SalaryByCity

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses vs Software Developers: 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

Software Developers

$133,080

Median annual salary

1,654,440 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Software Developers professionals earn $70,740 more per year than Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses professionals — that's 113.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earns $80,510 compared to $211,450 for Software Developers.

Salary Range Comparison

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$47,960 – $80,510
Software Developers$79,850 – $211,450
$47,960$211,450

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileLicensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesSoftware DevelopersDifference
10th Percentile$47,960$79,850$-31,890
25th Percentile$55,220$103,050$-47,830
Median (50th)$62,340$133,080$-70,740
75th Percentile$73,160$169,000$-95,840
90th Percentile$80,510$211,450$-130,940
Mean (Average)$64,150$144,570$-80,420

Employment Numbers

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

632,430

employed nationwide

Software Developers

1,654,440

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 Software Developers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$208,270
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$174,910
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$169,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$161,970
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$159,240

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses or Software Developers?
Software Developers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $70,740 (113.5% 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 Software Developers?
Software Developers salaries range from $79,850 (10th percentile) to $211,450 (90th percentile), with a median of $133,080.
How many Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses and Software Developers jobs are there?
There are approximately 632,430 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses positions and 1,654,440 Software Developers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Software Developers 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 Software Developers earns $133,080. 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