Salary · NC · SOC 29-2061

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for licensed practical and vocational nurses in North Carolina, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for licensed practical and vocational nurses in North Carolina was $63,270 a year, or $30.42 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $50,480 to $74,730. About 18,010 were employed.

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Licensed Practical Nurse pay in North Carolina vs the US

Licensed Practical Nurse wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
MeasureNC annualNC hourlyUS annual
Median (50th percentile)$63,270$30.42$64,400
Mean (average)$63,720$30.64$67,050
10th percentile$50,480$24.27$49,740
25th percentile$59,270$28.50$59,000
75th percentile$69,700$33.51$76,030
90th percentile$74,730$35.93$83,440

Employment in North Carolina: 18,010. Location quotient: 0.87 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Licensed Practical Nurse salary by metro area in North Carolina

Licensed Practical Nurse median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro areaMedian annualMedian hourlyEmployed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$65,140$31.323,890
Raleigh-Cary, NC$64,080$30.811,740
Greensboro-High Point, NC$63,610$30.581,470
Winston-Salem, NC$62,970$30.271,330
Fayetteville, NC$64,670$31.09980
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$66,950$32.19960
Asheville, NC$65,470$31.48860
Wilmington, NC$63,390$30.48790
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC$62,430$30.01740
Greenville, NC$61,600$29.62610
Burlington, NC$63,450$30.51260
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC$61,730$29.68240
Rocky Mount, NC$62,080$29.85200
Goldsboro, NC$60,470$29.07190
Jacksonville, NC$60,770$29.22130
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$64,370$30.953,410

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Licensed Practical Nurse salary in North Carolina
Median pay: $63,270 a year ($30.42 an hour)
Middle 80% earn $50,480 to $74,730 a year
Employed: 18,010
BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

Questions

How much does an LPN make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $30.42 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $24.27 and the 90th was $35.93.

What is the average LPN salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $63,720 a year and a median of $63,270 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do licensed practical and vocational nurses in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $63,270 is 2% lower than the US median of $64,400 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for licensed practical nurse pay?

North Carolina ranks 29 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for licensed practical and vocational nurses (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-2061. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.

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