Is your LPN Salary Adequate

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jan 13, 2008

Not really, but my circumstances are different from most people. I was an only child for my mother, and when she died, she left me a mortgage free home, I am married to a wonderful man, and I am not materialistic. I always liked to shop at discount stores, flea markets and look to save a buck. I don't need a great deal of money to entertain myself, and my son is the same way. He is not into the name brand things, demanding or running the streets. So, the $22 an hour job is not bad for me, and I do always work elsewhere because I am trying to pay off my bills by the end of this year and begin investing money. My agency jobs usually pay anywhere from $25-$30 an hour, and most times, I am not killing myself at these sweet assignments.

What I do think is that we are taking similar risks to RNs. While I certainly comprehend why they get more, due to their level of education and scope of practice, we have just as much of a chance to be injured or exposed to illness as they do and should be compensated more fairly. I know secretaries get paid more than I do. That disgusts me more than anything else.

caliotter3 · Jan 13, 2008

No. I've recently been offered work at $6 an hour less than one of my previous employers was paying me and they wanted me to sign an agreement to give up overtime pay in contravention of the labor laws. I am no longer in a position where I can let job satisfaction make up for inadequate compensation. One of the biggest factors in creating my dissatisfaction is being told that all LPN/LVNs are paid the same scale, then finding out that others are being paid several dollars an hour more than me and that they were hired after me. Perceived unfairness is unfairness. The best way to deal with that is to move on to another employer willing to pay me what I'm worth. My view is that if one LPN is worth X amount per hour, then another LPN is worth the same X amount per hour for the same responsibilities.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2008

During the year of 2006, I earned a few dollars shy of $47,000.

During the year of 2007, I earned $46,000.

I might be in the minority here, but so be it. The money is pretty good, considering the fact that I only have a diploma of vocational nursing that took 12 months to earn. Some of my acquaintances have earned MA degrees in fluffy liberal arts majors (sociology, English, literature, classics) and they cannot even hope to earn $30,000 per year. When one compares their 6 years of collegiate education with my 1 measly year of trade school education, I'm financially doing better than them.

However, I'd love to earn more money. I do not render my services for free, and we all could use a few more dollars to 'uncramp' our lifestyles.

Fiona59 · Jan 14, 2008

I would say No. This is relation to the work I do, the responsibilities I hold and the degree of accountability I hold. It burns myself and my fellow PNs that a unqualified nursing student in her third year makes more on an hourly basis than we do. We carry them. They are allowed three patients maximum while we carry five with the same acuity and medication requirements. Roll on April, we will be walking a picket line.

I work part time usually around a 0.5FTE and last year made just under $32K. I have time for my family, finishing my degree in a non-nursing faculty, and make more than some and less than others.

Like Pagandeva said, I have what I need. Wants and needs are very different things, something that a lot of people don't understand for a few decades.

kam69ss · Jan 14, 2008

I work at a PA Veterens hospital and made $48,000 in 2007 as an LPN. The pay is good, the benefits are excellent. I consider myself very lucky to making this salary as an LPN, I know some RN's who are only making a few thousand more a year then I am and they have been an RN for many many years. I guess some places truely appreciate there nurse's, others do not.

vonsay · Jan 15, 2008

So are the salaries that you guys list with a ton of overtime of is it just your normal work week? I used to work in the steel mill where I made 50,000 a year but only made 15.00 and hour. It was the overtime that made the difference. I think that as long as I have the opportunity to make extra money with OT then 20 to 25 dollars will do me fine.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2008

So are the salaries that you guys list with a ton of overtime of is it just your normal work week?

My base hourly rate is $19, and my base yearly pay is $38,000. With a few extra occasional shifts at the overtime rate of $28+ hourly, my pay bumps up to the $46,000 to $47,000 range per year.

Fiona59 · Jan 15, 2008

On average I do less than 10 hours a month OT. Ours is double time and has shift premiums, so if I work a Sat or Sunday evening, I make $47/hour. But the vast majority of my pay cheque is straight time with my shift premiums.

vonsay · Jan 15, 2008

Oh, good! I graduate next month and am anticipating working overtime on a regular basis to get back on track after not being able to work for the past 15 months! Hopefully I am going to want to work overtime? LOL!

kam69ss · Jan 15, 2008

I might work 4 hours of OT a month, sometimes none at all. My base pay is $19.71, but I work night shift and every other weekend nights differental I make $21.80 and weekends I make $28.15 so the differental is what increases my salary not OT.

Fiona59 · Jan 15, 2008

Overtime is usually allocated on a seniority basis. If those senior to you don't want it, then you get offered it.

It's different if it's the end of your shift and coverage is needed but entire extra shifts are allocated by seniority.