compare.careers

Career comparison

Registered nurse vs. Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

Registered nurses earn more: a median of $97,550, $33,150 (51%) above licensed practical nurses (LPNs) at $64,400.

Registered nurses have the stronger outlook: +6% projected growth through 2035, vs. +3%.

Getting in is slower for registered nurses: about 1.5 years vs. 14 months for someone with a bachelor's in another field.

Registered nurseLicensed practical nurse (LPN)
Median pay$97,550$64,400
Top 10% earn over$137,470$83,440
Growth to 2035+6%+3%
Openings per year180,80051,800
Jobs today3,465,400666,900
Typical entry educationBachelor's degreePostsecondary nondegree award
Time to qualify*1.5 years14 months
Training cost*$41K–$92K$10K–$36K

* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.

Pay

Registered nurse

$97,55010% earn under $68,940 · middle half $80,330–$112,350 · top 10% over $137,470

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

$64,40010% earn under $49,740 · middle half $59,000–$76,030 · top 10% over $83,440
Bar: middle 50% of workers. Line: 10th to 90th percentile. Dot: median. BLS OEWS, May 2025, national.

Switching from one to the other

Set your education and current pay. The calculator lays out the path, what it costs, and the year it starts paying off.

Registered nurseLicensed practical nurse (LPN)

Loading the calculator…

Getting in

Registered nurse

Entry education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-job training
None
Prior experience
None

Required: NCLEX-RN exam · State RN license

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

Entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
On-the-job training
None
Prior experience
None

Required: NCLEX-PN exam · State LPN/LVN license

What the work is like

Registered nurseLicensed practical nurse (LPN)

Dealing with the public

Rarely
Constantly

Unpleasant or angry people

Rarely
Constantly

Time pressure

Rarely
Constantly

Cost of a mistake

Minor
Severe

Freedom to make decisions

Little
A lot

Repeating the same tasks

Rarely
Constantly

Time sitting

Rarely
Constantly

Time standing

Rarely
Constantly

Hazardous conditions

Rarely
Constantly

Exposure to disease

Rarely
Constantly

Registered nurse: 25% usually work over 40 hours a weekLicensed practical nurse (LPN): 15% usually work over 40 hours a week

Average worker ratings, 1 to 5. O*NET 31.0 work context survey.

Registered nurse: core tasks

  • Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
  • Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
  • Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
  • Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
  • Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN): core tasks

  • 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.

Skills: what carries over

Both rely on: Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Service Orientation.

New for a registered nurse moving to licensed practical nurse (LPN): Time Management.

New for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) moving to registered nurse: Writing.

Interests (Holland codes): Registered nurse: Social, Conventional, Investigative. Licensed practical nurse (LPN): Social, Realistic, Conventional.

Outlook to 2035, and AI

Registered nurse

+6%

about as fast as average · 180,800 openings a year

BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.

Licensed practical nurse (LPN)

+3%

about as fast as average · 51,800 openings a year

BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.

Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.

Questions people ask

Who makes more, a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?

Registered nurses earn more: a median of $97,550, $33,150 (51%) above licensed practical nurses (LPNs) at $64,400.

Which has the better job outlook?

Registered nurses have the stronger outlook: +6% projected growth through 2035, vs. +3%.

How long does it take to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN)?

For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 14 months, with tuition of roughly $10,400 to $36,000. Required: NCLEX-PN exam, State LPN/LVN license.

How long does it take to become a registered nurse?

For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 1.5 years, with tuition of roughly $40,500 to $91,500. Required: NCLEX-RN exam, State RN license.

More comparisons