Licensed Vocational Nurse Jobs in San Francisco, CA
Licensed vocational nurses in San Francisco see posted pay from about $45 to $60 an hour, well above the city's $19.61 minimum wage. Kaiser Permanente, UCSF Health, the city's Department of Public Health and the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living are hiring. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current licensed vocational nurse Openings in San Francisco, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Work in San Francisco
California uses the LVN title, so San Francisco postings say licensed vocational nurse where other states say LPN. In the city, LVN work splits between outpatient clinics and long-term care. Kaiser Permanente hires IV-certified LVNs for its medical offices at 2238 Geary Boulevard, UCSF Health posts LVN roles in primary care and in neurology at Mission Bay, and the Department of Public Health recruits LVNs continuously for city clinics and for Laguna Honda Hospital on Laguna Honda Boulevard.
The other big draw is skilled nursing. The San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living on Silver Avenue posts LVN openings across several of its nursing units, including on-call night shifts, and the San Francisco VA hires vocational nurses for primary care. Cantonese, Mandarin or Spanish is a real asset in the clinics that serve Chinatown, the Mission and the Excelsior.
Top San Francisco Employers Hiring Licensed Vocational Nurses
These employers have posted LVN openings in San Francisco on their own career sites:
- Kaiser Permanente - hires IV-certified LVNs for outpatient nursing at its Geary Boulevard medical offices.
- UCSF Health - posts LVN and senior LVN roles in primary care clinics and neurology at Mission Bay.
- San Francisco Department of Public Health - recruits LVNs continuously for city health centers and Laguna Honda Hospital.
- San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living - the Silver Avenue senior care campus hires LVNs for its skilled nursing units, including per diem night shifts.
- San Francisco VA Health Care System - hires vocational nurses for primary care through federal job postings.
Licensed Vocational Nurse Salaries in San Francisco
- Entry level: about $45 to $50 an hour for newly licensed LVNs.
- Experienced: roughly $50 to $56 an hour with a few years of clinic or skilled nursing experience.
- Senior: $56 to $60 an hour or more for IV-certified and senior LVNs at top-paying systems.
These are estimates based on ranges San Francisco employers published in their own postings in fall 2026, including the city's LVN scale of $93,496 to $113,620 a year and Kaiser's posted $55.56 to $59.91 an hour. IV certification, years of experience, night shifts and employer type move pay the most. Federal VA pay follows the GS scale and is posted as an annual salary.
How to Become a Licensed Vocational Nurse in San Francisco
LVNs are licensed by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, and most applicants finish an approved vocational nursing program and pass the NCLEX-PN. In the city, City College of San Francisco runs its Licensed Vocational Nursing program at the John Adams Center on Hayes Street; the school lists it as 18 months of full-time study. CCSF also offers a one-semester CNA and home health aide course at the same campus, a common first step before LVN school. Many San Francisco postings also ask for BLS, and some outpatient roles require IV certification.
What the Job Involves
LVNs take vital signs, give medications and injections, change dressings, collect specimens and document care, working under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. In clinics they room patients, give immunizations and follow up by phone. In skilled nursing they pass medications on a unit, watch for changes in residents' condition and supervise nursing assistants on their shift.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active California LVN license
- BLS certification
- IV certification
- Medication administration and accurate charting
- Bilingual skills, especially Cantonese, Mandarin or Spanish
- Comfort with older adults and long-term care
Career Path and Advancement
A common San Francisco path starts with CNA work, then the CCSF program, then a first LVN job in skilled nursing or a clinic. From there the path leads to senior LVN and charge roles, or to registered nursing through an LVN-to-RN route. In the city, that jump runs through City College's Registered Nursing degree or the BSN programs at SF State and USF.
Related Careers in San Francisco
If vocational nursing interests you, these related San Francisco guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an LVN the same as an LPN in California?
Yes, it is the same level of nursing. California uses the title licensed vocational nurse, so you will see LVN on San Francisco postings and on your license.
Who licenses LVNs in California?
The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Most applicants complete an approved program and pass the NCLEX-PN before the board issues a license.
How much do LVNs make in San Francisco?
Posted ranges in the city run from about $45 to $60 an hour. The city's LVN scale tops out at $113,620 a year, and Kaiser has posted IV-certified LVN pay up to $59.91 an hour.
How long does LVN school take in San Francisco?
City College of San Francisco lists its LVN program as 18 months of full-time study at the John Adams Center. After graduating you still need to pass the NCLEX-PN.
Do I need IV certification to work as an LVN in San Francisco?
Not for every job, but some outpatient roles, including Kaiser's, require it. IV certification also tends to raise pay and widens the clinics and units you can work in.
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