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Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Iowa
Considering working as a Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Iowa? Here’s what the data says. Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
What do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Make in Iowa?
The licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $59,460 per year (or about $28.59/hour).Pay can range from $48,510 at the 10th percentile to $75,320 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,510 | $23.32 |
| 25th percentile | $51,560 | $24.79 |
| Median (50th) | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| 75th percentile | $64,110 | $30.82 |
| 90th percentile | $75,320 | $36.21 |
The job concentration index in Iowa nationwide is 0.86, meaning fewer licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn a median of $118,810 per year ($57.12/hour), below the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 2,776,351 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses across the United States. In Iowa alone, around 5,520 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 6,940 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.
Top Iowa Metros for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
These are the Iowa metros with the most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,040 | $61,120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 630 | $59,370 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 380 | $56,540 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 370 | $58,790 |
| Iowa City, IA | 240 | $61,380 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 230 | $58,330 |
| Dubuque, IA | 200 | $58,740 |
| Ames, IA | 170 | $63,020 |
Top States for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Employment
View the states that employ the most licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 79,610 |
| Texas | 59,060 |
| New York | 40,720 |
| Florida | 36,470 |
| Ohio | 36,440 |
| Pennsylvania | 31,140 |
| Georgia | 20,800 |
| Tennessee | 19,140 |
| Louisiana | 18,630 |
| Illinois | 18,230 |
| North Carolina | 17,430 |
| Virginia | 16,710 |
| New Jersey | 15,210 |
| Massachusetts | 15,210 |
| Indiana | 14,680 |
| Missouri | 14,320 |
| Minnesota | 12,740 |
| Oklahoma | 11,820 |
| Michigan | 11,060 |
| Alabama | 10,840 |
Highest-Paying States for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
These states pay the most for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $79,700 |
| Rhode Island | $77,940 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| California | $77,170 |
| Oregon | $76,570 |
| Massachusetts | $76,560 |
| New Hampshire | $74,660 |
| Arizona | $74,020 |
| Nevada | $73,820 |
| New Jersey | $71,180 |
Skills
Top licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically:
- Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration.
- Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts.
- Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations.
- Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them.
- Supervise nurses' aides or assistants.
- Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary.
- Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions.
- Record food and fluid intake and output.
- Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers.
- Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples.
- Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Related occupations to licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses include:
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Acute Care Nurses
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
- Critical Care Nurses
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
Also Known As
Charge Nurse, Clinic Licensed Practical Nurse (Clinic LPN), Clinic Nurse, Home Health Licensed Practical Nurse (Home Health LPN), Licensed Care Coordinator (LCC), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), Long Term Care LPN (Long Term Care Licensed Practical Nurse), Medical LPN (Medical Licensed Practical Nurse), Nursing Home LPN (Nursing Home Licensed Practical Nurse), Office Nurse, Pediatric LPN (Pediatric Licensed Practical Nurse), Private Duty Licensed Practical Nurse (Private Duty LPN), Private Duty Nurse, Radiation Oncology Nurse.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-2061.00