Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs in Austin, TX
Licensed vocational nurses in Austin earn a median of about $31 an hour, and the rebuilt Austin State Hospital on Guadalupe Street posted three levels of LVN openings in September 2026 alone. Here are the current LVN jobs, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get licensed in Texas.
Current licensed vocational nurse Openings in Austin, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Work in Austin
Texas calls the practical nurse license an LVN, and Austin uses LVNs heavily outside the big hospital floors. The steadiest demand comes from clinics and behavioral health: Austin State Hospital on Guadalupe in the Triangle area, Lone Star Circle of Care clinics from North Austin's Collinfield Drive to Hutto, and Austin Regional Clinic offices across the metro, where LVNs handle intake, injections, triage and phone nursing.
Hospitals still hire LVNs for specific units. St. David's has posted LVN roles on telemetry at St. David's South Austin Medical Center and in its home health agency, and Ascension has posted an LVN role at a Lakeway OB/GYN practice. Because Austin's hospital systems are hungry for RNs, many local LVNs use the job as a paid bridge into Austin Community College's LVN-to-RN mobility track.
Top Austin Employers Hiring Licensed Vocational Nurses
These Austin employers hire LVNs for behavioral health, clinic and hospital roles:
- Austin State Hospital - the Texas HHSC psychiatric hospital posted LVN I, LVN II and LVN III openings in September 2026.
- Lone Star Circle of Care - the community health center network has LVN openings at its Collinfield Drive clinic in Austin and in Hutto.
- Austin Regional Clinic - the multispecialty physician group hires LVNs and medical assistants for clinics in Austin and Round Rock.
- St. David's HealthCare - posts LVN roles on hospital units such as telemetry and with St. David's Healthcare at Home.
- Ascension Seton - hires LVNs for its physician clinics, including women's health practices.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Salaries in Austin
- Entry level: about $25 to $28 an hour for newly licensed LVNs.
- Experienced: roughly $28 to $35 an hour, the middle half of Austin LVNs, with a median near $31.
- Senior: $35 to $38 or more an hour for experienced LVNs in charge, specialty or night roles.
These are estimates based on BLS 2025 wage data for the Austin metro, where the median LVN earns about $64,600 a year. Shift, setting and experience move pay the most, and differentials and benefits vary by employer, so compare postings from state, hospital and clinic employers side by side.
How to Become a Licensed Vocational Nurse in Austin
You need to complete an approved vocational nursing program and earn a license from the Texas Board of Nursing. The Board requires the NCLEX-PN, the Texas Nursing Jurisprudence Exam on the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules, and a fingerprint criminal background check. In Austin, the main public option is Austin Community College's Certificate in Vocational Nursing at the Eastview Campus on Webberville Road, a three-semester program with a day track and an evening and weekend track, admitting in fall and spring. Clinical rotations run across Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown.
What the Job Involves
LVNs work under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. Daily tasks include taking vital signs, giving oral and injectable medications, wound care, collecting specimens, updating patient charts, rooming patients in clinics and reporting changes in condition to the RN or provider. In behavioral health settings, LVNs also pass medications on a unit schedule and help keep the milieu safe.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Texas LVN license
- BLS certification
- Accurate medication administration and documentation
- Electronic health record experience
- Patient intake and phone triage skills
- Bilingual English and Spanish
Career Path and Advancement
In Austin the LVN license is often a first step rather than the last. Many LVNs gain a year or two of clinic or hospital experience, then enter Austin Community College's ADN mobility track, built for LVNs and paramedics, which most students finish within a year. From there the path runs to RN roles in Austin's hospital systems and on to a BSN at UT Austin, Texas State in Round Rock or Concordia. LVNs who stay in the role move into charge LVN, clinic lead and LVN III positions.
Related Careers in Austin
If vocational nursing interests you, these related Austin guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an LVN the same as an LPN?
Yes, for practical purposes. Texas uses the title Licensed Vocational Nurse for the license other states call Licensed Practical Nurse, and both take the same NCLEX-PN exam. In Texas the license is issued by the Texas Board of Nursing.
How much do LVNs make in Austin?
BLS 2025 data puts the Austin metro LVN median at about $31 an hour, or roughly $64,600 a year. The middle half earn about $28 to $35 an hour, and the top 10 percent earn more than $37.
How long does it take to become an LVN in Austin?
Austin Community College's vocational nursing certificate runs three semesters of nursing courses after a short set of prerequisites, then you take the NCLEX-PN. Plan on roughly a year and a half from first prerequisite to license.
Where do LVNs work in Austin?
Mostly in clinics, behavioral health and home health. Austin State Hospital, Lone Star Circle of Care, Austin Regional Clinic, St. David's HealthCare and Ascension Seton have all posted LVN roles.
Can an LVN become an RN in Austin?
Yes. Austin Community College's ADN mobility track is built for LVNs, and about 75 percent of mobility students finish within 1 year. Graduates then sit for the NCLEX-RN through the Texas Board of Nursing.
Ready to apply? Browse all Licensed Vocational Nurse jobs in Austin, TX on LocalJobPage and apply today.