Healthcare Recruiting in Mississippi 2026: Top Employers, Pay, and Demand
Mississippi consistently ranks in the top 10 paying states for physicians despite having the lowest overall healthcare spend per capita. The combination of physician shortage (lowest per-capita in the US), strong hospital competition, and aggressive loan repayment programs keeps compensation well above the southeastern median.
Top Healthcare Employers in Mississippi (2026)
| System | HQ | Employees | Hiring Focus 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Memorial Health Care (MS arm) | Memphis (MS facilities) | 7,500+ MS | Primary care, cardiology, surgery |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) | Jackson | 10,500+ | Academic subspecialties, trauma, rural telehealth |
| North Mississippi Health Services | Tupelo | 6,500+ | Primary care, cardiology, hospitalists |
| Singing River Health System | Pascagoula | 3,500+ | Primary care, emergency medicine, nursing |
| Forrest General Hospital | Hattiesburg | 3,500+ | Primary care, cardiology, OB/GYN |
| Memorial Hospital at Gulfport | Gulfport | 3,000+ | Primary care, emergency medicine |
| St. Dominic's Health Services (now FMOL) | Jackson | 2,500+ | Primary care, cardiology, women's health |
| Merit Health | multiple (HCA-affiliated) | 2,500+ | Emergency medicine, surgery |
Mississippi Salary Benchmarks (2026) — Top-10 Paying State
| Role | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine | $298,000 | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Internal Medicine | $308,000 | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Hospitalist | $345,000 | $50,000–$95,000 |
| General Cardiology | $555,000 | $125,000–$225,000 |
| Psychiatry | $395,000 | $60,000–$110,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $410,000 | $55,000–$105,000 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | $640,000 | $150,000–$275,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $108,000 | $12,000–$22,000 |
| RN (ICU) | $75,000 | $18,000–$30,000 |
| CRNA | $205,000 | $25,000–$50,000 |
Where the Demand Is Highest
Jackson: UMMC + Baptist + St. Dominic's compete. Academic, safety-net, community care all represented.
North MS (Tupelo, Oxford): North Mississippi Health Services anchors. Strong primary care and specialty demand.
Gulf Coast (Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula): Singing River + Memorial. Hurricane-prone region with loan repayment incentives.
Delta + Southeast MS: Severe shortage, HRSA + Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program + NHSC stack offers $200K+ over 3-4 years.
Licensing Notes
- MS State Board of Medical Licensure processes in 60-120 days
- IMLC member — expedited option
- NP practice: MS requires collaborating physician (restricted practice)
- eNLC member — RNs with multistate license practice immediately
Contact Ava Health for Mississippi openings.