SalaryByCity

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses vs Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

$62,340

Median annual salary

632,430 employed nationally

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

$76,290

Median annual salary

666,990 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals earn $13,950 more per year than Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals — that's 22.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $80,510 compared to $115,280 for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers.

Salary Range Comparison

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$47,640 – $115,280
$47,640$115,280

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPolice and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersDifference
10th Percentile$47,960$47,640+$320
25th Percentile$55,220$58,980$-3,760
Median (50th)$62,340$76,290$-13,950
75th Percentile$73,160$97,190$-24,030
90th Percentile$80,510$115,280$-34,770
Mean (Average)$64,150$79,320$-15,170

Employment Numbers

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

666,990

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$92,840
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$90,810
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$80,480
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$79,460
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$78,870

Best Cities for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$150,650
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$133,190
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$115,630
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$114,200
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$112,630

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses or Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $13,950 (22.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salaries range from $47,960 (10th percentile) to $80,510 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
What is the salary range for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers?
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salaries range from $47,640 (10th percentile) to $115,280 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,290.
How many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers jobs are there?
There are approximately 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions and 666,990 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers to Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses has a median salary of $62,340 while Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earns $76,290. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS