Hourly Rate for an LPN in Florida

ANNG7 · May 22, 2011

needtoknowbasis said:
I was born and raised in south Florida and, just like anywhere else, it depends where you are. I live in Bradenton which is on the south side of Tampa Bay and directly north of Sarasota and I would say that it's not so horrible. Every city and town has its 'bad' areas and 'better' areas and I was fortunate enough to grow up in a more upper-middle class area and went to private schools my whole life.
I don't plan on being an LPN the rest of my life either, I'm currently in the ADN RN program at my community college and it's going swimmingly. From what I hear, new RNs at hospitals and other acute-care settings make about as much as I make now. I'm not sure what RNs start out at in LTC/rehab facilities though but I imagine it to be somewhere between 25 to 30 dollars an hour.

Yes you are right! It truly depends where you live. I'm glad your in the RN program and I wish you well. That's my goal once I'm done with the LPN.

Take care

LIRN · Jun 11, 2011

I do the hiring in a SNF in Martin County, Florida. Martin County is considered south Florida, just barely. It's a nice place to live. Schools? Well, it's Florida, what can I say. A lot different in quality from what I can see compared to the schools on Long Island where I'm from. Housing is dirt cheap. Beaches are gorgeous. But back to pay rates. Starting wages for LPN on day shift is $19 and hour, on eves $21 and hour, on nights $22 and hour. There's shift differential and that's it. No other differential. RNs start at $21 on days, $23 on eves, $24 on nights. Just shift diff, again. Work every other weekend and half the major holidays.

I do a salary survey every spring and we are maybe a little bit higher than most of the facilities in our county, and a tad bit lower than one. We haven't raised our rates since 2006, based on salary survey results--that is, almost no one else has either. In this economy, there's no reason to raise rates, speaking purely from a financial viewpoint.

RNs who are managers (DON, ADON, MDS, Risk Manager, SDC etc), make significantly more $$$ and are all salaried. It's a really good place to work too. I know that's rare, but it is.

AvasMom11 · Jun 11, 2011

I'm at 12 an hour where I live in KS ans I am also an lpn. I am hoping out goes up to 15 after my initial 60 day period is up. That's only with a perfect review though. So I guess we'll see.

worthytosucceed · Oct 31, 2011

Hi,

I graduated in May, 2011 and received my license in August, 2011 as an LPN. I live in Central Florida. A bunch of my classmates and I work for a home health agency making $15 an hour. I have also worked events through a staffing company making $19 an hour. I applied at a hospital once (didn't have enough experience) and was told the pay was $14/hr. Nursing homes here also pay $15 for new nurses. According to a friend of mine who has been an LPn for years and is a charge nurse in a LTC facility, there is a pay scale that all federally funded (medicaid funded) facilities must follow. Hope this helps.

LIRN · Oct 31, 2011

Worthytosucceed wrote:

According to a friend of mine who has been an LPn for years and is a charge nurse in a LTC facility, there is a pay scale that all federally funded (medicaid funded) facilities must follow.

I'm pretty sure your friend is incorrect about that.

damos1989 · Nov 17, 2011

I'm sorry to hijack this thread here but I didn't want to take up any more room...

I'm researching information for my fiancee. We just moved down to the Tampa area from NY, and we're trying to get everything together. She's been a CNA for 5 years, and a damn good one. She left the hospital she has worked at for the last year with accolades, an award given to her for amazing patient care, and the best two letters of recommendation you could ask for from two separate Directors of Nursing.

Her plan is to be a Nurse Practitioner. She's going to go to school, get her LPN, then she's going to spend four years getting her RN, and two more reaching the goal. So obviously, she's going to be spending the most time as an LPN.

With this kind of information, what do you guys think her hourly wage might be when she tries to get her first job as an LPN at either a nursing home or a hospital?

LIRN · Nov 17, 2011

Do you plan to live and work in the Tampa area? I can call one of our facilities in that area and ask what the starting pay for LPNs is. Over here in Martin County it's anywhere from 17-19 an hour, depending on what company you work for. Might be a bit higher or lower in Tampa area but that should give you an idea. None of the experience and accolades as an aide will help with starting salary as an LPN, though they are all good things to attach to an application. References are important, at least to me. Sometimes it's hard to get that first job as a nurse, especially now when there is no shortage of nurses due to the economy. May I suggest she go directly for the RN and skip the LPN? She could do it in a lot less than four years if she goes for an associates degree. Are you moving from upstate NY, the city, or Long Island?

damos1989 · Nov 17, 2011

Thanks for the reply!

We're going to be living and working in the Tampa area.

The reason why she's going for her LPN is because she wants a little bit of a pay bump while she goes for the RN. The reason why she's getting the bachelor's RN is because she wants to be an NP, eventually. Shifting circumstances are normal in today's world, though. She may take a break at the Associate's level or she may not. And to answer your final question, we moved from Upstate NY.

LIRN · Nov 20, 2011

Well, since you're moving from upstate NY, you won't have as much salary shock as you would have if you were moving from Long Island or NYC :)

I think she'll find the LPN pay rates about what I quoted in my first reply.

I too became an LPN first to take advantage of the pay bump, way back when, but I did it through BOCES, so it was reasonably priced. Then I went to an LPN to RN program at the local community college. That saved about a semester of classes. I'm sure those programs are still around. Some of the LPN schools are so outrageously priced! I've heard of a few in our area charging upwards of 20K for the program! I hope she's not going to have to pay that much. I don't know if she's looked into the CLEP program but I really recommend she take as many CLEP tests as she can. They can shorten the time to the Associate's degree (and decrease the cost) tremendously! English, Psychology, Sociology, Human Growth and Development, College Algebra, and many humanities and social science requirements can be satisfied with CLEP.

The danger of going the LPN-RN route is getting "stuck" in the LPN phase. Making more money than as a CNA, working full-time--it's easy to put off school. That and maybe having kids--it happens.

Sounds like she has a good plan. You're going to love winters in Florida. I too am from NY and I'd never put up with those winters again!

Good luck to you and your wife!

ASPIRING2BGREAT · Jul 2, 2013

This post is depressing for Florida, but I still hope and faith.

BeachBliss114 · Jun 10, 2015

I know this is bad, but I am applying for the Tampa area and on my application I am asking for 20.00/hr.. Some I am asking less or putting "Considering all salary offers". Because my first job as an LPN I just took the first one I could get and I didn't care about the pay. I don't live in FL yet but when we move our rent will be about FIVE TIMES as much as it is now. So, I would rather ask for more and get less versus ask for less and get even less. I realize there are risks about asking for that much with 1 year experience such as "who does she think she is?" "she must think she's worth that much, ha!" or "put her in the discard pile" BUT that's also why I put considering all offers.

I am astonished at how little LPNs in the South get paid versus the North (or so I have heard). Kind of disgraceful. Wish we could all ask for more pay and boycott til' we at least get 18/ hr :yes: lol

LockportRN · Jun 22, 2015

10.75?????? No way would I do that!