Mississippi Teaching Salaries and Benefits
What first attracted you to a career in teaching?
Was it the prospect of making a difference in the lives of students? Were you inspired by a former teacher in your life who made a strong impact? As a teacher in Mississippi, you’ll have opportunities to similarly impact the next generation of learners, fulfilling your goals as an educator.
Aside from the intrinsic benefits that initially attracted you to teaching, other benefits like competitive salary, vacation time, insurance, and retirement planning will help convince you to remain in the field. With these and other comprehensive benefits offered to teachers in Mississippi, you’ll be more prepared to solidify your commitment to the career.
Learn more about becoming a teacher. Contact schools offering teacher education/certification programs in Mississippi.
Teacher Salaries in Mississippi by Education
As teachers further their educations and gain experience in the field, they receive pay increases that reflect their dedication and hard work. Salaries may vary between school districts, but the following are some examples of the salaries you can expect in Mississippi:
| Experience | Bachelor’s | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| At 3 years | $34,148 | $36,871 |
| At 6 years | $35,924 | $39,136 |
| At 9 years | $37,701 | $41,402 |
| At 12 years | $39,478 | $43,666 |
Source: Jackson Public School District
Retiring in Mississippi
Mississippi requires most state employees to participate in a defined benefit retirement plan known as the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS).
The PERS was established in 1952 and has grown to provide lifetime benefits for over 86,000 retirees and their beneficiaries. These retirees pay into the PERS throughout the course of their careers with mandatory contributions to the fund.
As a teacher in Mississippi, you’ll contribute 9% of your salary to PERS, while your employer contributes an additional 14.26% of total employee compensation.
Unlike a 401(k) plan or other contributory retirement options, a defined benefit plan doesn’t actually rely on your contributions to provide you with retirement benefits. Instead, your monthly pension is based on a formula that takes into account your average salary and years of service.
You can estimate your likely retirement benefits with the following formula:
Final Average Salary
multiplied by
Service Credit Factor (2% for each year up to 30 – 2.5% for each year after 30)
multiplied by
Years of Service
For example, if you retire after 30 years of service with a final average salary of $31,000, you’d earn a monthly pension of $1,575.
Once you reach normal retirement age and terminate employment, you’re eligible to begin receiving this monthly benefit. In Mississippi, you reach normal retirement under the following circumstances:
- At any age with 30 years of service
- At age 60 with eight years of service
Once you retire, you’re able to choose a number of payment options to provide for you and any family members. While you might choose to receive the maximum benefit, you’ll also be able to defer a portion of payments to a separate fund that becomes available to beneficiaries upon your death.
For more information on retirement and benefit payment options, research more details provided by the Public Employees Retirement System of Mississippi.
Access to Affordable Health Insurance
Teachers in Mississippi gain access to a state-funded health insurance plan that helps them seek affordable health care upon employment.
The State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan offers two different insurance options to teachers that largely differ in their costs and levels of coverage. Depending on which plan you choose, your employer will either cover your full premium or a portion of it.
Base Coverage Plan
If you enroll in the base coverage plan without any dependents, your employer will fully pay your health insurance premium. The base coverage plan requires teachers pay a $1,800 deductible for care. Adding family members to the plan will require you to pay a portion of the premium.
Select Coverage Plan
Teachers in the select coverage plan pay $38 for single employee coverage, with that premium increasing with the addition of a spouse or any children. In the select coverage plan, teachers pay a $1,000 deductible for care.
Despite their differences, each plan offers comparable coverage for a variety of medical services. Some of these services include:
- Primary Care Visits
- Prescription Drugs
- Urgent Care
- Prenatal/Postnatal Care
- Mental Health Care
Dental and vision care are not covered under either plan. Teachers interested in this coverage must seek it independently. If you’re interested in learning more about the types of health benefits you’ll receive as a teacher in Mississippi, contact the Department of Finance and Administration.
