Best LPN Programs in St. Louis 2026

The healthcare sector in St. Louis, Missouri, serves as a significant economic driver and a major source of employment, accounting for 48% of Missouri’s healthcare jobs. The healthcare and social assistance sector was the largest employing industry in the St. Louis Region in 2021, providing over 184,200 jobs. Current projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2022-2032 indicate continued growth in Ambulatory Health Care Services and Hospitals, contributing to a promising job outlook for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) with a projected 5% growth nationwide, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

LPNs and LVNs in St. Louis find diverse employment opportunities. As of May 2022, the average hourly wage for LPNs/LVNs in the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area was $26.96, with a median hourly wage of $26.04. Wages typically ranged from $23.00 to $29.07 for the middle 50% of earners. Data from the Missouri Hospital Association’s 2022 survey for the St. Louis Region reported 230 full-time equivalent (FTE) LPNs in hospitals with 96 FTE vacancies, indicating a 29.4% vacancy rate.

LPNs are employed across a wide range of healthcare settings in the St. Louis area, including:

• Hospitals:LPNs are hired for various departments such as Medical-Surgical, Medical Telemetry, Neuro Stepdown, Surgical Stepdown, Cardiac Telemetry, Cardiac Vascular Intensive Care, Oncology, Neurology, Emergency Departments, and Behavioral Health.
• Rehabilitation Centers:Facilities with rehabilitation units within hospitals, such as Mercy South, and dedicated rehabilitation hospitals like The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis (an affiliation of BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health) employ LPNs.
• Nursing Homes and Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Centers:Numerous facilities actively hire LPNs, including Cardinal Ritter Senior Services and Ellisville Rehab & Nursing.
• Private Practices/Clinics:Opportunities exist in physicians’ offices and various clinics, including those specializing in gastroenterology and wound care.
• Senior Living Facilities:Assisted living and memory care facilities, such as Friendship Village and Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, offer LPN roles.
• Home Health Agencies:This is a significant area of opportunity, with employers like Mercy Home Health, BJC Home Health, Amedisys, Supplemental Health Care, and Phoenix Home Care & Hospice frequently posting LPN positions for home based care.
• Other Settings:Additional opportunities include school nursing, behavioral health, and telehealth roles, with the Missouri Department of Mental Health hiring LPNs for facilities such as the South County Habilitation Center.

Major healthcare employers in St. Louis known for hiring LPNs include:

• BJC HealthCare:This large system encompasses multiple hospitals, home care services, and rehabilitation hospitals.
• Mercy:Operating Mercy Hospital St. Louis and Mercy South, this system actively hires LPNs across various departments and for their home health services.
• SSM Health:This system includes hospitals like SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, along with physician offices, outpatient services, and home care.
• Amedisys, Inc.:A prominent home health and hospice company that frequently hires LPNs.
• Encompass Health:Operates rehabilitation facilities in the region, such as Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Louis.
• Cardinal Ritter Senior Services:Manages skilled nursing and rehabilitation communities.
• Phoenix Home Care & Hospice:An agency providing home care services.
• Supplemental Health Care:A staffing agency connecting LPNs with home health contract positions.
• IntelyCare:A staffing solution offering flexible LPN shifts primarily in post acute facilities.