How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Mississippi in 2026?

A typical Surgical Tech in Mississippi earns about $23.95 per hour, which comes to $49,810 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That translates to roughly $4,151 a month. Weekly pay works out to about $958, calculated from the annual figure. Actual pay varies by hospital, surgical center, and years on the job.

Mississippi's typical pay sits 23% below the national figure of $64,650 a year for Surgical Techs, according to the same May 2025 data. That gap places Mississippi 49th among the 51 states and D.C. ranked for this occupation. About 1,110 Surgical Techs work across the state, compared with 117,460 nationwide. Lower pay in Mississippi generally tracks the state's lower cost of living.

Entry-level positions in Mississippi typically offer around $18.66 an hour, or about $38,800 a year, for Surgical Techs just starting out. Some new hires land closer to $22.65 an hour, or $47,120 a year, depending on the facility. Pay generally moves toward the state's typical figure of $49,810 within the first few years on the job. Hospitals and larger surgical centers tend to offer higher starting wages than smaller clinics.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Mississippi often earn upwards of $28.65 an hour, or about $59,590 a year, with several years on the job. The top 10% of earners make over $66,300 a year, or $31.88 an hour. That leaves a spread of $27,500 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, experience level, and city all play a part in where a given Surgical Tech falls within that range.

Mississippi's typical Surgical Tech pay has climbed from $37,660 in 2015 to $49,810 in 2025, according to a decade of government wage data. That's a gain of $12,150, or 32%, over ten years. The rise wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped in a few years, including 2016 and 2021, before climbing again. Overall, the trend has moved upward over the full decade.

Nationally, Surgical Tech pay rose 46% over the same ten years, a faster climb than Mississippi's 32% gain. That means Mississippi's pay growth, while real, hasn't kept pace with the national trend. For someone starting out now, this history shows pay has moved up over time, though no future rise is guaranteed. Local wages will keep depending on the same factors that shaped the past decade.

Pay runs highest in Jackson, where Surgical Techs typically earn $59,990 a year, or $28.84 an hour, based on the metro area's wage data. That's 20% above the statewide figure of $49,810. Gulfport and Biloxi follow, each with a typical wage of $50,120 a year, or $24.10 an hour, across their shared metro area.

Hattiesburg pays the least among Mississippi's tracked cities, with Surgical Techs typically earning $48,610 a year, or $23.37 an hour, reflecting the metro area as a whole. That's an $11,380 spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities. Jackson also carries the largest Surgical Tech workforce in the state, with 320 employed there compared with 210 in Hattiesburg. Higher pay in Jackson generally tracks a higher cost of living.

Among neighboring states, Tennessee pays the most, with Surgical Techs typically earning $60,530 a year, 22% more than Mississippi's figure. Arkansas and Louisiana both run about 15% higher, at $57,400 and $57,370 respectively. Alabama sits closest to Mississippi, just 1% lower at $49,420. Surgical Tech licensure or certification earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Surgical Techs in Mississippi typically earn $49,810 a year, a figure that has grown 32% over the past decade. Pay tends to run highest in Jackson and lowest in Hattiesburg, with neighboring states like Tennessee and Arkansas paying more. Anyone weighing a move or a new position can check Mississippi's state licensing or registry page for specific requirements, and the city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.