I have been an LPN for nearly 40 years, an have heard this very question all my life!!! It gets very old after a while. But I just smile and politely tell them that I enjoy what I do. I would rather be an excellent LPN than a mediocre RN any day ...
The closest I have come is $57,000.00 By working in Home Health care and seeing a great number of patients. Last year I made $55,000.00 by working QAS in the office and seeing patients after work. But it is extremely hard (paperwork).