Is Mississippi a good state for your salary to go far?

Mississippi ranks #50 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 92.7 across 369 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 87.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Mississippi?

Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 87.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Mississippi

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Mississippi

Mississippi ranks #50 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 92.7, base = 100). Cost of living 87.0 (US = 100); top income tax 4.40%.

Does a salary go further in Mississippi? (cost of living + state tax)

In Mississippi, the cost of living is 87.0 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 92.7 across 369 occupations, ranking it #50 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Mississippi ranks #50 of 51 states. Mean across 369 occupations; 100 = the average state, 92.7 means pay goes -7.3% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

92.7

Real pay by occupation in Mississippi (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Print Binding and Finishing Workers	$91,850	$101,910	229.0
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$137,220	$151,792	144.6
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$112,400	$124,504	137.7
Tutors	$49,610	$55,469	128.6
Social Workers, All Other	$91,560	$101,591	128.2
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other	$46,500	$52,050	126.3
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$53,170	$59,383	119.3
Biological Technicians	$56,930	$63,517	119.1
Photographers	$45,860	$51,347	117.3
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$81,180	$90,179	114.5
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	$79,350	$88,167	114.5
Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other	$47,940	$53,633	113.8
Protective Service Workers, All Other	$49,800	$55,678	113.8
Biological Scientists, All Other	$91,170	$101,162	113.4
Teachers and Instructors, All Other	$67,200	$74,809	113.0
Sewing Machine Operators	$37,600	$42,265	112.8
Civil Engineers	$100,170	$111,057	112.5
Manicurists and Pedicurists	$37,300	$41,935	112.5
Power Plant Operators	$102,400	$113,509	112.5
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	$37,430	$42,078	111.5
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents	$95,270	$105,670	111.2
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	$77,100	$85,693	111.0
Information and Record Clerks, All Other	$49,440	$55,283	110.7
General and Operations Managers	$106,680	$118,215	110.6
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators	$57,800	$64,474	110.5
Postal Service Clerks	$61,050	$68,047	110.3
Physical Therapists	$99,990	$110,859	109.6
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	$59,490	$66,332	109.5
Travel Agents	$49,050	$54,854	109.3
Financial Examiners	$85,430	$94,852	107.8
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	$37,890	$42,584	107.6
Occupational Therapists	$94,930	$105,296	107.2
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	$112,400	$124,504	107.0
Postal Service Mail Carriers	$57,470	$64,111	106.5
Industrial Production Managers	$118,660	$131,386	106.4
Medical Transcriptionists	$38,600	$43,365	106.4
Engineers, All Other	$111,030	$122,997	106.3
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	$71,700	$79,756	106.3
Driver/Sales Workers	$35,480	$39,934	106.2
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$74,880	$83,252	106.2

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 369 BLS publishes for Mississippi. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (87.0, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Mississippi, a $85,000 salary is worth about $93,453 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $3,740 (flat 4.40%) · take-home $81,260 · BEA cost of living 87.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $2,499 gain over Mississippi.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Mississippi real pay — FAQ

Is Mississippi a good state for your salary to go far?: Mississippi ranks #50 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 92.7 across 369 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 87.0 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Mississippi?: Mississippi's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 87.0, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Mississippi is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.