Can LPN's really make good money

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Oct 13, 2009

I'm married no kids and my salary supports us.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Oct 13, 2009

I think that it depends on your circumstances, spending habits and discipline. If my credit cards were paid up, I could probably live a bit better...I am not spending wildly, in fact, I pay double of what they ask for monthly. When my mother died, she left me a home with no mortgage, I am married and we do okay, with careful planning.

But, I have seen other medical professionals in the same predicament...some make double what I make, but because some of those individuals do not cut their coat to fit them, so to speak, they are sometimes borrowing from me. If you are not careful in your spending, you can be in a hole no matter how much money you make.

nursenewbe · Oct 13, 2009

I just got my license and a job(THANK GOD) my starting pay is 17.01 and I just took an agency position for 18.30 a hour to make one full time job. To me, this is pretty good money because I have been a tech for a long time making inbetween 11 and 12 bucks a hour. I am also chosing to work as a tech also. To answer your question if u are single, no kids, no car payment then yea it is pretty good money. But in today's world even a RN's pay might be not enough. It takes 2 or 3 checks to make a house run effeciently in Orlando, Fla.

1uvakindmom · Oct 16, 2009

For me, I have 4 children. I have been searching and searching for a job. We live in MA, which has a very high cost of living, my my husband only makes 11 an hour. When I can actually land a job as an LPN, it will be like we are rich, to me.

mlk1217 · Oct 19, 2009

Depending on the area. I live in WI, and LPNs are making $18-$25/hr in long-term care, assisted living, home health care, sub-acute, and rehab facilities. Pool LPNs can make $20-$40/hour depending on the agency and your work experience. Good luck with your job hunt!

same in Texas

mlk1217 · Oct 19, 2009

No - plain and simple. LPN wages will not support a family (say 2 adults and two kids ) comfortably. Sure, you can work OT, but then you're taking away time from the family which greatly reduces quality of life for everyone involved.

I pay for a new 1900sf house, my 2 kids go to an academy, we have cable and internet, my wife drives a new malibu and is a full time student. I have time for the gym, martial arts, and my kids soccar games AND my wife coaches.

I've only been an LVN for 2 years.

It's time management and smart budgeting.

Were very happy and when my wife graduates with her LVN we will have collage funds, life insurance, ect... AND I rarely work OT. All this on only $22.50hr. you can do it

flightnurse2b, LPN · Oct 19, 2009

i make $23.50 an hour and work 3 12 hour night shifts a week at the hospital as a staff nurse (i have only one job). i don't think i would be able to make it on my own and support a family, but i think i do pretty well! i'm thankful to be employed.

kat7ap · Oct 19, 2009

How many other professions out there can you take a one year or less course and come out making $20/hr plus benefits and have an in demand stable job? Not too many that I am aware of.... I am talking in general terms of course because job availability and hourly wages vary from place to place. You certainly will not become "rich" as an LPN but depending of your family/life situation you should be making enough to get by and maybe even be a little comfortable. Too make this happen though, many of us do work OT, sometimes because we HAVE to and other times we just want to, cause you know some extra money is always nice!

imim · Oct 25, 2009

LPN2005 must live in southern Wisconsin where there is a greater population base. I live in the northern third of Wisconsin where starting wages for LPNs are from $15-$18. Only after working your way up the pay scale with merit increases does a nurse get into the $20 range, and merit increases rarely keep up with the cost of living.

jansan2 · Oct 25, 2009

whats up with miami,how is the pay and job availability there?