Can I really make a living with just my LVN license?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

Chicago is a high COL (cost-of-living) city, and their LPN pay rates have not yet caught up with the increases in rents and housing. It will be difficult to support a family and impossible to own a house on an LPN salary there. You could probably afford to live as a single unmarried LPN and rent an apartment, though

My former coworker is originally from Chicagoland (the nickname for the Chicago metro area). She had been practicing as an LVN in Texas for 15 years before moving back to Chicago in 2006. She is now desperate to come back to Texas because she is having a hard time supporting herself on their LPN pay.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

I live in a small town right now and I'm planning on moving to Chicago. I need to know will my LVN be enough or is it wiser to upgrade later on? Can I live in a big city, raise a family and have a home on just my LVN?
:typing

You didn't mention if you were planning on being married and raising a family? If you are a two-income family and if your SO has a job that pays well then an LVN salary would be good, compared to say a retail job, in terms of being the second income. My dh has a very good job and when I was an LPN my salary was the vacation money, the movie money, the out to eat money, etc....If my dh earned the same amount that I did it would have been a struggle. It all depends on your particular situation.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Feb 24, 2008

As others have stated, it depends on what you are looking for and your situation. If you are in touch with any other LPNs that live in that area, ask them what the going salary is and housing. You can possibly look this up on line, or ask for a newspaper. See if LPNs still have opportunities out there, because many areas seem to limit practical nurses to long term care, assisted living and home care.

I even see RNs struggle with their salaries. My job pays us bi-weekly, and I see that most RNs bring home anywhere from $300 to $500 more than I do each pay period, and when I broke it down, it was not really that much, since the cost of living in New York is also high, most of them have mortgages, families, paying tuition, cars, etc...forcing most of them to seek for other jobs as well. I was fortunate in that my mother left me a mortgage free house when she died, and I am married. I am comfortable. But, if I were out there paying these astronomical rents and mortgages, I would be dead broke.

It is not a bad idea to continue for your RN if that is what you wish. But, maybe that is a goal to do now, before you relocate so that you can have the trauma of school and taking NCLEX over with before compounding a move and search for a new job.

muchaneta · Feb 25, 2008

I live in a small town right now and I'm planning on moving to Chicago. I need to know will my LVN be enough or is it wiser to upgrade later on? Can I live in a big city, raise a family and have a home on just my LVN?
:typing

Sometimes it depends on your planning and financial discipline. I know of an RN who lost her home in CA. It proves that earning a lot of money doesn't necessarily mean a good life. You have to be a good planner. I think it also depends on the amount of hours you work and amount of pay. Good luck!

jelorde37 · Feb 25, 2008

depends on what you want in life. my dad is a machinist and my mom has been a lvn for 18 years now and they have been doing pretty good. they were able to buy two houses, put me and my brothers to school, go on vacations atleast once a year, etc etc. i guess its also in how you handle your money. presonally, ive been doing okay for the last two years working as an lvn. this is in california btw.

picurn10 · Feb 25, 2008

I think so much depends on your area. Where I live, my LPN friends tell me that starting jobs are between $7-12/hr and there is no way I could support myself long-term with my ds (I'm a single mom) and have the lifestyle I want (home, private school, etc...) on that income I wait tables and often make double that on a good night, but always more than that on typical night. It's discouraging, but I want my RN anyway, so I think LPN will have to be a short stay for me in the end.

jenn27 · Feb 25, 2008

april&em

I don't know where you live. I live in rural Ohio and aides here make what your saying, lpn in your area make.

pumpkin1984 you can get on line and find the average salary of lpn in your area or anywhere you are thinking of moving, that way you have a better idea.