Healthcare practitioners · SOC 29-2061
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
BLS projects 666,900 jobs in 2025 to become 686,700 by 2035 — +3.0%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+3.0%
projected change to 2035
About 19,700 more jobs
51,800
openings a year
7.8% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$64,400
median annual pay
Usually entered with: postsecondary nondegree award
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment666,900
- 2035 projected686,700
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other healthcare practitioners occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Registered nurses3,465,400+5.6%
- Pharmacy technicians471,200+6.4%
- Physicians, all other367,400+3.4%
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians343,000+2.7%
- Nurse practitioners336,300+41.0%
- Pharmacists325,200+5.2%
- Physical therapists283,700+11.9%
- Radiologic technologists and technicians234,200+5.0%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.