Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Inglewood, CA

As a career analyst who has spent years mapping the healthcare job market across Los Angeles County, I can tell you that Inglewood offers a unique, high-energy environment for LPNs. It’s not the quiet suburb some might expect; it’s the heart of the South Bay, with a dense population, diverse patient demographics, and a healthcare infrastructure that’s both robust and continually evolving. This guide is built on hard data and on-the-ground insights to help you decide if Inglewood is the right move for your LPN career.

Let’s get straight to the numbers that will define your financial reality here.

The Salary Picture: Where Inglewood Stands

The compensation landscape for LPNs in Inglewood is competitive, especially when stacked against national averages. The median salary for an LPN in Inglewood is $57,159/year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.48. This figure sits above the national average of $54,620/year, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand in the Los Angeles metro area. The 10-year job growth projection for the state is 5%, indicating steady, albeit not explosive, demand. With 205 LPN jobs currently in the metro, the market is active but not oversaturated. Your earnings potential, however, is heavily influenced by experience, shift differentials, and the type of facility you choose.

Here’s how that salary translates across different career stages:

Experience Level	Typical Years of Experience	Estimated Annual Salary Range
Entry-Level	0-2 years	$48,000 - $52,000
Mid-Level	3-7 years	$55,000 - $62,000
Senior	8-15 years	$60,000 - $70,000
Expert/Specialist	15+ years	$65,000+ (with certifications)

Insider Tip: Many facilities in the area, especially those in the Kaiser Permanente network or large acute care hospitals, offer significant shift differentials. Working nights or weekends can boost your effective hourly rate by $3-$6/hour. If you’re willing to work these shifts, you can push your total compensation well above the median.

Comparison to Other CA Cities: Inglewood’s median of $57,159 is competitive within the LA metro. It’s generally higher than inland areas like Riverside but slightly lower than coastal hubs like Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, where the cost of living is even more extreme. For context, San Francisco LPNs earn significantly more, but their rent often exceeds $3,500/month for a 1-bedroom. Inglewood strikes a balance that many find manageable.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let’s be blunt: California taxes and housing costs are the biggest factors in your net income. To understand your true purchasing power, we need to run the numbers.

Monthly Budget Breakdown for an LPN Earning the Median ($57,159/year):

• Gross Monthly Pay: $4,763
• Estimated Taxes (CA State + FICA): ~$1,050 (This can vary based on deductions, but it's a conservative estimate for a single filer)
• Net Monthly Pay: ~$3,713
• Average 1BR Rent in Inglewood: $2,252/month (Data source: Zillow, RentCafe)
• Remaining for Utilities, Food, Transport, Savings: ~$1,461

This budget is tight but workable. It leaves you with about $340 per week for all living expenses outside of rent and taxes. This assumes you are renting a standard 1-bedroom apartment. Sharing a 2-bedroom can significantly improve your cash flow, potentially freeing up $500-$800/month.

Can they afford to buy a home? At the median salary, purchasing a home in Inglewood is a significant challenge. The median home price in Inglewood hovers around $700,000. With a $57,159 salary, a lender would likely approve you for a loan of approximately $280,000 - $320,000 (assuming a standard 20% down payment and debt-to-income ratios). This creates a financing gap of over $380,000. Homeownership for an LPN earning the median salary in Inglewood is generally not feasible without substantial savings, a dual income, or purchasing a condo/townhouse in a less expensive neighboring city (like parts of Hawthorne or Lawndale). Many local healthcare workers choose to rent long-term or buy in more affordable inland communities and commute.

Where the Jobs Are: Inglewood's Major Employers

Inglewood is a healthcare hub, anchored by major medical centers and supported by a network of skilled nursing facilities. Hiring trends show a consistent need for LPNs in long-term care, rehabilitation, and outpatient settings.

1. Centinela Hospital Medical Center: A major acute care facility part of the Dignity Health network. They have an active emergency department, surgical services, and med-surg units. Hiring Trend: Steady demand for LPNs in med-surg and telemetry. They often post jobs for night and weekend shifts with differentials.
2. Kaiser Permanente – South Bay Medical Center: Located just south of Inglewood in Harbor City, this is a massive employer for the entire region. It’s a teaching hospital with a large outpatient network. Hiring Trend: Highly competitive. Kaiser is known for strong benefits and union representation (SEIU). LPNs are often hired for same-day surgery, infusion centers, and urgent care.
3. The Ivy at Inglewood: A large, well-regarded skilled nursing facility (SNF) offering long-term care and short-term rehab. Hiring Trend: Consistent need for LPNs for direct patient care. This is a classic "first job" or "steady job" destination for new LPNs in the area.
4. Inglewood Post Acute (formerly Inglewood Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre): Another key SNF in the heart of the city. Hiring Trend: Active hiring, often for both day and night shifts. They serve a diverse patient population, offering great experience in geriatric and wound care.
5. Molina Healthcare & Other Medicaid Plans: Inglewood has a high percentage of patients on Medi-Cal. Managed care organizations like Molina, Anthem, and Blue Shield have regional offices and hire LPNs for case management, outreach, and utilization review roles. Hiring Trend: Less direct patient care, more administrative/coordinate. Requires strong organizational skills. This is a great path for LPNs looking to move off the floor.
6. Home Health Agencies (e.g., Amedisys, L.A. Care Health Plan Partners): With an aging population, home health is booming. Agencies serving Inglewood hire LPNs for in-home visits, especially for wound care and medication management. Hiring Trend: High demand for reliable, self-directed LPNs. Often offers more flexible schedules but requires your own reliable transportation.
7. UCLA Health - Westwood & Santa Monica: While not in Inglewood, many LPNs commute 20-30 minutes to UCLA’s world-class hospitals. Hiring Trend: They hire LPNs for ambulatory care, pre-op, and specialty clinics. The prestige and pay are high, but the commute against LA traffic is a major consideration.

Insider Tip: Many of these employers post jobs directly on their websites first. Set up job alerts. Also, local staffing agencies like IntelliStaff Medical and Medical Solutions have strong contracts with Inglewood-area hospitals and SNFs, offering travel or local contract roles that can pay $30-$40/hour.

Getting Licensed in CA

California’s licensing process is strict but straightforward. If you’re licensed in another state, you’ll need to apply for licensure by endorsement.

• Requirements: You must graduate from an approved LPN program and pass the NCLEX-PN. The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) is the governing body.
• Costs: The application fee is currently $250. Combined with the NCLEX-PN exam fee (approx. $200), you’re looking at ~$450 in initial costs. Background checks and fingerprinting add about $75. If you’re coming from another state, you may need to take a California-specific law course (approx. $100-$150).
• Timeline: If you are a new graduate or moving from another state, the process can take 3 to 6 months. The BVNPT is notoriously backlogged. Start your application as soon as you have your final transcripts. If you’re already licensed in California, the endorsement process for an out-of-state LPN is faster, typically 2-3 months.
• Insider Tip: The BVNPT website is your bible. It’s not the most user-friendly, but it has all the forms. Double-check your application for completeness—any missing document will reset your timeline by weeks.

Best Neighborhoods for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPNs)

Your neighborhood choice will dictate your commute, lifestyle, and budget. Inglewood itself is incredibly diverse, and your experience will vary block by block.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Lifestyle	Avg. 1BR Rent	Commute to Major Employers
Downtown Inglewood	Urban, walkable, close to SoFi Stadium, The Forum. Gentrifying rapidly.	$2,400	5-10 min to Centinela; 5 min to Inglewood Post Acute.
Morningside Park	Residential, family-oriented, quieter. Good mix of single-family homes and apartments.	$2,150	10-15 min to Centinela; 15 min to Kaiser South Bay.
North Inglewood / Hyde Park	More suburban feel, slightly larger lots, well-established.	$2,300	10 min to Centinela; 20 min to UCLA (via I-405).
South Inglewood	Dense, diverse, more affordable. Close to the I-105 for easy east-west access.	$2,000	15 min to Centinela; 20 min to Kaiser South Bay.
Westchester / Playa Vista (Adjacent)	Upscale, modern, but significantly more expensive.	$3,000+	10 min to Kaiser South Bay; 25 min to UCLA. Not ideal on a median LPN salary.

Insider Tip: Parking is a premium in Downtown Inglewood. If you have a car, prioritize a building with a dedicated spot or secure garage. In Morningside Park and North Inglewood, street parking is generally easier.

The Long Game: Career Growth

An LPN license in California is a valuable credential, but growth often requires additional steps.

• Specialty Premiums: While not always formal, specialties can influence pay and job opportunities. Infusion certification can open doors to oncology and home health roles. Wound Care certification (WCC) is highly valued in SNFs and home health. Gerontology is a natural fit for the area's demographic.
• Advancement Paths:
  1. LVN to RN Bridge Program: This is the most common path. Many local community colleges (like West LA College, El Camino College) offer competitive ADN programs. This is a 2-3 year investment that can increase your earning potential by $15,000-$25,000/year.
  2. Management: Becoming an LPN Charge Nurse or Unit Supervisor in a SNF or clinic.
  3. Specialized Roles: Moving into case management, utilization review, or occupational health within a corporate setting.
• 10-Year Outlook (5% Growth): The 5% growth rate is modest, but Inglewood’s position in LA makes it resilient. Growth will be concentrated in home health, outpatient surgery, and geriatric care. The expansion of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park will likely bring more ancillary healthcare services (urgent care, physical therapy) to the area, creating new LPN roles. However, the push for higher education (more RNs) may saturate some entry-level roles.

The Verdict: Is Inglewood Right for You?

Making the move to Inglewood as an LPN is a strategic decision with clear trade-offs.

Pros	Cons
Strong Job Market: 205+ jobs in the metro with steady demand.	High Cost of Living: Rent at $2,252/month consumes over 60% of net income on median salary.
Above-Median Pay: $57,159/year vs. $54,620 national average.	Traffic & Commute: LA traffic is brutal. A 10-mile commute can take 45 minutes.
Diverse Experience: You’ll encounter a wide range of patient acuities and cultures.	Homeownership is a Long Shot: On a single LPN income, buying is very difficult without major sacrifice.
Cultural Hub: Inglewood is vibrant, with fantastic food, music, and community energy.	Competition: For the best jobs (Kaiser, UCLA), you’ll be competing with a large pool of applicants.
Gateway to LA: Easy access to beaches, mountains, and entertainment.	Licensing Delays: CA bureaucracy can be slow; plan your move accordingly.

Final Recommendation: Inglewood is an excellent choice for LPNs who prioritize job availability and cultural vibrancy over homeownership. It’s ideal for those willing to work extra shifts, pursue specialty certifications, and potentially bridge to an RN. If your primary goal is to buy a house quickly on a single income, you may find more success in a lower-cost region like the Inland Empire, but you’ll sacrifice the dynamic job market and lifestyle of South LA. For a mid-career LPN ready for a new challenge, Inglewood offers a compelling, if demanding, path.

FAQs

1. Can I live comfortably in Inglewood on a starting LPN salary?
Yes, but with careful budgeting. A starting salary near $48,000 means your net monthly income is around $3,000. With rent at $2,252, you’ll have about $750 for all other expenses. This is manageable if you budget strictly, consider a roommate, or choose a smaller studio apartment (which can be $1,800-$2,000).

2. Is it worth commuting from a cheaper city to work in Inglewood?
It depends on the commute time. If you can find a role in Inglewood and live in a neighboring city like Lawndale or Hawthorne, you might save $200-$400/month on rent. However, factor in gas (approx. $4.50/gallon in CA) and wear on your car. A 15-mile commute in LA traffic can easily add 1.5 hours to your day. For some, the higher pay in Inglewood justifies the commute.

3. How do shift differentials work in the Inglewood area?
They are crucial. Most hospitals and SNFs offer differentials for evenings ($2-$4/hour), nights ($3-$6/hour), and weekends ($2-$5/hour). An LPN earning $27.48/hour base could make $32-$33/hour on a weekend night shift, significantly boosting annual income. Always ask about differentials during interviews.

4. What’s the best way to find a job before moving?
Use Indeed, LinkedIn, and the career pages of the major employers listed above. Connect with local staffing agencies—IntelliStaff and Medical Solutions are very active in South LA. Many facilities are willing to interview via video and may offer relocation assistance for experienced LPNs (rare, but possible).

5. Are there any local resources for LPNs seeking advancement?
Absolutely. The California Association for Licensed Vocational Nurses (CALVNS) offers conferences and networking. Local community colleges like West LA College and El Camino College have robust LVN-to-RN bridge programs with strong support systems. Many employers also offer tuition reimbursement for continuing education.

Data Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), Zillow/RealPage Rental Data, and employer career pages as of 2024.