Average and median wage in Mississippi
Half of the 1,163,030 workers in Mississippi earn less than $40,120 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $50,810, or $24.43 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $22,970 or less and the top 10% $84,500 or more. The average is 27% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 21% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $23K10th
- $30K25th
- $40KMedian
- $60K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Mississippi per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $50,810 | $24.43 | $69,770 |
| Median | $40,120 | $19.29 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $22,970 | $11.04 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $29,760 | $14.31 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $60,180 | $28.93 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $84,500 | $40.62 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Mississippi
- Jackson$53,990
- Gulfport$53,290
- Hattiesburg$49,480
Map of Mississippi metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $53,990 | $42,850 | $44,133 | 89 | $215,136 |
| Gulfport | $53,290 | $43,470 | $43,599 | 90 | $224,666 |
| Hattiesburg | $49,480 | $37,750 | $40,690 | 88 | $218,044 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Mississippi
- Physicians, All Other · Gulfport$344,480
- Emergency Medicine Physicians · Jackson$339,780
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Jackson$301,600
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Gulfport$297,030
- Family Medicine Physicians · Gulfport$265,500
- Physicians, All Other · Hattiesburg$256,630
- Family Medicine Physicians · Jackson$239,010
- Nurse Anesthetists · Jackson$227,100
- Nurse Anesthetists · Gulfport$223,420
- Chief Executives · Gulfport$215,370
Most common jobs in Mississippi
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 38,400 | $31,150 | $28,640 | $32,040 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 31,220 | $23,880 | $22,610 | $25,090 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 30,750 | $37,170 | $36,400 | $37,760 |
| Cashiers | 30,490 | $26,200 | $26,390 | $27,200 |
| Registered Nurses | 29,060 | $78,950 | $77,090 | $84,430 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 24,160 | $55,910 | $51,820 | $60,020 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 23,420 | $35,370 | $34,270 | $34,790 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 21,800 | $25,380 | $23,860 | $26,200 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 20,860 | $38,820 | $36,380 | $40,770 |
| Office Clerks, General | 17,600 | $36,250 | $34,900 | $38,100 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Mississippi
Mississippi income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Mississippi's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
Mississippi at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
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- New York
- North Carolina
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- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Mississippi: questions
What is the average salary in Mississippi?
$50,810 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 27% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Mississippi?
$40,120 a year: half of Mississippi workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Mississippi?
$24.43 an hour on average, and $19.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Mississippi pays the most?
Jackson, with an average of $53,990 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Mississippi expensive to live in?
BEA puts Mississippi prices 13% below the U.S. average (price parity 87.0). Within the state, Gulfport 90, Jackson 89, Hattiesburg 88 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Mississippi.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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