Licensed Practical Nurse Job Market Overview (2026)
The Licensed Practical Nurse job market is steadily growing, with 2,929 open positions tracked across 20 cities worldwide. In the past 30 days alone, 1,183 new positions were posted (759 in the last week), indicating strong and consistent demand from employers.
Compensation Landscape
The median salary for Licensed Practical Nurse positions is $53,123, with the middle 50% of earners making between $45,988 and $66,451. Top earners (90th percentile) command $81,736 or more. Note that 90% of listings do not disclose salary, so actual compensation may differ in some markets. The highest-paying city is Washington DC at $100,000 median, while Albuquerque, NM offers $34,788.
Skills That Get You Hired
Based on analysis of job descriptions, the most in-demand skills for Licensed Practical Nurse roles are Nursing, Patient Care, Customer Service, HIPAA, CPR, and EHR. Including these keywords in your resume and cover letter can significantly improve your ATS match rate and interview chances.
How to Apply
Start by reviewing our Licensed Practical Nurse resume example to see what top candidates include. Pair it with a strong cover letter tailored to your target company. Then use JobsChat AI to search all 2,929 positions and get matched based on your experience, preferred location, and salary expectations.