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Registered Nurse Salary in Mississippi 2026: City-by-City Pay Data
Registered Nurse Salary in Mississippi (2026): City-by-City Pay Data
The average registered nurse salary in Mississippi in 2026 is $56,500/year ($27.16/hour) based on BLS Occupational Employment Statistics and compensation data from UMMC, Singing River Health System, North Mississippi Medical Center, and other major Mississippi employers. Mississippi consistently ranks lowest nationally for RN wages, but robust federal loan repayment programs, rural premiums, and extremely low cost of living reshape the real financial picture for nurses working there.
RN Salary by City in Mississippi
| City / Metro | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $59,000 | UMMC, Baptist Medical Center, St. Dominic — state capital academic hub |
| Gulfport / Biloxi | $57,500 | Singing River, Memorial Hospital at Gulfport — Gulf Coast market with VA Medical Center |
| Hattiesburg | $55,000 | Forrest General Hospital, Merit Health Wesley — Pine Belt regional hub |
| Tupelo | $55,500 | North Mississippi Medical Center — largest non-profit community hospital in MS |
| Meridian | $53,500 | Anderson Regional Medical Center — eastern MS regional hospital |
| Rural Delta / Northern MS | $52,500 | Critical access hospitals; NHSC + Indian Health Service programs common |
Highest-Paying Nursing Specialties in Mississippi
| Specialty | Avg Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| CRNA | $176,000 |
| ICU / Critical Care RN | $67,000 |
| Emergency RN | $64,000 |
| OR / Surgical RN | $62,000 |
| Oncology RN | $61,000 |
| L&D / Perinatal RN | $60,500 |
| Med-Surg RN | $55,000 |
Top Mississippi Healthcare Employers for RNs
- University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) — Jackson; the state's only academic medical center, Level I trauma, transplant center — highest nursing wages in MS
- Singing River Health System — Gulf Coast; 4 hospitals; strong ER and women's health programs with Gulf Coast cost-of-living advantages
- North Mississippi Medical Center — Tupelo; largest non-profit community hospital; rural service area with loan repayment programs
- Baptist Memorial Health Care — Jackson, Golden Triangle; Memphis-based system with Mississippi presence
- Forrest General Hospital — Hattiesburg; regional referral for Pine Belt and south Mississippi
- VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health System — Biloxi; federal pay scale (GS-based) can significantly exceed regional private rates for experienced nurses
Compact License Status
Mississippi is a founding member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), joining in 2014. RNs with a multistate license from another NLC compact state can practice in Mississippi without a separate Mississippi license. Mississippi nurses benefit from compact privileges to work in neighboring compact states (Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama) — useful for travel nursing and locum-style supplemental work.
Federal Loan Repayment Programs in Mississippi
Mississippi has the highest density of Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) of any state. This creates extensive eligibility for federal loan repayment:
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Up to $50,000 for 2-year HPSA service commitment — largest single federal nursing loan repayment program
- NHSC Scholars Program: Tuition + living stipend for nursing students in exchange for HPSA service commitment
- Indian Health Service (IHS): The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians health system offers IHS loan repayment up to $40,000 for eligible nurses
- Mississippi Nurses Foundation scholarships: State-level awards for nurses committing to rural service
Mississippi RN Job Market Outlook
Mississippi's nursing shortage is structural — the state consistently loses trained nurses to higher-wage neighboring states, creating persistent vacancies across all settings. Travel RN rates in Jackson run $1,500–$2,000/week. Rural hospitals in the Mississippi Delta have critical staffing gaps with aggressive sign-on bonuses ($8,000–$18,000) and relocation packages. The VA Gulf Coast system in Biloxi pays federal GS pay scale — GS-11/12 nursing positions can reach $70,000–$80,000/year, well above the state average.
How to Maximize Your RN Salary in Mississippi
- Target UMMC for top academic pay: University medical center nursing roles pay 15–20% above community hospital averages in Jackson
- Pursue VA employment: Biloxi VA hospital pays GS-scale — far above MS private sector — with federal benefits, retirement, and loan forgiveness via PSLF
- Leverage NHSC loan repayment: A 2-year rural commitment can be worth $50,000 — effectively adding $25,000/year in tax-free compensation
- Use compact license for travel nursing in higher-wage states: MS compact license works in FL, TX, TN — travel nursing from a Mississippi base to these markets is financially advantageous
- PSLF via non-profit hospitals: Most Mississippi hospitals are non-profit; 10 years of qualifying payments erases remaining federal loan balances
Related: RN Salary Tennessee 2026, RN Salary Alabama 2026, Mississippi RN License Guide.
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