What to Pay a Licensed Practical Nurse in Seattle, WA (2026)
How to set your LPN pay range in Seattle
Three pay positions, modeled against current Seattle market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
LPN salary percentile distribution in Seattle, WA
Where the Seattle market actually sits for LPN base pay.
Most Seattle employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($79,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $68,000 and a max of $90,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Washington pay transparency compliance for LPN job postings
What you must post when hiring a LPN in Washington.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Wage scale or salary range in posting | 15+ employees; role in WA | Up to $1,000 per violation; escalates for repeat |
| General benefits description | All covered postings | Same schedule |
For a LPN role in Seattle, a compliant good-faith range looks like $68,000 to $90,000. A compliant good-faith range for this role in Seattle is $68,000–$90,000.
Top LPN employers in Seattle — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring LPNs in the Seattle metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Swedish | Health system | $76K–$96K | Common ($4K–$8K) |
| UW Medicine | Academic medical center | $76K–$94K | Sometimes |
| Virginia Mason Franciscan Health | Health system | $72K–$92K | Common |
| MultiCare Health System | Health system | $70K–$88K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
| Group Health / Kaiser Permanente WA | Integrated health system | $72K–$90K | Sometimes |
| Brookdale Senior Living | SNF / assisted living | $62K–$78K | Common ($3K–$6K) |
LPN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Seattle
How hard is it to fill a LPN role in Seattle.
Seattle's LPN supply is one of the more constrained in the country — the metro has a relatively small LPN workforce for its size, partly because Washington's nursing pipeline emphasizes RN over LPN. Demand is concentrated in SNF and home health.
Skill premiums LPN candidates command in Seattle, WA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| IV therapy certification | +5–8% | High |
| Bilingual (Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Russian) | +4–7% | Moderate |
| Wound care certification | +6–9% | High — SNF concentration |
| Home health experience | +4–6% | High — fastest-growing segment |
LPN total compensation in Seattle — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for LPNs in Seattle. "Prevalence" reflects share of Seattle disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Seattle Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $79,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +10–18% premium | ~80% |
| Sign-on bonus | $3,000–$8,000 | ~52% |
| Overtime opportunity | $5K–$12K annualized | ~85% |
| Tuition reimbursement | $3,000–$6,000/yr | ~40% |
| 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 Seattle — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the LPN range splits by employer type in the Seattle metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled nursing facility (SNF) | $72,000 | $64K–$82K | Very high |
| Hospital | $84,000 | $76K–$94K | Moderate |
| Outpatient / clinic | $76,000 | $68K–$86K | Moderate |
| Home health | $80,000 | $72K–$92K | Very high — Boeing/MS retiree demand |
| Physician office | $72,000 | $64K–$82K | Low |
Washington's LPN scope is narrower than many states, so SNF, home health, and outpatient dominate. Hospitals use LPNs less frequently than national averages.
LPN salary in Seattle vs. other Washington and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Seattle | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $79,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Portland–Vancouver–Hillsboro, OR-WA | $70,000 | −11.4% | Moderate |
| San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, CA | $89,000 | +12.7% | Very tight |
| Washington statewide | $76,000 | −3.8% | — |
| U.S. national | $63,540 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Licensed Practical Nurse in Seattle, WA
Related LPN pay benchmarks — Washington 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.