Looking for a pay bump? Vivian Health has the inside track to where licensed practical nurses (LPNs) seeking a new specialty can potentially earn more in 2025. LPNs, or licensed vocational nurses in California and Texas, work throughout the healthcare industry in various settings. Like registered nurses (RNs), LPNs can specialize within various patient populations or practice areas, and some of these specialties pay more than others. Whether you’re finishing up an LPN education program or already working as an LPN and seeking new opportunities, explore our predictions of the highest-paying LPN specialties to earn top dollar this year.
10 LPN Specialties Projected to Pay Well in 2025
We researched the average weekly pay for all LPN specialties posted to our jobs marketplace over the last 12 months, then ranked the top 10 from highest to lowest average. However, we omitted any specialty with a job count of less than 10 as not having enough LPN salary data to provide an accurate average. Based on our research, these 10 LPN specialties should command premium pay in 2025.
1. Dialysis LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / CPDN / CD-LPN
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,829
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,201
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.18
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,167
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $35
Dialysis LPNs, also called nephrology LPNs, specialize in managing the dialysis process for patients with acute or chronic kidney failure. They operate and monitor dialysis machines, ensuring the treatment adheres to the physician’s orders while adjusting settings to maintain proper fluid and electrolyte balances. Their duties include preparing the dialyzer, monitoring the patient for any adverse reactions and documenting treatment parameters.
Dialysis LPNs’ technical proficiency extends to understanding the complications that can arise during dialysis, such as hypotension or clotting, and responding effectively to such emergencies. In addition to their technical duties, they educate patients and their families on managing kidney disease and the specifics of dialysis treatment. Dialysis LPNs may provide care in hospitals or dialysis centers or assist patients with in-home dialysis. Their expert ability to manage complex dialysis treatments with precision and care distinguishes them from their peers, ensuring each session enhances the patient’s quality of life.
2. Clinical Support Specialist LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,636
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,074
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $40.91
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,636
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $52
Clinical Support Specialist LPNs have multifaceted roles in patient care, combining their nursing expertise with specialized administrative and technical skills to support the clinical and administrative functions within a healthcare setting. They manage patient records and data, ensuring accuracy and accessibility for medical staff. Clinical Support Specialist LPNs also actively assist in medical procedures, organizing equipment and preparing treatment areas to streamline patient care.
These LPN specialists are responsible for implementing healthcare protocols and safety standards, contributing to the overall quality of patient services. This specialization requires a keen understanding of both regulatory compliance and practical patient interaction, positioning Clinical Support Specialist LPNs as key operational support within medical facilities. Their detailed knowledge of healthcare regulations and ability to navigate clinical environments make them key contributors to maintaining seamless care delivery and ensuring healthcare facilities operate efficiently, allowing physicians and nurses to focus more effectively on patient care.
3. Behavioral Health LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,623
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,267
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.05
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,162
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $35
LPNs specializing in the complex field of behavioral health provide invaluable care and support to individuals navigating mental health and/or substance abuse challenges. They work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, therapists and social workers, to deliver comprehensive, individualized care. Behavioral Health LPNs strive to deliver holistic care while administering medications, monitoring patients’ physical and mental health, assisting with therapy sessions and providing therapeutic interventions under RN or physician supervision.
Behavioral Health LPNs assist patients compassionately in various mental health settings, including psychiatric hospitals, clinics, residential treatment centers and community mental health facilities. They’re adept at creating a non-judgmental, therapeutic environment where patients feel understood and supported on their journey to mental and emotional wellness. What distinguishes Behavioral Health LPNs is their commitment to promoting resilience in the face of mental health struggles with empathy and expertise, ensuring each interaction is an opportunity to inspire hope.
4. Ambulatory Care LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / CIC / IV Therapy
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,596
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $3,086
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.18
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,167
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $40
Ambulatory Care LPNs specialize in providing nursing care in outpatient settings, such as clinics, doctor’s offices and ambulatory care centers. They prepare patients for examinations, take vital signs and collect medical histories to ensure accurate assessments. These LPNs also administer injections, vaccinations and medications under a physician’s or nurse practitioner’s direction and assist with minor surgical procedures by setting up surgical areas and sterilizing equipment.
Additionally, Ambulatory Care LPNs provide patient education, instructing individuals on managing chronic illnesses or recovery from procedures and emphasizing the importance of follow-up care. They coordinate tests and manage follow-up appointments to facilitate ongoing patient care and treatment plans. Ambulatory Care LPNs distinguish themselves by their organizational skills and thorough, efficient care while managing multiple patients in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
5. Correctional LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / CCHP / CIC
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,584
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,640
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $33.44
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,338
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $38
Correctional LPNs provide healthcare to incarcerated individuals within correctional facilities, including jails, prisons and detention centers. Working in correctional facilities requires a broad range of nursing skills while ensuring safety and security within this specialized environment. These LPNs are adept at assessing and addressing diverse healthcare needs, from routine to emergency care. Their role encompasses conducting health assessments, administering medications, treating minor injuries and illnesses, managing chronic conditions and assisting with medical emergencies.
They may also engage in health education programs, promoting preventive care and addressing the unique healthcare challenges that could arise in a confined setting. Correctional LPNs serve as a bridge between the healthcare and correctional systems, ensuring individuals have access to necessary medical services. They consistently collaborate with other healthcare professionals and correctional officers to maintain inmates’ overall health and well-being, delivering compassionate care even in challenging circumstances.
6. Clinic LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / CIC / IV Therapy
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,567
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,378
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.74
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,190
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $45
Clinic LPNs provide essential patient care and support in outpatient clinical settings. The fast-paced nature of these settings requires LPNs to bring their clinical expertise to the forefront as they perform a range of tasks, from conducting initial patient assessments and taking vital signs to administering vaccinations and assisting with minor procedures. They also perform other patient-centered tasks like documenting patient information, educating patients and promoting proper infection control measures to ensure smooth clinic operations.
Action-packed clinic jobs require LPNs who’ve mastered multitasking, allowing them to juggle diverse responsibilities with a smile. What truly sets Clinic LPNs apart is their ability to create a welcoming, supportive environment for patients of all ages. They excel at building rapport, offering reassurance and addressing patient concerns with a warm, empathetic touch. A Clinic LPN’s commitment to patient well-being and ability to collaborate seamlessly with the entire healthcare team make them invaluable contributors to the healthcare experience.
7. Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / LPN CLTC / CHPLN / WCC / WTA-C / CIC
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,555
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,435
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.16
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,166
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $35
Long-Term Acute Care LPNs provide nursing care to patients with serious medical conditions who require extended acute care within an LTAC unit in a hospital or a stand-alone LTAC facility. These LPNs monitor patient vital signs and manage feeding tubes, ventilators and other life-sustaining equipment. They’re also responsible for wound care, including dressing changes and monitoring for signs of infection.
These LPNs collaborate closely with doctors, RNs and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement comprehensive care plans tailored to each patient’s specific needs. In the high-demand environment of long-term acute care, these LPNs are caregivers and patient advocates, ensuring that each patient receives personalized attention and compassion. Their dedication and resilience in managing complex health conditions make them uniquely impactful in their patients’ lives.
8. Psychiatric LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / NCPT
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,549
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,206
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $29.16
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,166
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $35
Psychiatric LPNs specialize in mental health, providing crucial support and sensitivity to individuals facing psychiatric challenges. These dedicated nurses play an essential role in helping patients manage their mental health disorders and psychiatric conditions by facilitating therapy sessions, administering medications, monitoring patient responses and creating a safe and therapeutic environment. They work closely with psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, participating in treatment planning and offering insights into patient progress to ensure continuity of care.
Their unique blend of clinical expertise and empathy makes Psychiatric LPNs invaluable in various inpatient and outpatient settings, including psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, residential treatment centers and community health facilities. Their skill at establishing trust and rapport with patients fosters an environment where individuals feel heard and supported. Psychiatric LPNs provide a crucial link between patients and the mental health support they need, where each interaction is an opportunity to positively impact the lives of those they serve.
9. Long Term Care (LTC) LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / LPN CLTC / CHPLN / WCC / <>WTA-C / CIC
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,473
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $2,796
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $26.66
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,066
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $37
Long-Term Care (LTC) LPNs are compassionate caregivers who specialize in providing sustained and comprehensive support to residents in residential long-term care settings. These practical nurses may work in skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, assisted living communities and other long-term care facilities. They provide comprehensive nursing care to residents who require ongoing medical attention and support due to chronic illnesses, disabilities or the challenges of aging.
Duties of LTC LPNs run the gamut, including monitoring residents’ health, administering medications, assisting with activities of daily living, collaborating with the healthcare team to formulate individualized care plans and providing emotional support. What sets them apart is their focus on fostering a supportive, homelike environment, promoting residents’ physical health and emotional and social well-being. LTC LPNs build strong connections with their patients, creating a nurturing community where residents can age with dignity and comfort.
10. Emergency Department (ED) LPN
- Relevant Certifications: BLS / CIC / IV Therapy
- Average Weekly Travel Rate: $1,382
- Highest Weekly Travel Rate: $1,864
- Average Hourly Staff Rate: $33.19
- Average Weekly Staff Salary: $1,328
- Highest Hourly Staff Rate: $38
Emergency Department LPNs are frontline heroes in the fast-paced world of emergency care. Working in collaboration with emergency doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, they bring a unique combination of clinical expertise and quick thinking to deliver swift, effective care to patients in urgent medical situations. ED LPNs help stabilize patients, potentially assisting in life-saving medical procedures. They’re also responsible for triaging patients, taking vital signs, administering medications, performing wound care, starting IV lines and monitoring patients’ conditions.
What sets ED LPNs apart is their ability to thrive under pressure. They excel in managing various medical emergencies, from injuries and traumas to critical illnesses, prioritizing and delivering timely interventions to address patients’ immediate needs. ED LPNs are adept at calming anxious patients and their families, providing reassurance and emotional support during moments of crisis while contributing to the lifesaving efforts that define emergency medicine.
Additional LPN Career Paths
While these positions weren’t projected to be among the highest-paying LPN specialties in 2025, they still present attractive job openings on Vivian’s jobs marketplace. These specialized roles, ranging from urgent care to private duty, provide unique opportunities to develop specific skills and expertise and make a difference in the healthcare industry. LPNs can gain valuable experience and provide quality care to patients in various settings by pursuing a career in these niche areas.
Specialty | Average Weekly Travel Pay | Max Weekly Travel Pay | Average Hourly Staff Pay | Max Hourly Staff Pay |
Urgent Care LPN | $1,357 | $1,786 | $29.18 | $35.00 |
School LPN | $1,348 | $2,000 | $29.18 | $35.00 |
Home Health LPN | $1,346 | $2,526 | $28.72 | $46.00 |
Skilled Nursing LPN | $1,345 | $2,239 | $29.16 | $35.00 |
Telemetry LPN | $1,319 | $2,016 | $30.75 | $36.00 |
Med Surg LPN | $1,307 | $2,347 | $27.69 | $36.00 |
Hospice LPN | $1,233 | $2,012 | $30.31 | $38.00 |
Pediatrics LPN | $1,176 | $1,793 | $28.28 | $35.00 |
Private Duty LPN | $1,066 | $1,520 | $25.97 | $35.00 |
RELATED: How Accelerated LPN Programs Can Fast-Track Your Nursing Career
Boost Your Salary with LPN Specialties
Beginning an LPN career takes less time than becoming an RN, primarily due to the lower education requirements to enter the field. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that LPNs would experience average job growth between 2023 and 2033, it estimates 54,000 openings for these nursing professionals each year of that decade. To boost your hiring prospects and salary potential, consider specializing in a high-paying, in-demand niche.
Earning a nursing certification in your specialty validates your knowledge, increasing the likelihood that you’ll take home more money each pay period. Unfortunately, LPNs have fewer certification options than RNs.
Some certifications you might consider include Long-Term Care certification or Certified Wound Treatment Associate if you plan to work in a skilled nursing facility. IV Therapy certification can be beneficial in various healthcare settings, and a Certified Urologic Associate credential could serve you well working in an outpatient urology clinic or the urology unit of a hospital. But LPNs can specialize in nearly any area, even if professional certification isn’t available.
RELATED: Bridge Your Career Gap with an LPN-to-RN Track
Compare Career Options on Vivian
Demand for LPNs within a specific field can vary by state, city and facility based on local needs, potentially driving up salaries in some locations but not others. Continuing your education and pursuing RN licensure is another way to increase your earning potential in nursing while furthering your career growth. Explore the highest-paying RN specialties to learn whether your practical nursing experience transfers and get on track for a more lucrative future.
Download the Vivian App and take your healthcare career to the next level by applying for staff or travel LPN jobs within one of these high-paying LPN specialties.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally written in January 2024 and has been updated annually to reflect the most recent information. The specialties listed were the top-paying LPN specialties based on Vivian Health’s salary data for the entire previous year and are subject to change as health systems and staffing agencies post new jobs on our marketplace. These are national averages, so local salaries can differ greatly compared to the amounts listed in this post.
The max pay for Hospice is not accurate. I make more than this, albeit, I have over 30 years experience.
Hello Jules and thanks for your feedback! The max pay listed for hospice LPNs in this post is based on job openings that staffing agencies nationwide posted to Vivian Health at the time of this writing and are subject to change.
Nobody ever mentions occupational health.
Hello Melissa and thanks for reaching out! We didn’t intentionally leave occupational health LPNs off the list. Our list was created using salary data of jobs posted on Vivian Health in January 2024 and there weren’t any occupational health roles at the time to compare. We update these lists annually, so with luck, this specialty might make the list on the next round.
As a LPN, I like what I’ve read.