{"id":7044,"date":"2026-06-06T08:25:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T08:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/?p=7044"},"modified":"2026-06-17T20:05:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:05:01","slug":"mississippi-teacher-salary-job-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepsaret.com\/praxis\/mississippi-teacher-salary-job-outlook","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Teacher Salary & Job Outlook"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mississippi teacher salary holds the unwanted distinction of ranking last among all 50 states year after year. Per the NEA Rankings of the States 2024 and Estimates of School Statistics 2025 (published April 17, 2025): ‘State average teacher salaries ranged from those in California ($101,084), New York ($95,615), and Massachusetts ($92,076) at the high end to Mississippi ($53,704), Florida ($54,875), and Missouri ($55,132) at the low end.’ Per the NEA’s 2026 rankings (May 2, 2026): Mississippi remained last with an average salary of $54,975 for 2024-25, as ‘the lowest salaries are in Mississippi ($54,975), Florida, and…’<\/span><\/p>\n

These numbers are accurate and must be stated clearly: Mississippi pays its teachers less than any other state in the country. However, they tell only part of the financial story. Mississippi also has one of the lowest costs of living in the United States \u2014 approximately 83% of the national average by most measures \u2014 which means the purchasing power of a Mississippi teacher’s salary is meaningfully higher than the nominal comparison suggests. <\/span><\/p>\n

Per theworlddata.com: ‘Nominal salaries do not tell the full story.’ Per wealthvieu.com (May 2026, citing BLS and NEA data): a teacher in New York earns twice as much as one in Mississippi in nominal terms, but the real cost-of-living-adjusted gap is substantially smaller.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2022 state teacher pay raise \u2014 signed by Governor Tate Reeves \u2014 was described by PBS NewsHour as ‘the largest teacher pay raise in years,’ raising the starting base salary from $37,000 to $41,500 and adding structured step increases with milestone bonuses at year 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This raise acknowledged the state’s chronic undercompensation and marked a meaningful shift in policy direction. Subsequent legislative sessions have continued the upward trend, with tallo.com (June 2025) reporting a 2024 raise that ‘added $1,500 to all salary steps.’<\/span><\/p>\n

With 2,593 unfilled positions in 2022-23 and a salary growth rate of just 1.61% per year over the past three years (per theworlddata.com \u2014 ‘dead last in the nation for wage improvement’), Mississippi faces a genuine retention and recruitment challenge that nominal salary data alone captures clearly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This prepsaret<\/a> guide provides the complete, authoritative picture \u2014 salary data from NEA, BLS, and state sources; the salary schedule structure; district supplements; cost-of-living context; pension; federal incentives; and strategies for maximizing lifetime earnings as a Mississippi teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mississippi Teacher Salary: Key Numbers at a Glance<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
50th<\/b><\/p>\n

National Salary Rank<\/b><\/p>\n

Last in US \u2014 NEA 2023-24 and 2024-25<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

$53,704<\/b><\/p>\n

Avg. Salary (2023-24)<\/b><\/p>\n

NEA 2025 Rankings (April 2025)<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

$54,975<\/b><\/p>\n

Avg. Salary (2024-25)<\/b><\/p>\n

NEA 2026 Rankings (May 2026)<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

$41,500<\/b><\/p>\n

Starting Salary (State Base)<\/b><\/p>\n

PBS NewsHour; 2022 pay raise law; bachelor’s degree<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$71,400<\/b><\/p>\n

Max Salary (BA+35 yrs+Ed.D.)<\/b><\/p>\n

tallo.com; state salary schedule top<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

$5,000<\/b><\/p>\n

Top District Supplement<\/b><\/p>\n

Gulfport; Madison County; tallo.com<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

83%<\/b><\/p>\n

Cost of Living (vs. US avg.)<\/b><\/p>\n

MS ~83% of national avg \u2014 low CoL offsets salary<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n

2,593<\/b><\/p>\n

Unfilled Positions (2022-23)<\/b><\/p>\n

teachercertificationdegrees.com MS (March 2026)<\/span><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: NEA Rankings 2025 (nea.org, April 17, 2025) \u2014 ‘$53,704; Mississippi lowest nationally’; NEA Rankings 2026 (nea.org, May 2, 2026) \u2014 ‘$54,975 Mississippi lowest’; NEA 2024-25 Benchmark (April 2026) \u2014 national avg $87,331 top; PBS NewsHour (pbs.org) \u2014 ‘$41,500 base after 2022 raise’; tallo.com (June 2025) \u2014 ‘$71,400 max; Gulfport $5,000 supplement; Madison County $5,000 supplement’; teachercertificationdegrees.com MS (March 2026) \u2014 2,593 unfilled.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Average Teacher Salary: Multi-Year Trend and National Context<\/b><\/h2>\n

Multi-Year Average Salary<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
School Year<\/b><\/td>\nMS Avg. Teacher Salary<\/b><\/td>\nNational Average<\/b><\/td>\nMS National Rank<\/b><\/td>\nYear-over-Year Change MS<\/b><\/td>\nSource<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019-20<\/span><\/td>\n$46,843<\/span><\/td>\n$64,133<\/span><\/td>\n50th (est.)<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\nPBS NewsHour \/ SREB<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023-24<\/span><\/td>\n$53,704<\/span><\/td>\n$72,030<\/span><\/td>\n50th<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\nNEA Rankings 2025 (April 17, 2025)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024-25<\/span><\/td>\n$54,975<\/span><\/td>\n$74,495 (est.)<\/span><\/td>\n50th<\/span><\/td>\n$1,271 (+2.4%)<\/span><\/td>\nNEA Rankings 2026 (May 2, 2026)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024-25 (projected)<\/span><\/td>\n$55,086 (alt. estimate)<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n50th<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\ntheworlddata.com \u2014 NEA data<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: PBS NewsHour (pbs.org) \u2014 2019-20 $46,843 (SREB); NEA Rankings 2025 (nea.org, April 17, 2025) \u2014 2023-24 $53,704; NEA Rankings 2026 (nea.org, May 2, 2026) \u2014 2024-25 $54,975 lowest nationally; national avg $74,495; theworlddata.com \u2014 ‘$55,086 projected for 2024-25.’<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Growth Rate Context<\/b><\/h3>\n

Per theworlddata.com (November 2025, citing NEA data): ‘Mississippi remains at the bottom with an average teacher salary of $55,086 projected for 2024-25, representing minimal growth from $53,704 in 2023-24.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The state’s annual salary growth rate of just 1.61% per year over the past three years places it dead last in the nation for wage improvement.’ This stagnation \u2014 despite the 2022 pay raise \u2014 reflects structural challenges in Mississippi’s school funding framework.<\/span><\/p>\n

Per NEA Rankings 2025 (April 2025): the national average one-year change in public school teacher salaries from 2022-23 to 2023-24 was 3.8%. Mississippi’s year-over-year growth significantly lagged this national average, even with recent legislative action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Per NEA Rankings 2026 (May 2026): the national average one-year change from 2023-24 to 2024-25 was 3.5%; the largest state increases were in Nevada (11.8%), DC (9.7%), and Delaware (7.6%).<\/span><\/p>\n

Sources: NEA Rankings 2025 (April 2025) \u2014 ‘3.8% national one-year change’; NEA Rankings 2026 (May 2026) \u2014 ‘3.5% national; Nevada 11.8% largest’; theworlddata.com \u2014 ‘1.61% annual growth rate; dead last for wage improvement.’<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mississippi vs. All 50 States: Where MS Ranks<\/b><\/h2>\n

The following table provides a national context for Mississippi’s average teacher salary, showing select states from highest to lowest using the most current NEA data (2024-25):<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rank<\/b><\/td>\nState<\/b><\/td>\nAvg. Teacher Salary (2024-25)<\/b><\/td>\nNotes<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/span><\/td>\nCalifornia<\/span><\/td>\n$103,552<\/span><\/td>\nOnly state above $100K avg; NEA 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/span><\/td>\nNew York<\/span><\/td>\n$98,655<\/span><\/td>\nNEA 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/span><\/td>\nWashington<\/span><\/td>\n$96,589<\/span><\/td>\nNEA 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10th (est.)<\/span><\/td>\nMedian state<\/span><\/td>\n~$65,000 (est.)<\/span><\/td>\nApprox. midpoint nationally<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
National Average<\/span><\/td>\nUnited States<\/span><\/td>\n$74,495<\/span><\/td>\nNEA Rankings 2026 (May 2026); 3.5% increase<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48th<\/span><\/td>\nLouisiana<\/span><\/td>\n$56,785<\/span><\/td>\nNEA 2026 \u2014 low end<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
49th<\/span><\/td>\nFlorida<\/span><\/td>\n$56,663<\/span><\/td>\nNEA 2026 \u2014 second lowest<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50th (Last)<\/span><\/td>\nMississippi<\/span><\/td>\n$54,975<\/span><\/td>\nNEA 2026 \u2014 lowest in nation; last nationally<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Sources: NEA Rankings 2026 \/ NEA Teacher Pay and Per Student Spending 2026 (nea.org, May 2, 2026) \u2014 all state rankings; ‘$54,975 Mississippi lowest’; California $103,552; NY $98,655; WA $96,589; national avg $74,495; Florida $56,663; Louisiana $56,785.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The gap between Mississippi and the national average is approximately $19,520 for 2024-25 ($74,495 national minus $54,975 Mississippi). The gap between Mississippi and the highest-paying state (California) is approximately $48,577 \u2014 nearly the full value of Mississippi’s average salary itself. Per wealthvieu.com (citing BLS and NEA, May 2026): ‘a teacher in New York earns twice as much as one in Mississippi.’<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2022 Teacher Pay Raise: The Largest in Years<\/b><\/h2>\n

The 2022 teacher pay raise, signed by Governor Tate Reeves, represents the most significant recent policy action on Mississippi teacher compensation. Per PBS NewsHour: ‘Gov. Tate Reeves signs largest teacher pay raise in years.’<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2022 Mississippi Teacher Pay Raise \u2014 Key Provisions<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
STARTING SALARY INCREASE: From $37,000 to $41,500 for a beginning teacher with a bachelor’s degree \u2014 a $4,500 increase in the state base starting salary.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ONGOING STEP STRUCTURE: ‘Under the new law, teachers’ base pay will increase by a few hundred dollars most years, with larger increases with every fifth year of experience and a more substantial bump at 25 years.’ (PBS NewsHour)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MILESTONE YEARS: Per the PBS NewsHour description, the salary schedule includes built-in acceleration at 5-year intervals \u2014 Years 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 receive larger-than-average step increases.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25-YEAR MILESTONE: A ‘more substantial bump at 25 years’ creates a significant incentive for long-term teacher retention.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TEACHERS’ ASSISTANTS: ‘$2,000 increase over two years, taking pay from $15,000 to $17,000.’ (PBS NewsHour) \u2014 paraprofessionals also benefited.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CONTEXT: Prior to this raise, the average Mississippi teacher salary in 2019-20 was $46,843 (SREB data), lagging behind the SREB average of $55,205 for teachers in the 16 Southern states and far below the national average of $64,133.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT: Per tallo.com (June 2025): ‘The 2024 raise added $1,500 to all salary steps.’ Legislative sessions continue to address teacher pay.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sources: PBS NewsHour (pbs.org\/newshour\/education\/mississippi-gov-tate-reeves-signs-largest-teacher-pay-raise-in-years); tallo.com (June 2025).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Mississippi State Salary Schedule: How Pay Works<\/b><\/h2>\n

Mississippi teacher compensation is structured around a statewide salary schedule that establishes base pay for all public school teachers. Per tallo.com (June 2025): ‘Teacher pay in Mississippi is determined by a statewide salary schedule based on experience, degree level, and certification. Public school employees receive structured compensation that increases over time. Base salaries are standardized, but local districts can add supplements.’<\/span><\/p>\n

Two Dimensions of the Salary Schedule<\/b><\/h3>\n