Jobs that actually got a raise in Mississippi

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average (2024), so a Mississippi salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Mississippi.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Mississippi

OccupationMedian, Mississippi · Real change since 2019

1Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $70,690+40.6%+77.0% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$35,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,300 – $49,470+37.0%+72.5% nominal
3Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$39,170
No formal educational credential
$29,420 – $58,340+34.9%+69.9% nominal
4General and Operations Managers$106,680
Bachelor's degree
$48,620 – $238,230+34.0%+68.7% nominal
5Production Workers, All Other$38,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,960 – $72,770+29.3%+62.8% nominal
6Order Clerks$43,040
Some college, no degree
$31,050 – $50,470+28.1%+61.3% nominal
7Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$38,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,750 – $61,790+27.4%+60.4% nominal
8Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$55,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,810 – $82,380+24.4%+56.6% nominal
9Public Relations Specialists$59,810
Bachelor's degree
$38,630 – $96,690+23.7%+55.8% nominal
10Food Processing Workers, All Other$38,150
No formal educational credential
$30,970 – $42,790+23.6%+55.7% nominal
11Gambling Dealers$28,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$17,170 – $66,280+22.4%+54.1% nominal
12Advertising Sales Agents$46,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,740 – $100,500+21.9%+53.5% nominal
13Bartenders$28,320
No formal educational credential
$15,910 – $74,330+19.0%+49.8% nominal
14Packers and Packagers, Hand$33,240
No formal educational credential
$20,570 – $44,530+18.2%+48.9% nominal
15Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$36,400
No formal educational credential
$27,740 – $47,280+18.2%+48.9% nominal
16Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$44,340
Bachelor's degree
$29,250 – $69,900+17.5%+47.9% nominal
17Construction Managers$99,520
Bachelor's degree
$63,610 – $161,580+16.2%+46.4% nominal
18Residential Advisors$30,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,400 – $47,190+15.9%+45.9% nominal
19Manicurists and Pedicurists$37,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,750 – $82,040+15.9%+46.0% nominal
20Roofers$44,940
No formal educational credential
$35,280 – $62,830+14.5%+44.1% nominal
21Sewing Machine Operators$37,600
No formal educational credential
$26,840 – $44,220+14.3%+43.9% nominal
22Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,570 – $70,110+13.9%+43.4% nominal
23Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$43,420
No formal educational credential
$32,390 – $51,260+13.7%+43.2% nominal
24Crane and Tower Operators$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $73,840+13.7%+43.1% nominal
25Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,570 – $53,850+13.5%+42.9% nominal
26Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$27,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,050 – $32,030+13.5%+42.9% nominal
27Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$38,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,780 – $51,900+13.4%+42.9% nominal
28Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,890
No formal educational credential
$28,870 – $41,170+13.4%+42.8% nominal
29Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$27,250
No formal educational credential
$19,940 – $34,270+13.1%+42.4% nominal
30Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $82,020+13.1%+42.4% nominal
31Counter and Rental Clerks$36,160
No formal educational credential
$23,560 – $56,400+12.5%+41.6% nominal
32Structural Iron and Steel Workers$50,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,700 – $74,520+12.4%+41.6% nominal
33Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$44,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $52,200+12.2%+41.3% nominal
34Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$27,190
No formal educational credential
$21,430 – $36,500+12.1%+41.2% nominal
35Stockers and Order Fillers$34,270
No formal educational credential
$27,360 – $46,600+11.9%+40.9% nominal
36Food Preparation Workers$26,240
No formal educational credential
$18,790 – $36,100+11.7%+40.6% nominal
37Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$27,390
No formal educational credential
$20,760 – $36,620+11.6%+40.5% nominal
38Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,750 – $59,280+11.2%+40.0% nominal
39Child, Family, and School Social Workers$46,530
Bachelor's degree
$33,590 – $62,130+11.2%+40.1% nominal
40Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,250 – $57,350+11.1%+39.8% nominal
41Printing Press Operators$38,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,920 – $60,010+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42Social and Community Service Managers$67,330
Bachelor's degree
$40,570 – $108,900+10.7%+39.4% nominal
43First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,310 – $58,450+10.5%+39.1% nominal
44Customer Service Representatives$36,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,970 – $49,540+10.3%+38.9% nominal
45Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$35,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,070 – $47,140+10.2%+38.8% nominal
46Upholsterers$44,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,070 – $50,880+10.0%+38.5% nominal
47Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,800 – $80,770+9.7%+38.1% nominal
48Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$53,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,210 – $104,010+9.5%+37.9% nominal
49Cashiers$26,390
No formal educational credential
$20,240 – $33,750+9.4%+37.8% nominal
50Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$28,380
No formal educational credential
$21,490 – $38,180+9.3%+37.7% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianMississippi	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$34,440 – $70,690	+40.6%+77.0% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,480	$23,300 – $49,470	+37.0%+72.5% nominal
3	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$39,170	$29,420 – $58,340	+34.9%+69.9% nominal
4	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,680	$48,620 – $238,230	+34.0%+68.7% nominal
5	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,570	$24,960 – $72,770	+29.3%+62.8% nominal
6	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$43,040	$31,050 – $50,470	+28.1%+61.3% nominal
7	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,800	$23,750 – $61,790	+27.4%+60.4% nominal
8	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,670	$37,810 – $82,380	+24.4%+56.6% nominal
9	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$59,810	$38,630 – $96,690	+23.7%+55.8% nominal
10	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$38,150	$30,970 – $42,790	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
11	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$28,250	$17,170 – $66,280	+22.4%+54.1% nominal
12	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,810	$24,740 – $100,500	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
13	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$28,320	$15,910 – $74,330	+19.0%+49.8% nominal
14	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$33,240	$20,570 – $44,530	+18.2%+48.9% nominal
15	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,400	$27,740 – $47,280	+18.2%+48.9% nominal
16	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$44,340	$29,250 – $69,900	+17.5%+47.9% nominal
17	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,520	$63,610 – $161,580	+16.2%+46.4% nominal
18	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30,900	$23,400 – $47,190	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
19	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,300	$21,750 – $82,040	+15.9%+46.0% nominal
20	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$44,940	$35,280 – $62,830	+14.5%+44.1% nominal
21	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,600	$26,840 – $44,220	+14.3%+43.9% nominal
22	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,350	$28,570 – $70,110	+13.9%+43.4% nominal
23	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$43,420	$32,390 – $51,260	+13.7%+43.2% nominal
24	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$34,690 – $73,840	+13.7%+43.1% nominal
25	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,220	$36,570 – $53,850	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
26	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$27,300	$19,050 – $32,030	+13.5%+42.9% nominal
27	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,900	$32,780 – $51,900	+13.4%+42.9% nominal
28	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,890	$28,870 – $41,170	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
29	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$27,250	$19,940 – $34,270	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
30	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,360	$37,390 – $82,020	+13.1%+42.4% nominal
31	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$36,160	$23,560 – $56,400	+12.5%+41.6% nominal
32	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,690	$30,700 – $74,520	+12.4%+41.6% nominal
33	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,370	$35,360 – $52,200	+12.2%+41.3% nominal
34	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$27,190	$21,430 – $36,500	+12.1%+41.2% nominal
35	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$34,270	$27,360 – $46,600	+11.9%+40.9% nominal
36	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$26,240	$18,790 – $36,100	+11.7%+40.6% nominal
37	Cooks, Institution and CafeteriaNo formal educational credential	$27,390	$20,760 – $36,620	+11.6%+40.5% nominal
38	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,270	$28,750 – $59,280	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
39	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$46,530	$33,590 – $62,130	+11.2%+40.1% nominal
40	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,730	$31,250 – $57,350	+11.1%+39.8% nominal
41	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,400	$25,920 – $60,010	+10.9%+39.7% nominal
42	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$67,330	$40,570 – $108,900	+10.7%+39.4% nominal
43	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,530	$26,310 – $58,450	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
44	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,380	$28,970 – $49,540	+10.3%+38.9% nominal
45	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,440	$23,070 – $47,140	+10.2%+38.8% nominal
46	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,930	$32,070 – $50,880	+10.0%+38.5% nominal
47	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,380	$33,800 – $80,770	+9.7%+38.1% nominal
48	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,620	$29,210 – $104,010	+9.5%+37.9% nominal
49	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$26,390	$20,240 – $33,750	+9.4%+37.8% nominal
50	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$28,380	$21,490 – $38,180	+9.3%+37.7% nominal

More for Mississippi

Metro areas in Mississippi

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Mississippi

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Mississippi to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Mississippi

More for Mississippi

Metro areas in Mississippi

By field in Mississippi

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state