What is the lowest salary for a nurse? (2024)

The lowest salary for a nurse is for licensed nurse practitioners (LPNs). The median salary for LPNs is about $47,000. LPNs are some of the lowest-paid nurses because it has the lowest educational requirements within the nursing field.

To practice as an LPN, a person does not need a college degree. To become an LPN, a person must take one year of educational and training courses to receive their practical nursing diploma and subsequently pass an exam to be licensed.

Because of the low educational barriers to become an LPN, these jobs typically pay significantly less than other nursing roles.

It is beneficial for most people to instead pursue an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) at the minimum. This degree has a starting salary that is essentially the same as those with a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN).