How Much Does an RN Make in Mississippi in 2026?

A typical RN in Mississippi earns about $37.06 per hour ($77,090 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $6,424 a month or $1,482 a week. These numbers reflect typical pay across the state, spanning hospitals, clinics, and other care settings. Hourly and annual figures describe the same typical paycheck.

That figure runs 21% below the national typical pay of $97,550 a year, and Mississippi ranks 50th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for RN pay. Lower pay in Mississippi generally tracks a lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states. About 29,060 RNs work across the state, giving a sense of scale for how many people this pay figure covers.

Entry-level positions in Mississippi typically offer around $29.14 an hour ($60,610 a year), based on pay for RNs early in their careers. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $77,090 a year within a few years of experience. New RNs in Mississippi hospitals and clinics can expect pay to rise steadily as they gain hands-on experience and additional certifications.

Experienced RNs in Mississippi often earn upwards of $48.24 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,350 a year. That leaves a spread of $39,740 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a role in where an individual RN lands within that range, with specialty units and larger hospitals often paying toward the higher end.

Mississippi RN pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $55,620 in 2015 to $77,090 in 2025. That's a gain of $21,470, or 39%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with a larger jump between 2022 and 2024 as pay moved from $63,330 to $74,470.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same period, so Mississippi's ten-year gain trailed the national pace somewhat. Pay for RNs starting in Mississippi now sits well above where it stood a decade ago. Nothing about future pay is guaranteed, but the past decade shows steady movement upward for the state.

Jackson pays RNs the most in Mississippi, with typical pay of $82,630 a year ($39.73 an hour), about 7% above the state figure. These figures cover the full Jackson metro area. Gulfport and Biloxi follow closely, both at $78,960 a year, giving RNs in the Gulf Coast area comparable pay to the capital region.

Hattiesburg pays the least among Mississippi's listed cities, at $76,270 a year, putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $6,360. Jackson also has the largest RN workforce in the state, with about 8,700 RNs. Pay differences between cities often track local living costs, so a smaller paycheck in Hattiesburg tends to go with lower expenses.

Mississippi's RN pay trails most of its neighbors. Tennessee pays the most nearby at $81,500 a year, 6% above Mississippi, and Louisiana follows at $80,230, about 4% higher. Arkansas sits close by at $78,940, while Alabama's $77,080 is nearly identical to Mississippi's own figure. RNs considering a move across state lines can often transfer or endorse their license into a neighboring state rather than starting licensure over.

RNs in Mississippi typically earn $77,090 a year, a figure that has risen 39% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, but the overall trend has moved upward. Readers weighing a move to Mississippi or a nursing career there can check the state's licensing or nursing board registry page for requirements, and the city pages for local pay figures in Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg.