Mississippi Income Statistics
Mississippi Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Mississippi Well below averageAmong the 3 least wealthy states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in Mississippi
- Madison County (112% of U.S. avg)
- DeSoto County (104% of U.S. avg)
- Rankin County (103% of U.S. avg)
- Issaquena County (48% of U.S. avg)
- Holmes County (61% of U.S. avg)
- Sunflower County (62% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Mississippi | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,669 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,086 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Mississippi is about 30% lower than in US. Income has been growing slower in Mississippi (4.3%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Mississippi earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Mississippi grew by 53.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,669 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Mississippi
| Metric | Mississippi | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.566 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,525 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,645 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Mississippi, it is 0.566, higher than US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Mississippi. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $450,800 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mississippi has narrowed from about 25% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,186 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Mississippi | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 76,673 people are unemployed in Mississippi.
The average commute time in Mississippi is 21 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Mississippi has fallen from 9.9% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.0% in 2013.
Mississippi Wealth Compared With Nearby States
Mississippi is the smallest of the 6 states compared here, 2,946,497 residents against a local median of 5,083,438. Where Mississippi breaks from the states next to it is unemployment, sitting 16% above the local median of 4.9% at 5.7%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The states themselves spread 1.6% on unemployment, so Mississippi sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Mississippi has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 2,946,497 | $56,669 #6/6 | 4.3%/yr #5/6 | 5.7% #5/6 | 0.566 #5/6 |
| Alabama | 5,083,438 | $64,544 | 4.7%/yr | 4.7% | 0.560 |
| Louisiana | 4,610,276 | $60,934 | 3.7%/yr | 6.2% | 0.574 |
| Arkansas | 3,049,066 | $60,940 | 4.6%/yr | 4.9% | 0.551 |
| Tennessee | 7,058,506 | $69,901 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.542 |
| Georgia | 10,939,918 | $77,523 | 5.3%/yr | 5.1% | 0.561 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Mississippi has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Mississippi.
How Rich Is Mississippi?
Mississippi has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,669, about 30% lower than the US average of $80,455.
How fast is household income rising in Mississippi?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Mississippi rose 54%, from $36,893 to $56,669. Over the same years, income here lagged behind the U.S. as a whole: +54% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Mississippi in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Mississippi was $55,083, up 4% from $53,040 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in Mississippi in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Mississippi was $46,572. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $56,669.
What is the Gini coefficient in Mississippi?
The Gini coefficient in Mississippi is 0.566. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Mississippi?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Mississippi has narrowed from about 25% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 26% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,186 since 2009.
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