Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 data.
Trying to decide between becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in California and Texas, and a registered nurse (RN)? The short answer: an LPN gets you working faster, while an RN pays about $33,000 more a year and opens far more doors. Here is the full comparison.
LPN vs RN at a glance
| LPN / LVN | RN | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,400 ($30.96/hr) | $97,550 ($46.90/hr) |
| Education | A state-approved practical nursing program, about 1 year | An ADN (about 2 years) or BSN (about 4 years) |
| Licensing exam | NCLEX-PN | NCLEX-RN |
| Jobs (2025) | 666,900 | About 3.47 million |
| Projected growth, 2025–35 | 3% | 6% |
| Openings per year | About 51,800 | About 180,800 |
| Top-paying setting | Government ($68,970) | Government ($110,780) |
What LPNs do
- Basic nursing care: vital signs, wound care, catheters, feeding and bathing assistance.
- Giving medications (and in some states, starting IVs with extra certification).
- Monitoring patients and reporting changes to RNs or physicians.
- Working mainly in nursing homes and long-term care, home health, physician offices and rehabilitation centres.
LPNs work under the supervision of an RN or physician. Their exact scope is set by each state’s nurse practice act.
What RNs do
- Comprehensive patient assessment and care planning.
- Giving complex medications and IV therapies, including blood products.
- Supervising LPNs and nursing assistants, and coordinating care with the wider team.
- Patient and family education, and discharge planning.
- Working in hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments, operating rooms, clinics, schools, public health and more.
Which should you choose?
- Choose LPN if you need to start earning within a year, want a lower-cost entry into health care, or want to test whether nursing suits you.
- Choose RN if you want higher pay, hospital and specialty roles, leadership, or a path to becoming a nurse practitioner or CRNA.
- Do both: many nurses start as LPNs, work while they study, and complete an LPN-to-RN bridge program in about 1–2 years. Employers often help pay.
NCLEX-PN vs NCLEX-RN
Both are Next Generation exams with clinical judgment case studies. In the first half of 2026, the NCLEX-PN pass rate was 76.2%, down from 77.3% in 2025. The overall NCLEX-RN rate was 74.4%, and 88.6% for first-time US-educated candidates. See our NCLEX pass rates 2026 breakdown.
FAQ
How much more does an RN make than an LPN? About $33,150 more a year at the national median ($97,550 vs $64,400).
Can an LPN work in a hospital? Yes, but hospitals hire far fewer LPNs than RNs. Most LPN jobs are in long-term care, home health and clinics.
Is LVN the same as LPN? Yes. California and Texas use the title licensed vocational nurse (LVN) for the same role.
Next step: How to become a registered nurse in 2026
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Registered Nurses (May 2025); NCSBN data via Becker’s Hospital Review (2026).