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State profile · NCES F-33 FY2023

Teacher Salary in Mississippi

Mississippi sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $51,325 (#45 of 49). According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available for every public school district in Mississippi.

$51,325
Est. state avg salary

Well below benchmark

-26.9%
vs national
#45
National rank
138
Districts

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$51,325/year (est.)

Mississippi sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $51,325 (#45 of 49). Estimated average teacher salary is $51,325, materially below the national average of $70,245, ranking #45 of 49, across 138 public school districts with reliable data (NCES CCD F-33, FY2023).

  • Lower-third estimated pay: Mississippi sits in the lowest third of reporting jurisdictions at $51,325 (#45 of 49).
  • lower third nationally (#45 of 49)
  • Mississippi ranks #45 of 49 on the salary estimate and #33 of 49 on enrollment in the same reliable-district pool.
  • $36,752 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
  • -26.9% vs the national average
  • +28.6% estimated-basis panel FY2019→FY2023 (balanced cohort, not the FTE average above)
  • #44 of 49 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 86.8)

Mississippi sits in the lower third for estimated pay

Across 138 reliable-salary districts, the average estimate is $51,325: #45 of 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate, and 26.9% below the national benchmark of $70,245.

The rank compares the same F-33-derived district measure nationwide. It does not include benefits, experience steps, taxes, or local living costs; use it as a relative state placement rather than an exact paycheck.

Mississippi purchasing-power check on lower-third pay

Mississippi's nominal average teacher salary ranks #45 of the 49 states and territories that report teacher salaries. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2023 Regional Price Parity (86.8, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $59,919, ranking #44 of 49 , 1 places higher than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download. BEA Regional Price Parities · NCES CCD F-33

Mississippi in the teacher-salary distribution

FY2023 estimated state averages from the same NCES-derived ranking

$51,325 8th percentile higher than 8% of 49 reporting states and territories

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Below this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Below this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 6 reporting states and territories (12%). This entry sits in this band. $55,000–$60,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $60,000–$65,000: 9 reporting states and territories (18%). Above this entry. $65,000–$70,000: 7 reporting states and territories (14%). Above this entry. $70,000–$75,000: 2 reporting states and territories (4%). Above this entry. $75,000–$80,000: 4 reporting states and territories (8%). Above this entry. $80,000–$85,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $85,000–$90,000: 5 reporting states and territories (10%). Above this entry. $90,000–$95,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $95,000–$100,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $100,000–$105,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $105,000–$110,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $110,000–$115,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. $115,000–$120,000: 0 reporting states and territories (0%). Above this entry. $120,000–$125,000: 1 reporting states and territories (2%). Above this entry. Mississippi $0 $125,000 reporting state salary estimates, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more reporting states and territories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey; state estimates derived from reported instructional-salary expenditure and teacher FTE · FY2023

Mississippi's comparable salary trend

Same reporting-district cohort, FY2019-FY2023

FY2023 estimated average
$59,625 28.590059274190597% vs FY2019
136 districts held in the panel
$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,000 FY2019FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023 Mississippi est. avg teacher salary, FY2019: $46,368Mississippi est. avg teacher salary, FY2020: $49,997Mississippi est. avg teacher salary, FY2021: $52,917Mississippi est. avg teacher salary, FY2022: $53,847Mississippi est. avg teacher salary, FY2023: $59,625 $46,368 $59,625 ▲ +28.6%
Read the chart as text
Period Mississippi est. avg teacher salary
FY2019 $46,368
FY2020 $49,997
FY2021 $52,917
FY2022 $53,847
FY2023 $59,625

Highest-paying districts in Mississippi

Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)

Est. avg salary

What this shows Forrest County Ag High School leads Mississippi on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.

Source NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, FY2023 As of FY2023

Top 3 districts

1 $76,198

Forrest County Ag High School

Est. avg teacher salary
2 $62,125

Hazlehurst City School District

Est. avg teacher salary
3 $60,147

Oxford School District

Est. avg teacher salary

Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment Per-Pupil Exp
Forrest County Ag High School $76,198 611 $18,885
Hazlehurst City School District $62,125 1,368 $15,030
Oxford School District $60,147 4,766 $16,954
Clinton Public School Dist $59,154 5,211 $10,863
Claiborne Co School Dist $59,100 1,188 $16,549
Humphreys Co School Dist $58,680 1,207 $16,068
Jackson Co School Dist $58,060 8,906 $11,864
Vicksburg Warren School Dist $57,184 6,862 $16,458
Webster Co School Dist $56,490 1,739 $13,928
New Albany Public Schools $56,067 2,114 $12,810
Harrison Co School Dist $55,980 14,355 $13,727
Baldwyn School District $55,962 756 $14,787
Starkville- Oktibbeha Cons Dist $55,578 4,894 $16,002
Booneville School Dist $55,549 1,321 $11,147
Long Beach School Dist $55,466 2,929 $12,724
Kemper Co School Dist $55,462 884 $25,476
Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist $55,346 1,672 $17,500
Madison Co School Dist $55,317 13,162 $13,752
Pascagoula-gautier School District $55,088 6,565 $17,649
Winona-montgomery Consolidated $54,983 1,144 $15,532
Pearl Public School District $54,934 4,216 $12,968
Richton School Dist $54,911 597 $13,482
Canton Public School Dist $54,786 3,166 $15,007
Moss Point Separate School Dist $54,721 1,569 $21,265
Columbia School District $54,658 1,646 $13,877
Amory School Dist $54,507 1,518 $13,211
Gulfport School Dist $54,338 6,113 $13,606
Aberdeen School Dist $54,214 998 $17,575
West Jasper Consolidated Schools $53,967 1,411 $13,762
Biloxi Public School Dist $53,955 5,812 $15,838
Rankin Co School Dist $53,725 18,720 $12,503
Lowndes Co School Dist $53,666 5,261 $12,806
Franklin Co School Dist $53,603 1,211 $13,961
North Pike School Dist $53,603 2,245 $13,283
Lauderdale Co School Dist $53,587 5,910 $12,461
Ocean Springs School Dist $53,511 5,861 $11,940
Pass Christian Public School Dist $53,477 1,944 $17,015
Petal School Dist $53,341 4,392 $12,327
Hancock Co School Dist $53,289 4,060 $13,400
Lafayette Co School Dist $53,153 2,872 $13,035
Lamar County School District $52,963 10,276 $11,878
Noxubee County School District $52,718 1,397 $13,952
Louisville Municipal School Dist $52,679 2,523 $13,958
Enterprise School Dist $52,648 955 $12,701
Wilkinson Co School Dist $52,492 891 $16,865
Newton County School District $52,437 1,688 $15,793
Meridian Public Schools $52,314 4,614 $15,641
Tunica County School District $52,299 1,671 $20,211
Corinth School Dist $52,282 2,490 $11,416
Jackson Public School District $52,241 18,710 $15,930
Greene County School District $52,226 1,640 $14,049
Lincoln County School District $52,203 2,795 $12,138
Leland School Dist $52,111 700 $20,357
Choctaw Co School Dist $52,066 1,230 $23,067
Neshoba County School District $52,043 3,038 $14,891
George Co School Dist $51,857 4,165 $11,157
West Point Consolidated School Dist $51,613 2,609 $18,148
Jones Co School Dist $51,548 8,524 $11,349
Water Valley School District $51,525 1,041 $12,852
North Bolivar Cons School Dist $51,468 780 $23,435
Poplarville Separate School Dist $51,430 1,909 $12,893
Alcorn School Dist $51,410 3,188 $12,923
Copiah Co School Dist $51,336 2,205 $11,773
Western Line School District $51,313 1,632 $15,768
Quitman School Dist $51,285 1,593 $16,783
Lawrence Co School Dist $51,276 1,696 $13,475
Jefferson Co School Dist $51,215 1,063 $16,339
Stone Co School Dist $51,189 2,518 $13,026
Clarksdale Municipal School Dist $51,091 2,118 $22,178
Greenville Public Schools $51,060 3,542 $14,254
Forest Municipal School Dist $50,914 1,645 $14,557
Monroe Co School Dist $50,867 2,119 $12,303
Pearl River Co School Dist $50,840 3,284 $11,287
Carroll County School Dist $50,753 805 $14,509
Cleveland School Dist $50,752 2,818 $16,880
Prentiss Co School Dist $50,731 2,278 $12,479
Brookhaven School Dist $50,715 2,586 $13,539
Union Co School Dist $50,586 2,980 $11,372
Itawamba County School Dist $50,564 3,375 $11,780
Scott Co School Dist $50,490 3,989 $11,779
South Delta School District $50,484 604 $21,623
Desoto Co School Dist $50,476 35,003 $11,403
North Panola School District $50,267 1,219 $14,541
Okolona Separate School Dist $50,249 511 $17,990
Jefferson Davis Co School Dist $50,226 1,235 $22,377
Yazoo Co School Dist $50,140 1,320 $16,941
Wayne Co School Dist $50,033 2,900 $15,013
Smith Co School Dist $49,967 2,443 $12,119
Pontotoc Co School Dist $49,957 3,466 $12,456
Senatobia Municipal School Dist $49,928 1,666 $12,911
North Tippah School Dist $49,837 1,286 $12,425
Union Public School Dist $49,793 927 $13,472
Hinds Co School Dist $49,685 4,968 $14,701
South Panola School District $49,676 4,313 $12,911
Natchez-adams School District $49,630 2,842 $21,119
Hattiesburg Public School Dist $49,546 3,667 $16,802
Pontotoc City Schools $49,441 2,302 $11,946
Grenada School Dist $49,271 3,864 $12,712
Lee County School District $49,252 6,303 $12,240
Tupelo Public School Dist $49,249 7,132 $14,546

Showing 1–100 of 138 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.

Lowest-Paying Districts in Mississippi

District Est. Avg Salary Enrollment
Newton Municipal School District $39,446 816
Holmes County Consolidated SD $43,815 2,544
Hollandale School Dist $44,162 548
West Tallahatchie School District $44,374 513
West Bolivar Cons School Dist $44,544 938
Calhoun Co School Dist $44,607 2,080
Sunflower Cty Cons School District $45,009 2,929
Nettleton School Dist $45,153 1,112
East Jasper Consolidated Sch Dist $45,175 755
Leake Co School Dist $45,497 2,532

Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.

Nationwide peers near Mississippi's lower-third pay

Two nationwide peer sets for Mississippi: closest on estimated average teacher salary ($51,325 here) and closest on total student enrollment (436,542 here). Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not geographic containment.

Similar estimated salary

Nearest other states by unweighted district-mean teacher pay (F-33 derived, ≥5 districts with reliable estimates).

Similar enrollment

Nearest other states by NCES-reported K-12 enrollment. Salary peers above are excluded.

Compare Nearby-Ranked States

Indiana
$52,427
Rank #42
Missouri
$52,299
Rank #43
Texas
$51,478
Rank #44
South Dakota
$50,422
Rank #46

Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2023. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.

Mississippi teacher salary FAQ

What is the average teacher salary in Mississippi?

Across 138 Mississippi public school districts with reliable data, the average teacher salary is $51,325 (NCES CCD F-33 reported teacher salaries divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2023). It is a district-level mean derived from finance filings, so it will not match a contract-salary survey exactly, read it as a relative comparison.

Which Mississippi school district pays teachers the most?

Forrest County Ag High School reports the highest average teacher salary in Mississippi at $76,198, while Newton Municipal School District sits at the lower end at $39,446.

How does Mississippi teacher pay compare to the national average?

Mississippi's average of $51,325 is materially below the national average of $70,245 (-26.9%), ranking #45 of the 49 jurisdictions with a reliable district estimate.

How many school districts are in Mississippi?

Mississippi has 138 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 436,542 students.

How much do teachers make in Mississippi?

District-average teacher pay in Mississippi sits in a comparatively narrow band, from $39,446 in Newton Municipal School District to $76,198 in Forrest County Ag High School. With that little district-to-district spread the statewide figure is a reasonable guide to what most districts pay. These are district-wide averages from NCES CCD F-33 (FY2023), not individual salaries or pay-scale steps.

Can teachers earn $100,000 in Mississippi?

No Mississippi district with reliable data reports an estimated average teacher salary at or above $100,000; the state's highest is Forrest County Ag High School at $76,198. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.

How does Mississippi rank after adjusting for cost of living?

Within the separate enrollment-weighted state comparison, BEA's 2023 Regional Price Parity (86.8, US=100) adjusts Mississippi's nominal estimate of $52,005 from #46 to $59,919 and #44. The headline uses an unweighted district mean, so this does not replace it. Neither measure is take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.

Explore Mississippi

Disclaimer & data sources

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainTeacher for Mississippi