What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Philadelphia
Three pay positions, modeled against current Philadelphia market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Philadelphia, PA
Where the Philadelphia market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Philadelphia employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($66,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $57,000 and a max of $76,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Pennsylvania pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings
What you must post when hiring a LPN in Pennsylvania.
For a LPN role in Philadelphia, a compliant good-faith range looks like $57,000 to $76,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $57,000–$76,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top LPN employers in Philadelphia — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Philadelphia metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Medicine | Academic medical center system | $66K–$84K | Sometimes |
| Jefferson Health | Academic medical center system | $64K–$82K | Sometimes |
| Temple Health | Academic medical center | $62K–$80K | Sometimes |
| ChristianaCare | Health system (DE) | $64K–$80K | Common ($3K–$5K) |
| Main Line Health | Health system | $64K–$80K | Common |
| Genesis Healthcare | SNF / post-acute (PA-headquartered) | $54K–$70K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Philadelphia
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia's LPN market is balanced — strong training pipelines through Community College of Philadelphia and surrounding schools support steady supply against high SNF and academic medical center demand. New Jersey's pay transparency law (June 2025) affects metro-spanning postings.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Philadelphia, PA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–8% | High |
| Bilingual Spanish | +3–5% | High |
| Wound care certification | +6–9% | High — SNF concentration |
| Geriatric / LTC certification | +3–5% | Very high |
LPN total compensation in Philadelphia — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Philadelphia. "Prevalence" reflects share of Philadelphia disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Philadelphia Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $66,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–16% premium | ~80% |
| Sign-on bonus | $3,000–$6,000 | ~46% |
| Overtime opportunity | $5K–$11K annualized | ~90% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $2,500–$5,000/yr | ~38% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$78,000–$90,000 | — |
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 Philadelphia — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Philadelphia metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility / LTC | $60,000 | $54K–$68K | High |
| Hospital | $72,000 | $64K–$82K | Moderate |
| Outpatient / clinic | $66,000 | $58K–$74K | Moderate |
| Home health | $66,000 | $58K–$76K | High |
| Physician office | $60,000 | $54K–$68K | Low |
Philadelphia's setting mix is dominated by SNF and post-acute, with strong outpatient demand from Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and Temple's ambulatory networks.
LPN salary in Philadelphia vs. other Pennsylvania and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Philadelphia | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $66,000 | — | Moderate |
| New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $71,000 | +7.6% | Above national avg |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $74,000 | +12.1% | Above national avg |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,000 | −15.2% | Moderate |
| Pennsylvania statewide | $58,000 | −12.1% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Philadelphia, PA
Related LPN pay benchmarks — Pennsylvania 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.