Careers in Mississippi
Mississippi’s regional price level is below the national average (index 86.953, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).
Unemployment rate: 3.9% · Labor force participation: 54.9% · 1,229,595 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).
Highest-Paying Careers
See full list →- 1Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$544,130
- 2General Internal Medicine Physicians$325,610
- 3Physicians, Pathologists$261,570
- 4Emergency Medicine Physicians$252,960
- 5Family Medicine Physicians$235,630
Largest Occupations
See full list →- 1Retail Salespersons38,400 employed
- 2Fast Food and Counter Workers31,220 employed
- 3Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand30,750 employed
- 4Cashiers30,490 employed
- 5Registered Nurses29,060 employed
Highest Concentration
See full list →- 1Upholsterers16.01× national avg
- 2Logging Workers, All Other10.74× national avg
- 3Psychiatric Aides9.37× national avg
- 4Logging Equipment Operators7.77× national avg
- 5Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary7.28× national avg
Best Purchasing Power
See full list →cost-of-living adjusted
- 1Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$625,775
- 2General Internal Medicine Physicians$374,467
- 3Physicians, Pathologists$300,818
- 4Emergency Medicine Physicians$290,916
- 5Family Medicine Physicians$270,985
Strongest Opportunity Score
See full list →- 1Sewing Machine Operators92 / 100
- 2Upholsterers89.9 / 100
- 3Gambling Managers88.1 / 100
- 4Boilermakers87.5 / 100
- 5Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders86.4 / 100
Sources
Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.