Mississippi Career & Training Directory
Explore 218 careers with Mississippi-specific salary data, licensing requirements, and 15 accredited schools.
Top Careers in Mississippi
Mississippi's Manufacturing and Healthcare Sectors Offer Accessible Career Entry Points
Mississippi has the lowest cost of living in the United States, which means that even wages running 12–15% below national medians provide solid purchasing power. The state's manufacturing base includes Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula (one of the largest naval shipyards in the country), Nissan's Canton assembly plant, and a growing Toyota facility. Catfish farming, timber, and poultry processing sustain rural employment. Healthcare is the largest employment sector and faces severe staffing shortages, creating strong hiring demand for nurses and allied health workers across the state.
Registered Nurse
- Median Salary
- $58,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +6.2% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 2–4 years (ADN or BSN)
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
- Median Salary
- $50,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +7.0% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 1–2 year certificate + apprenticeship
Welder
- Median Salary
- $43,200/yr
- Job Growth
- +3.2% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 6–12 months (certificate)
Licensed Practical Nurse
- Median Salary
- $43,800/yr
- Job Growth
- +5.5% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 12–18 months (certificate)
Electrician
- Median Salary
- $50,400/yr
- Job Growth
- +9.5% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 4–5 years (apprenticeship)
Truck Driver (CDL)
- Median Salary
- $48,200/yr
- Job Growth
- +4.0% (2022–2032)
- Training Time
- 3–6 weeks (CDL program)
Salary figures based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024/2025. Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032. State figures reflect Mississippi-specific wage data; individual employer pay varies.
Airline Pilot (Career Track) / Flight Student
DevOps Engineer / Site Reliability Engineer
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cloud Technician / Cloud Engineer
Construction Manager / Superintendent
Database Administrator (DBA)
Schools in Mississippi
Hinds Community College
Largest community college in Mississippi. Multi-campus system with comprehensive allied health, trades, and career-techn...
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Multi-campus system serving coastal Mississippi. Comprehensive career and technical programs including major healthcare,...
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Serves north Mississippi with campuses in Senatobia, DeSoto County, and Lafayette-Yalobusha. Strong 30+ career/technical...
East Mississippi Community College
Serves east-central Mississippi. Ranked among the top community colleges nationally. Notable cosmetology and advanced ma...
About Mississippi's Job Market
Mississippi's economy supports a strong demand for trained vocational professionals across healthcare, construction, technology, and transportation. The state's growing population drives steady openings for allied health workers, skilled tradespeople, and tech professionals.