Jobs Similar to Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Also called: Licensed Practical Nurses
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Registered Nurses, Critical Care Nurses and Acute Care Nurses.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses: $64,400 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nurses | 85% | $97,550+51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Critical Care Nurses | 83% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Acute Care Nurses | 82% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Medical Assistants | 82% | $45,690−29% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Midwives | 82% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Nurse Midwives | 81% | $134,040+108% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 81% | $72,300+12% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 81% | $335,550+421% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Nursing Assistants | 81% | $42,260−34% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Athletic Trainers | 81% | $62,520−3% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 81% | $292,910+355% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 81% | $39,160−39% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Ophthalmic Medical TechnologistsSame group | 80% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Physical Therapist Aides | 80% | $35,240−45% | High school |
| 15 | Nurse Practitioners | 80% | $132,300+105% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Psychiatric TechniciansSame group | 80% | $45,130−30% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Physician Assistants | 80% | $135,880+111% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Hospitalists | 80% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Psychiatric Aides | 80% | $44,910−30% | High school |
| 20 | Sports Medicine Physicians | 80% | $265,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
- 1Registered Nurses
85% similar · $97,550 (+51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Critical Care Nurses
83% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Acute Care Nurses
82% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Medical Assistants
82% similar · $45,690 (−29%) · Training or associate
- 5Midwives
82% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 6Nurse Midwives
81% similar · $134,040 (+108%) · Graduate degree
- 7Occupational Therapy Assistants
81% similar · $72,300 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 8Emergency Medicine Physicians
81% similar · $335,550 (+421%) · Graduate degree
- 9Nursing Assistants
81% similar · $42,260 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 10Athletic Trainers
81% similar · $62,520 (−3%) · Graduate degree
- 11Obstetricians and Gynecologists
81% similar · $292,910 (+355%) · Graduate degree
- 12Occupational Therapy Aides
81% similar · $39,160 (−39%) · Training or associate
- 13Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
80% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Physical Therapist Aides
80% similar · $35,240 (−45%) · High school
- 15Nurse Practitioners
80% similar · $132,300 (+105%) · Graduate degree
- 16Psychiatric Technicians
80% similar · $45,130 (−30%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Physician Assistants
80% similar · $135,880 (+111%) · Graduate degree
- 18Hospitalists
80% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Psychiatric Aides
80% similar · $44,910 (−30%) · High school
- 20Sports Medicine Physicians
80% similar · $265,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
What jobs are most similar to licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Registered Nurses (85% similar), Critical Care Nurses (83% similar), Acute Care Nurses (82% similar), Medical Assistants (82% similar) and Midwives (82% similar).
Which jobs like licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +421%; usually a graduate degree), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($292,910, +355%; usually a graduate degree) and Physician Assistants ($135,880, +111%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses ($64,400). Without more preparation than licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.