Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Mississippi

Each occupation's median wage in Mississippi compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Mississippi pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$137,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,030 – $315,480+27.9%
2General Internal Medicine Physicians$325,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,440 – $429,660+26.9%
3Tutors$49,610
Some college, no degree
$25,810 – $86,060+14.4%
4Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$104,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,030 – $186,020+12.7%
5Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$64,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,240 – $85,520+10.9%
6Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $73,790+10.2%
7Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$49,240
No formal educational credential
$37,300 – $71,930+4.9%
8Manicurists and Pedicurists$37,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$21,750 – $82,040+4.3%
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,180
Associate's degree
$49,130 – $113,450+3.8%
10First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,320 – $95,440+2.6%
11Sewing Machine Operators$37,600
No formal educational credential
$26,840 – $44,220+2.5%
12Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $70,690+1.7%
13Teachers and Instructors, All Other$67,200
Bachelor's degree
$16,640 – $88,710+1.6%
14General and Operations Managers$106,680
Bachelor's degree
$48,620 – $238,230+0.9%
15Power Plant Operators$102,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,770 – $125,690+0.4%
16Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,030 – $137,5900.0%
17Information and Record Clerks, All Other$49,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,110 – $63,270-0.1%
18Logging Equipment Operators$49,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,550 – $60,150-0.2%
19Civil Engineers$100,170
Bachelor's degree
$49,840 – $162,240-0.7%
20Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,890
No formal educational credential
$28,870 – $41,170-1.1%
21Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-1.7%
22Sailors and Marine Oilers$50,390
No formal educational credential
$35,430 – $61,790-2.2%
23Physical Therapists$99,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,700 – $121,740-2.7%
24Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$42,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,630 – $56,150-3.0%
25Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$37,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,070 – $45,550-3.0%
26Upholsterers$44,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,070 – $50,880-3.0%
27Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$71,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,200 – $99,180-3.2%
28Family Medicine Physicians$235,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,170 – $422,860-3.5%
29Electricians$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,200 – $76,540-3.7%
30Production Workers, All Other$38,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,960 – $72,770-3.8%
31Food Processing Workers, All Other$38,150
No formal educational credential
$30,970 – $42,790-3.9%
32Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,330 – $91,610-4.1%
33Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,800 – $64,440-4.9%
34Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$36,250
Associate's degree
$20,980 – $53,370-5.0%
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,470
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-5.1%
36Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $68,760-5.3%
37Occupational Therapists$94,930
Master's degree
$73,200 – $113,950-5.4%
38Machinists$55,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,570 – $76,670-5.4%
39Pharmacists$133,230
Doctoral or professional degree
$97,260 – $158,230-5.5%
40Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,750 – $59,280-5.6%
41Nurse Practitioners$124,730
Master's degree
$98,780 – $156,830-5.7%
42First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,100 – $72,550-5.7%
43Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,800 – $80,770-5.7%
44First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $90,740-5.7%
45Mechanical Engineers$98,000
Bachelor's degree
$62,210 – $136,990-5.9%
46Industrial Production Managers$118,660
Bachelor's degree
$70,810 – $187,620-5.9%
47Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,650 – $88,340-6.2%
48Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$84,490
Bachelor's degree
$47,050 – $125,140-6.3%
49Industrial Engineers$95,830
Bachelor's degree
$65,510 – $130,150-6.5%
50Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$75,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,150 – $106,400-6.5%

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	vs. national
1	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$137,220	$51,030 – $315,480	+27.9%
2	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$325,610	$67,440 – $429,660	+26.9%
3	TutorsSome college, no degree	$49,610	$25,810 – $86,060	+14.4%
4	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,220	$47,030 – $186,020	+12.7%
5	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,360	$26,240 – $85,520	+10.9%
6	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$36,190 – $73,790	+10.2%
7	Roustabouts, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$49,240	$37,300 – $71,930	+4.9%
8	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,300	$21,750 – $82,040	+4.3%
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,180	$49,130 – $113,450	+3.8%
10	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$40,320 – $95,440	+2.6%
11	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$37,600	$26,840 – $44,220	+2.5%
12	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$34,440 – $70,690	+1.7%
13	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$67,200	$16,640 – $88,710	+1.6%
14	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,680	$48,620 – $238,230	+0.9%
15	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,400	$65,770 – $125,690	+0.4%
16	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,010	$49,030 – $137,590	0.0%
17	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,440	$33,110 – $63,270	-0.1%
18	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,620	$35,550 – $60,150	-0.2%
19	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$100,170	$49,840 – $162,240	-0.7%
20	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,890	$28,870 – $41,170	-1.1%
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	-1.7%
22	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$50,390	$35,430 – $61,790	-2.2%
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$99,990	$73,700 – $121,740	-2.7%
24	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,090	$29,630 – $56,150	-3.0%
25	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,600	$29,070 – $45,550	-3.0%
26	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,930	$32,070 – $50,880	-3.0%
27	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,700	$42,200 – $99,180	-3.2%
28	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$235,630	$120,170 – $422,860	-3.5%
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$38,200 – $76,540	-3.7%
30	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,570	$24,960 – $72,770	-3.8%
31	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$38,150	$30,970 – $42,790	-3.9%
32	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,250	$38,330 – $91,610	-4.1%
33	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,100	$36,800 – $64,440	-4.9%
34	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$36,250	$20,980 – $53,370	-5.0%
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,470	$42,390 – $81,040	-5.1%
36	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,410	$35,420 – $68,760	-5.3%
37	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$94,930	$73,200 – $113,950	-5.4%
38	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,550	$34,570 – $76,670	-5.4%
39	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,230	$97,260 – $158,230	-5.5%
40	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,270	$28,750 – $59,280	-5.6%
41	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$124,730	$98,780 – $156,830	-5.7%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$28,100 – $72,550	-5.7%
43	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,380	$33,800 – $80,770	-5.7%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,290	$39,030 – $90,740	-5.7%
45	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,000	$62,210 – $136,990	-5.9%
46	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$118,660	$70,810 – $187,620	-5.9%
47	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$47,650 – $88,340	-6.2%
48	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$84,490	$47,050 – $125,140	-6.3%
49	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$95,830	$65,510 – $130,150	-6.5%
50	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$75,060	$61,150 – $106,400	-6.5%

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 pay the biggest premium in Mississippi

More for Mississippi

Metro areas in Mississippi

By field in Mississippi

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state