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How Much Will A New LVN Earn In California?
If you’re thinking about becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse, you’ll be interested to know that the average LVN salary in California is almost 10% higher than elsewhere in the United States. Of course, this number is skewed somewhat by the comparatively high salaries earned by experienced LVNs in metropolitan areas, but even the average entry-level pay in the Golden State is significantly higher than in other parts of the country. Given the state’s rapidly increasing demand for vocational nurses, this should be great news to anyone who is hoping to break into the profession.
How Much Does the Average LVN Make in California?
Licensed Vocational Nurses in California were taking home an average annual salary of $50,490 as of August 2011, and that figure was expected to rise significantly over the next several years. These numbers become even more compelling for those who work in certain areas. For example, LVNs in Salinas earn the highest average salary of anywhere in the country at $59,670 per year, just ahead of vocational nurses in the Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland in particular) who also average close to $60,000 annually.
Even among recently-licensed vocational nurses, the expected annual salary ranks near the top of the U.S. pay scale for those with similar experience. While LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses, as they are known every outside of Texas and California) are paid an average of $13.07 per hour nationally, LVNs in California earn a significantly higher $14.43 for each hour on the clock.
Strategies for Increasing Your Salary as an LVN
There are several factors you should be aware of that will influence exactly how much you get paid as a vocational nurse. Such variables typically include the amount of experience you haves, the type of health care provider you work for, and, most importantly, the type of specialized certifications you hold. While putting in time is the only way to gain experience, there are things you can do to influence the other variables that affect your pay.
Specialize in a Field
There is probably no quicker way to increase your salary as a vocational nurse than to become certified as a specialist. Some of the most popular fields that LVNs choose to become certified in include: acute care, cardiovascular, delivery nursing, geriatric, intensive care, labor, oncology, pediatric and women’s health. By becoming a specialist in one of these areas, you can not only dramatically increase your salary, but also guarantee yourself of working in a position that you will enjoy and find rewarding.
Find Work Somewhere Other Than in a Hospital
The experience of working in a hospital is certainly a valuable one that new vocational nurses are encouraged to take advantage of. Advancing your career as an LVN may eventually require moving to another type of facility, however. Because the frenetic pace and odd hours demanded by hospital work can wear on some LVNs, private practices, clinics, and nursing homes can provide a welcome (and better paying) change in scenery.
Go Where the Money Is
Because there is absolutely a premium paid to LVNs who work in California’s more populated areas, moving to a place that pays higher wages is always an option. On average, the closer you work to the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, the more money you will earn. In most cases, LVNs in these cities earn anywhere from 5% to 20% more than their peers in other cities.
On the other hand, the flipside to this equation is that you will also run into far more competition for jobs, and need to account for a higher cost of living in those areas. Higher living expenses alone generally account for this difference in LVN salary in California, so it’s important to factor this into your decision before packing your bags and moving.
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