Mississippi Teaching Salaries and Benefits
Mississippi teachers earn a median annual salary ranging from $48,880 for kindergarten teachers to $50,980 for secondary teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data. Pay follows a statutory minimum salary schedule set by the Mississippi Legislature under Miss. Code Section 37-19-7, and educators also receive a pension through PERS and state subsidized health insurance.
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Mississippi ranks below the national median on classroom teacher pay, but the state’s PERS retirement plan and health insurance options add real value beyond the paycheck. A new teacher entering the state’s minimum salary schedule with a bachelor’s degree starts several thousand dollars below the national starting average, though years of experience, an advanced degree, and local district supplements close part of that gap over a career.
This page breaks down current BLS salary data by grade level, explains how Mississippi’s statutory salary schedule works, and covers the retirement and health benefits that factor into total compensation for teachers across the state.
How Much Mississippi Teachers Earn
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mississippi’s median teacher salaries trail national figures at every grade level, though the gap narrows for kindergarten and elementary teachers compared to secondary teachers.
| Occupation | Mississippi Median Annual Wage | National Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers | $48,880 | $62,680 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $49,790 | $63,970 |
| Middle School Teachers | $50,790 | $64,370 |
| High School Teachers | $50,980 | $72,040 |
Mississippi’s state salary CSV did not include a separate job growth projection for the state, so hiring outlook is best judged against national BLS figures. Nationally, the BLS projects elementary school teacher employment to decline 2.0 percent between 2024 and 2034, with 91,000 average annual openings still expected each year from retirements and turnover. High school teacher employment is projected to decline 1.6 percent nationally over the same period, with 66,200 average annual openings. Check Mississippi Department of Education workforce reports directly for state-specific hiring trends, since national projections don’t always match individual state conditions.
Mississippi’s Minimum Teacher Salary Schedule
Unlike states where pay is negotiated district by district, Mississippi sets a statutory minimum salary schedule under Miss. Code Section 37-19-7. The schedule sets base pay by license type and years of experience, and local districts can add supplements on top of that floor but can’t pay below it.
The Mississippi Department of Education publishes the current schedule and updates it whenever the Legislature passes a pay increase. Lawmakers have introduced multiple bills in recent sessions proposing further increases to the minimum schedule, so the figures can shift from one school year to the next. Confirm the current year’s numbers directly on MDE’s Teacher Salary Schedule page rather than relying on a single district’s figures, since pay varies by license level and district supplement. If your license is coming up for renewal, see our guide to renewing your Mississippi teaching license for the current requirements and deadlines.
Retiring in Mississippi
Mississippi requires most public employees, including teachers, to participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS). PERS is funded through mandatory contributions from both teachers and their employers, and which retirement rules apply to you depends on when you were hired.
Teachers hired from July 1, 2011 through February 28, 2026 fall under PERS Tier 4, a traditional defined benefit pension. Tier 4 members reach normal retirement at any age with 30 years of service, or at age 60 with eight years of service (the vesting requirement). The monthly pension is calculated from your final average salary, your years of service, and a service credit factor of 2 percent per year up to 30 years and 2.5 percent per year after that, with an actuarial reduction if you retire with less service or before age 65.
Teachers hired March 1, 2026 or later fall under the new PERS Tier 5, a hybrid plan created by the 2025 Legislature. Tier 5 requires 35 years of service, or age 62 with eight years vested, and combines a smaller defined benefit formula (1 percent per year of service, with an actuarial reduction for early retirement) with a defined contribution account, similar to a 401(k). Since this tier applies to new hires today, teachers just entering the field in Mississippi should plan around Tier 5 rules rather than the older Tier 4 terms.
Across all tiers, the employee contribution rate is 9 percent of salary (split between the defined benefit and defined contribution portions under Tier 5). The employer contribution rate is 18.40 percent of payroll as of fiscal year 2026, and it’s scheduled to rise by half a percentage point each year until it reaches 19.90 percent. For example, a Tier 4 teacher who retires after 30 years of service with a final average salary of $31,000 would earn a monthly pension of about $1,575. At retirement, you can choose from several payout options, including one that defers part of your benefit to a fund available to beneficiaries after your death. The Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi has full details on tiers, payment options, and eligibility.
Health Insurance Benefits for Mississippi Teachers
Mississippi teachers can enroll in the State and School Employees’ Life and Health Insurance Plan, which offers two coverage tiers: Base Coverage and Select Coverage. Base Coverage is a qualifying high deductible health plan that makes participants eligible to use a Health Savings Account, while Select Coverage carries a lower deductible with a different premium structure. The two tiers differ in monthly premium and deductible amount, and both are adjusted during open enrollment each year, so exact dollar figures shift from one plan year to the next.
Both tiers cover primary care visits, prescription drugs, urgent care, prenatal and postnatal care, and mental health care. Dental and vision aren’t included in either plan, so teachers who want that coverage need to purchase it separately. Because premiums and deductibles change annually, check the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Insurance for the current plan year’s rates before enrolling.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average teacher salary in Mississippi?
Mississippi teacher salaries vary by grade level, ranging from a median of $48,880 for kindergarten teachers to $50,980 for high school teachers, according to May 2025 BLS data. Actual pay also depends on years of experience, degree level, and district supplements added on top of the state’s minimum salary schedule.
How does Mississippi’s minimum salary schedule work?
State law sets a base salary schedule by license type and years of experience under Miss. Code Section 37-19-7. Districts can pay more than the schedule through local supplements, but they can’t pay less. The Mississippi Department of Education publishes the current figures and updates them when the Legislature passes a pay raise.
What retirement benefits do Mississippi teachers get?
Mississippi teachers participate in PERS, funded by a 9 percent employee contribution and an 18.40 percent employer contribution as of fiscal year 2026. Teachers hired before March 1, 2026 (Tier 4) get a traditional defined benefit pension based on final average salary and years of service. Teachers hired March 1, 2026 or later (Tier 5) get a smaller defined benefit paired with a defined contribution account.
What health insurance options do Mississippi teachers have?
Teachers can choose between Base Coverage, a high-deductible health plan eligible for a Health Savings Account, and Select Coverage, which carries a different premium and deductible structure. Both plans cover primary care, prescriptions, and mental health care, but not dental or vision. Premiums and deductibles are set annually, so check the Department of Finance and Administration’s current rate sheet before enrolling.
When can a Mississippi teacher retire with full PERS benefits?
It depends on your hire date. Teachers hired before March 1, 2026 (Tier 4) reach normal retirement at any age with 30 years of service, or at age 60 with at least eight years of service. Teachers hired March 1, 2026 or later (Tier 5) need 35 years of service, or age 62 with at least eight years vested. Retiring earlier than that with fewer years of service typically reduces your monthly benefit.
- Mississippi pay trails the national median – the state’s median teacher salaries run several thousand dollars below national figures at every grade level, according to BLS data.
- Base pay follows a state law, not district negotiation – Miss. Code Section 37-19-7 sets a statutory minimum salary schedule by license type and experience, with districts allowed to add supplements on top.
- Retirement rules depend on hire date – teachers hired before March 1, 2026 fall under PERS Tier 4’s traditional pension, while those hired March 1, 2026 or later fall under the new Tier 5 hybrid plan with a longer service requirement.
- Contribution rates are set by law – employees contribute 9 percent of salary to PERS, and the employer rate is 18.40 percent as of fiscal year 2026, rising gradually toward 19.90 percent.
- Health coverage comes in two tiers – Base Coverage is a high-deductible plan eligible for a Health Savings Account, while Select Coverage carries a different premium and deductible structure. Both are adjusted annually.
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May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage estimates and 2024-2034 employment projections for Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, and High School Teachers, reflect state and national data, not school-specific outcomes. State or district job-growth projections are sourced separately from national BLS outlook data. Conditions vary by school sector, subject area, and district. Data accessed July 2026.
