Government Jobs in Mississippi: Employers & Pay

964

local governments (2022)

counties

298

cities, towns and townships

431

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Mississippi state government pay plan

Mississippi State Personnel Board publishes the classification and pay plan for Mississippi state employees: 633 job classes and 43 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the MS plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Dispatcher I–II 2 classes	$22,040 – $50,161
Accountant (government)	Accountant I–III 3 classes	$36,624 – $99,024
Administrative Assistant (government)	Admin Support Assistant I–IV 4 classes	$22,040 – $50,161
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearings Officer I–III 3 classes	$33,600 – $83,347
Bank / Financial Examiner	Bank Examiner I–III 3 classes	$36,624 – $130,592
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer-in-Training, Transportation Engineer I–III 4 classes	$43,509 – $117,651
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Procurement Officer I–II 2 classes	$36,624 – $76,465
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Case Manager I–II 2 classes	$28,542 – $54,676
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer I–IV 4 classes	$28,542 – $70,801
Court Reporter (official)	Court Reporter 1 class	$40,286 – $70,801
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodian 1 class	$20,220 – $35,536
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Officer I–II 2 classes	$31,111 – $64,364
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Transportation Engineering Technician I–IV 4 classes	$22,040 – $59,050
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer-in-Training, Environmental Engineer I–II 3 classes	$43,509 – $107,936
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist I–II 2 classes	$43,509 – $83,347
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Marshal I–II 2 classes	$31,111 – $70,801
Forester	Forester I–II 2 classes	$33,600 – $76,465
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Technician I–II 2 classes	$28,542 – $54,676
GIS Analyst / Specialist	GIS Specialist I–II 2 classes	$40,138 – $79,004
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney I–III 3 classes	$56,346 – $160,903
Government Auditor	Program Auditor I–III, Auditor I–III 6 classes	$36,624 – $99,024
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Heavy Equipment Operator I–III 3 classes	$26,186 – $70,801
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resources Analyst I–III, Human Resources Generalist I–II 5 classes	$33,600 – $90,848
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Specialist I–III 3 classes	$31,111 – $70,801
OSHA / Workplace Safety Inspector	Safety Inspector I–III 3 classes	$33,600 – $99,024
Social Worker (government)	Social Services Specialist I–III 3 classes	$28,542 – $64,364
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Trooper, Trooper First Class 2 classes	No fixed rate
Urban / City Planner	Transportation Planner I–II 2 classes	$28,542 – $59,050
Wildland Firefighter	Forest Ranger I–II 2 classes	$24,023 – $46,020

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Mississippi State Personnel Board, Mississippi Variable Compensation Plan FY 2027 and MSPB Career Catalog. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Mississippi

Fire departments · 118

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Jackson Fire Department	Jackson	320	Official site
Biloxi Fire Department	Biloxi	175	Official site
Gulfport Fire Department	Gulfport	165	Official site
Hattiesburg Fire Department	Hattiesburg	133	Official site
Southaven Fire Department	Southaven	120	Official site
City of Meridian Fire Department	Meridian	112	—
Vicksburg Fire Department	Vicksburg	105	Official site
Greenville Fire Department	Greenville	96	—
Tupelo Fire Department	Tupelo	95	Official site
Olive Branch Fire Department	Olive Branch	85	—

All 118 fire departments in Mississippi →

Transit agencies · 8

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Mississippi State University	Mississippi State	41	Official site
Ms Coast Transportation Authority	Gulfport	35	Official site
City of Oxford	Oxford	34	Official site
City of Natchez	Natchez	20	Official site
Mississippi Valley State University	Itta Bena	17	Official site
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians	Choctaw	11	Official site
City of Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg	10	Official site
City of Jackson, MS	Jackson	0	Official site

All 8 transit agencies in Mississippi →

School districts · 138

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
DeSoto County School District	Hernando	2,282	Official site
Rankin County School District	Brandon	1,403	Official site
Jackson Public Schools	Jackson	1,250	Official site
Madison County Schools	Ridgeland	1,076	Official site
Harrison County School District	Gulfport	931	Official site
Lamar County School District	Purvis	779	Official site
Jones County School District	Ellisville	657	Official site
Jackson County School District	Vancleave	602	Official site
Pascagoula-Gautier School District	Pascagoula	561	Official site
Tupelo Public School District	Tupelo	555	Official site

All 138 school districts in Mississippi →

Police departments · 167

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 167 police departments in Mississippi →

Sheriff's offices · 82

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 82 sheriff's offices in Mississippi →

Campus police departments · 26

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 26 campus police departments in Mississippi →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Mississippi

Median wage in Mississippi for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in MS	Median in MS	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,060	$77,090	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,060	$77,090	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	29,060	$77,090	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	29,060	$77,090	$100,490
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	20,860	$36,380	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	17,600	$34,900	$46,170
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	15,940	$28,380	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	14,720	$37,340	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	14,720	$37,340	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	11,060	$49,790	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	11,060	$49,790	$65,310
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	10,630	$106,680	$137,300
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	10,400	$50,980	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	10,400	$50,980	$74,220
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	9,750	$25,840	$36,990
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Federal Police Officer (VA, Pentagon, Capitol…) SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
ICE Deportation Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Police Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
School Resource Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Transit Police Officer SOC 33-3051	8,070	$46,140	$76,300
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	7,350	$68,100	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	7,350	$68,100	$81,390
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	6,420	$27,390	$36,180
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	6,260	$50,790	$65,300
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	4,940	$31,630	$40,080

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Mississippi