Career comparison
Home Health Aide vs. Licensed Practical Nurse
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Licensed practical nurses earn more at the median ($64,400 vs. $35,800), while home health aides usually get to work faster (2–6 weeks of training). Home health aides help older adults and people with disabilities live safely and comfortably at home. Licensed practical nurses give licensed nursing care (meds, wound care and monitoring) in about a year of training.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Home Health Aide | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,800 ($17.21/hr) | $64,400 ($30.96/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $27,040 – $45,040 | $49,740 – $83,440 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +18.1% (much faster than average) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 760,500 | 51,800 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 2–6 weeks | 12–18 months |
| Key credential | Home health aide certificate | NCLEX-PN license |
| Work setting | Aides work in clients’ homes, apartments and assisted-living units. | LPNs work in nursing and residential care facilities, home health, physician offices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and correctional facilities. |
What each job does
Home Health Aide
- Assist clients with bathing, grooming, toileting and dressing
- Help clients move safely, including transfers and walking
- Prepare meals that follow the client’s diet plan
- Give medication reminders and record what was taken
- Check and record vital signs when the care plan calls for it
Licensed Practical Nurse
- Monitor patients and record vital signs and changes in condition
- Administer oral, topical and injectable medications as permitted by state law
- Provide wound care, change dressings and care for catheters and ostomies
- Collect specimens and perform routine tests such as blood glucose checks
- Update care plans and document care accurately
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, working with people, hands-on work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose home health aide if…
- I enjoy taking care of people
- I stay patient when someone needs a lot of help
- I’m comfortable with bathing and toileting tasks
Choose licensed practical nurse if…
- I want real nursing responsibility without a four-year degree
- I can handle medications and math carefully
- I can lead and direct other caregivers
Still torn? Take the Home Health Aide fit quiz and the Licensed Practical Nurse fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, home health aide or licensed practical nurse?
Licensed Practical Nurses earn more at the median: $64,400 versus $35,800 for home health aides, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Home Health Aides typically train faster (2–6 weeks) than licensed practical nurses (12–18 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects home health aides to grow +18.1% from 2025–35, compared with +3.0% for licensed practical nurses.