNF (post-acute) | $62K–$78K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Los Angeles
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Los Angeles.
Hiring difficulty in Los Angeles is above the national average for this role. California's narrower LPN scope of practice in acute care concentrates demand in skilled nursing and ambulatory care, where turnover runs ~24% annually. The LA-Long Beach-Anaheim MSA has the second-largest LPN workforce in the country (after NYC) but consistent net under-supply.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Los Angeles, CA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–8% | High — ~38% of postings list as preferred |
| Bilingual (Spanish) | +3–5% | Very high — explicit in ~52% of LA postings |
| Wound care certification (WCC, CWS) | +6–9% | Moderate — concentrated in SNF and home health |
| Long-term care certification | +3–5% | High — SNF dominates LA LPN employment |
| Pediatric experience | +5–7% | Moderate — niche but consistently underpaid in postings |
LPN total compensation in Los Angeles — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Los Angeles. "Prevalence" reflects share of Los Angeles disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Los Angeles Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $77,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential (evening/night/weekend) | +10–18% premium | ~78% |
| Sign-on bonus | $2,000–$8,000 (SNF), $1,000–$3,000 (hospitals) | ~42% |
| Overtime opportunity | $5K–$12K annualized | ~88% |
| Health benefits + 401k match | 3–6% match typical | ~95% |
| Tuition reimbursement (LPN-to-RN bridge) | $2,500–$5,000/yr | ~31% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$92,000–$104,000 | — |
In LA's LPN market, shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are table stakes, not differentiators. Tuition reimbursement (LPN-to-RN bridge program support) is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
LPN pay by setting in Los Angeles — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Los Angeles metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility (SNF) | $71,000 | $64K–$80K | High — chronic turnover |
| Hospital (limited acute care role) | $84,000 | $76K–$94K | Moderate — fewer roles available |
| Outpatient / clinic | $74,000 | $66K–$84K | Moderate |
| Home health | $76,000 | $67K–$87K | High — rapidly growing demand |
| Physician office | $70,000 | $62K–$79K | Low — desirable hours, strong candidate pool |
| Correctional health / government | $82,000 | $73K–$92K | Moderate |
Skilled nursing facilities are by far the largest LPN employer in California (~38% of LPN employment statewide), driven by California's scope-of-practice rules that limit LPN roles in acute hospital settings. This is the inverse of states like Texas or Louisiana, where LPNs are common in hospitals.
LPN salary in Los Angeles vs. other California and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Los Angeles | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA | $77,000 | — | Above national avg |
| San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, CA | $89,000 | +15.6% | Very tight |
| San Diego–Carlsbad, CA | $73,000 | −5.2% | Above national avg |
| Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CA | $70,000 | −9.1% | Tight |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | $79,000 | +2.6% | Moderate |
| California statewide | $78,000 | +1.3% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Los Angeles, CA
Related LPN pay benchmarks — California 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.