Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary
in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
- Middle 50%
- $76,540–$96,960
- vs U.S. median
- +26%
- Metro rank
- #14 of 443
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro earn a median of $81,000 a year, based on BLS estimates for 340 jobs (May 2025). That is 26% above the U.S. median of $64,400 and 2% above the CA statewide median of $79,750. It ranks #14 of 443 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE340 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in other CA metros
8 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $94,310 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,580 |
| Vallejo, CA | $85,430 |
| Napa, CA | $83,690 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $81,570 |
| Salinas, CA | $80,910 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $80,020 |
Turn your result into a raise plan.
Run the free check first for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses. If you want to act on it, the Dossier turns your result into a target number (the 75th percentile for your job and metro), the employers that report paying more (where filing data exists), a raise or counter-offer script filled in with your numbers, and a one-page summary for your manager.
- ✓ Built from BLS and DOL data
- ✓ PDF generated in your browser
- ✓ 7-day money-back guarantee
RELATED HEALTHCARE JOBS IN SANTA CRUZ
Guide: LPN salary by state, ranked
Questions
What is the average Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Santa Cruz?
The BLS median is $81,000 a year (May 2025). Half of the 340 jobs pay between $76,540 and $96,960. The 10th percentile is $64,510 and the 90th is $101,820.
Is Santa Cruz a high-paying metro for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
That is 26% above the U.S. median of $64,400 and 2% above the CA statewide median of $79,750. It ranks #14 of 443 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make an hour in Santa Cruz?
About $38.94 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $81,000 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $36.80–$46.62 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.