Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs)—or licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in states other than Texas or California)—provide close care to patients, administering medications, assisting with personal hygiene, feeding, general cleaning, taking vital signs, and transporting patients from one place to another. But you already know this; what you want to know is how much LVNs in Texas make. Find your city in the table below:
This resource provides publicly available information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the MIT Living Wage Calculator about average LVN salaries, employment, location quotient, and living wage in Texas (most recent information as of December 2023). While Nursa currently offers independent contractor LVNs in Texas the opportunity to access per diem jobs that pay on an hourly basis rather than access to salaried or wage-based employment opportunities, this information may be a helpful frame of reference for you as you assess the market landscape both in regard to per diem jobs and employment opportunities.
What’s the Difference between an LVN and an RN?
LVNs or LPNs receive practical nursing training to assist patients with daily activities, take vital signs, and administer medications.
On the other hand, registered nurses or RNs receive all of this practical training, as well as more advanced training, allowing them to develop nursing care plans. In addition, RNs supervise LVNs and certified nursing assistants (CNAs).
What's the Average LVN Salary in the State of Texas?
The LPN/LVN mean wage nationwide is $55,860 annually or $26.86 hourly. In comparison, Texas LVNs earn a mean wage of $52,850 annually or $25.41 per hour.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following percentiles represent the typical range of LVN wages in Texas:
- 90th percentile: $63,610
- 75th percentile: $58,840
- 50th percentile: $50,910
- 25th percentile: $47,050
- 10th percentile: $41,550
As can be seen, LVNs in Texas earn different mean wages. Typically, 80 percent of LVNs in Texas earn between $41,550 and $63,610 (from the 10th to the 90th percentile), which implies that only 10 percent of LVNs have a nurse pay in Texas above $63,610.
How Much Do Nurses Make in Texas?
We’ve covered mean LVN wages in Texas, but how do these wages compare to other states? Below, we present the average mean wages in the states surrounding Texas and the difference with the average LVN pay in the Lone Star State:
As we can see, LVNs in Texas typically receive competitive pay for the region, surpassed only by New Mexico.
What Is the LVN Pay in Texas per Hour?
The average hourly wage in Texas typically varies between $19.98 and $30.58. However, these hourly wages differ significantly by area.
Although nurse pay can vary significantly from city to city, licensed vocational nurses can increase their hourly rates by picking up per diem shifts—regardless of location. Here are some cities offering high-paying and flexible LVN jobs in Texas:
- PRN LVN jobs in Dallas
- PRN LVN jobs in Houston
- PRN LVN jobs in Fort Worth
- PRN LVN jobs in Austin
- PRN LVN jobs in Irving
- PRN LVN jobs in Arlington
- PRN LVN jobs in Laredo
- PRN LVN jobs in Corpus Christi
- PRN LVN jobs in El Paso
- PRN LVN jobs in San Antonio
Per diem or PRN (pro re nata) jobs mean nurses can work as needed with the advantages of earning better hourly rates, varying work from one location to another, and choosing their own schedules.
How Can I Earn More as a Nurse in Texas?
Knowing how much you can earn in Texas may help you choose the best option when considering independent contractor work or applying for salaried or wage-based employment.
Many factors influence earnings, and there are many ways in which nurses can earn more per hour. Here are some factors that affect nurse pay:
- Type of job: The type of contract can make a huge difference in hourly earnings. For example, per diem jobs tend to pay more per hour than staff positions.
- Setting: Jobs in hospitals, hospices, clinics, nursing homes, etc., all have different average pay rates.
- Location: As shown in the tables above, LVNs in different regions of Texas have a large variability in earnings due to many factors, including the cost of living for each area.
Working per diem jobs is an excellent way to increase your hourly income since you can earn higher-than-average pay regardless of your setting and location.
What is the Cost of Living in Texas for LVNs?
The cost of living is the money required to live in a specific area and cover basic expenses. Generally, this calculation includes food, taxes, transportation, housing, healthcare, and education expenses. Here are some cost of living considerations for Texas:
Data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator (Most recent information as of October 2023)
This data indicates that the average LVN hourly wage in Texas is sufficient for an adult living alone but is not enough to cover the expenses of dependents. However, if a household does not depend solely on one income, the living wage per person decreases, and the burden lessens for LVNs.
Employment and Location Quotient for LVNs
According to the BLS, 62,240 licensed vocational nurses are employed in Texas, which translates to 4.79 LVNs per 1,000 jobs. Does this sound like a lot? Well, it is. Texas has a higher concentration of LVNs than the national average, as indicated by the location quotient. Whereas the national average concentration of LVNs equals a location quotient of one, the LQ for LVNs in Texas is 1.12.
How Can I Become an LVN in Texas?
To become an LVN in Texas, applicants must obtain a nursing license. To get this license, applicants typically complete one of the LVN programs in Texas accredited by the Nursing Board of Texas. Upon completing the training with the necessary practical hours, applicants must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
Below is a list of top schools offering LVN nursing programs in Texas:
- University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- Lubbock Christian University
- West Texas A&M University
- Texas A&M International University
- Lamar University
These LVN nursing schools in Texas offer high-quality programs to aspiring vocational nurses and train them to provide excellent nursing care.
How Can I Find Per Diem Independent Contractor Jobs near Me?
In short, the best way to find per diem jobs in Texas is through Nursa, which connects healthcare facilities looking for nurses with LVNs nearby. LVNs can find a variety of jobs in many settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and offices of physicians. Browse Nursa today for high-paying per diem LVN jobs near you.
