How much do LVNs make in California?
LVNs in California make $79,750 a year at the median, and the middle half earn between $74,840 and $93,720; California ranks 6th among the states for LVN and LPN pay.[onet_lpn] BLS estimated 82,850 LVN jobs in California in May 2025, the most of any state.[oews_api] California uses the title licensed vocational nurse, but BLS counts LVNs and LPNs as one occupation.
| Percentile | California | Hourly | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,390 | $30.96 | $49,740 | +$14,650 |
| 25th | $74,840 | $35.98 | $59,000 | +$15,840 |
| Median | $79,750 | $38.34 | $64,400 | +$15,350 |
| 75th | $93,720 | $45.06 | $76,030 | +$17,690 |
| 90th | $100,450 | $48.29 | $83,440 | +$17,010 |
California has a state income tax, so enter your effective rate in the calculator; at the median, a single LVN keeps about $61,744 after federal tax, FICA and a 4% state rate.[irs]
LVN salary by California metro area
LVN pay is highest in the Bay Area, led by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,320) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($94,310), and lowest in the Central Valley and inland north, where Visalia, CA pays $73,540.[onet_lpn] The gap between the top and bottom area is $21,780 a year.
| Area | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,320 | $45.83 | $77,320 | $113,220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,310 | $45.34 | $75,900 | $109,120 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,580 | $44.51 | $74,280 | $110,300 |
| Vallejo, CA | $85,430 | $41.07 | $68,730 | $106,490 |
| Napa, CA | $83,690 | $40.24 | $69,520 | $117,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,570 | $39.22 | $65,670 | $104,880 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $81,000 | $38.94 | $64,510 | $101,820 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,910 | $38.90 | $64,340 | $96,370 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $80,020 | $38.47 | $64,170 | $95,680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,940 | $38.43 | $65,690 | $107,280 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $79,720 | $38.33 | $64,950 | $96,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,310 | $38.13 | $64,200 | $96,630 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $79,020 | $37.99 | $64,530 | $95,270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,010 | $37.99 | $65,410 | $95,650 |
| Chico, CA | $78,750 | $37.86 | $63,470 | $92,660 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $78,330 | $37.66 | $64,630 | $94,530 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,260 | $37.63 | $64,750 | $90,770 |
| Modesto, CA | $78,200 | $37.60 | $61,940 | $102,830 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $77,830 | $37.42 | $65,790 | $90,640 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $77,830 | $37.42 | $63,390 | $96,150 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $77,650 | $37.33 | $63,760 | $77,960 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,970 | $37.00 | $62,480 | $93,180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,130 | $36.60 | $62,070 | $91,460 |
| Merced, CA | $75,890 | $36.49 | $61,840 | $83,200 |
| Fresno, CA | $75,580 | $36.34 | $62,160 | $94,420 |
| El Centro, CA | $74,710 | $35.92 | $62,140 | $91,180 |
| Redding, CA | $74,140 | $35.64 | $60,460 | $91,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $73,540 | $35.36 | $61,070 | $89,270 |
LVN vs RN and CNA pay in California
A California RN earns $60,520 more than an LVN at the state medians ($140,270 vs $79,750), the second-largest RN-over-LVN gap of any state after Hawaii, and a California CNA earns $47,630.[onet_rn][onet_lpn][onet_cna] That gap makes the LVN-to-RN step worth more in California than almost anywhere; bridge programs are covered on LPN to RN, and the RN figures by city are in the registered nurse salary calculator.
| Role | California median | Hourly | Jobs in California |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 | 338,940 |
| LVN | $79,750 | $38.34 | 82,850 |
| CNA | $47,630 | $22.90 | 110,060 |
California LVN license requirements
A California LVN license requires an approved program of 1,530 hours (576 hours of theory and 954 clinical hours), passing the NCLEX-PN, and licensure by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT).[bvnpt_lvn][bvnpt_apply] The board lists five methods to qualify, with graduation from a California-approved program the most common.[bvnpt_apply] In California a vocational nurse practices under the direction of a physician or registered nurse.[bvnpt_lvn]
| Item | Fee | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Examination application (California school graduate) | $300 | BVNPT (fee table as of Sept. 21, 2022) |
| Initial license | $300 | BVNPT |
| Biennial renewal | $305 | BVNPT |
| NCLEX-PN registration | $200 ($350 from Feb. 1, 2027) | NCSBN |
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a California LVN license is valid only in California; LVNs who move or travel need a license by endorsement in each new state, as explained on how to become a travel nurse.[nlc][bvnpt_fees][nclex_fee]
LVN school in California
An LVN program in California covers the board's 1,530 required hours, typically in about a year of full-time study;[bvnpt_lvn] MiraCosta College lists 14 months full-time (24 part-time) at about $3,500 for tuition, uniforms, books and health requirements.[s_miracosta] The national picture, with another public program for comparison, is on how to become an LPN and nursing school cost; national LPN pay is on LPN salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an LVN make in California per hour?
$38.34 at the California median (BLS, May 2025); $30.96 at the 10th percentile and $48.29 at the 90th.
Where do LVNs make the most in California?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,320 median), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA.
How many hours is LVN school in California?
1,530 hours: 576 hours of theory and 954 clinical hours (BVNPT).
Is an LVN the same as an LPN?
Yes. California and Texas use the vocational title; BLS reports one wage for both, and both take the NCLEX-PN.
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-2061.00 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Local Wages: 29-1141.00 Registered Nurses (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 31-1131.00 Nursing Assistants (state and metro percentiles)
- Licensed Vocational Nurses (1,530-hour program: 576 theory, 954 clinical; practice under direction of a physician or RN)
- Applicants: five methods to qualify for LVN licensure; NCLEX-PN
- Fees (exam $300, initial license $300, biennial renewal $305; as of Sept 21, 2022)
- Nurse Licensure Compact: participating states map and status data
- NCLEX Fees and Payment ($200 registration; $350 from Feb. 1, 2027)
- Licensed Vocational Nursing program (14 months; about $3,500)