Mississippi Firefighter Salary (2026) – City Breakdown, Overtime & Real Take-Home
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Mississippi consistently ranks as the lowest-paying state in the country for firefighters, but it also has the lowest cost of living, which meaningfully changes the real-world math. This guide breaks down what Mississippi firefighters actually earn in Jackson, Gulfport, and Biloxi — from entry-level pay to top-step with overtime — and what shapes real take-home pay in the Magnolia State.
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Mississippi Firefighter Salary — Quick Numbers (2026)
Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median firefighter wage at $59,530 (May 2024, the most recent OEWS data published). Mississippi runs well below that — ZipRecruiter's 2026 job-posting data puts the statewide average firefighter salary at $56,451, and explicitly ranks Mississippi 50th out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Glassdoor's broader employee-submitted data shows a similar picture, averaging $66,426 once tenured and specialty-certified firefighters are factored in — a reminder that entry-level numbers alone understate what an experienced Mississippi firefighter can eventually earn.
| Level | Annual Base Pay |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (academy / Fire Fighter I) | $34,000–$45,000 |
| Mid-career (5–10 years, Fire Fighter II) | $45,000–$60,000 |
| Top-step Firefighter | $52,000–$67,000 |
| With overtime (realistic) | $60,000–$78,000 |
| Engineer / Driver-Operator | $56,000–$72,000 |
| Captain | $65,000–$85,000 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 national estimates, ZipRecruiter statewide Mississippi data (2026, explicitly ranked 50th nationally), Salary.com Fire Fighter I/II benchmark data for Jackson and Gulfport, Glassdoor employee-submitted data. Numbers reflect base pay; total compensation with overtime and specialty certifications runs higher.
City-by-City Breakdown
| Department | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Fire Department | $40,235 Fire Fighter I average → $55,778 Fire Fighter II average (Salary.com, 2026) | State capital and largest city, and the largest department in Mississippi. The city has faced budget challenges in recent years that have affected municipal services broadly, so confirm current department staffing and pay stability directly with Jackson Fire when evaluating an offer. |
| Gulfport Fire Department | $44,841 entry postings → $55,151 Fire Fighter II average (Salary.com, 2026) → $67,543 broader average | Mississippi's second-largest city and, along with Biloxi, a county seat of Harrison County on the Gulf Coast. Hurricane exposure creates predictable seasonal demand spikes, and casino-industry proximity means hazmat and high-occupancy-building training carries real value here. |
| Biloxi Fire Department | $36,000–$58,000 | Resort and casino city on the Gulf Coast, sharing Harrison County with Gulfport. Pay runs below the national average, similar to the rest of the state, but the area's low cost of living helps offset that. Confirm current step pay directly with the department, as a fully public current pay table wasn't available at time of writing. |
City figures combine Salary.com Fire Fighter I/II benchmark data with Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter 2026 job-market data where a fully public current step table wasn't available. Pay tables change between budget cycles — always confirm exact numbers on the department's own civil-service page before comparing offers.
Overtime and Premium Pay
Overtime is generally limited in most Mississippi departments compared to larger metro states, reflecting the state's smaller call volumes and municipal budgets. Hurricane season is the notable exception along the Gulf Coast — Gulfport and Biloxi both see extended overtime periods during storm response, evacuation support, and post-storm recovery operations. Paramedic and hazmat certifications are reliable ways to boost pay across most Mississippi departments, since specialty pay tends to be more predictable than overtime availability in this state.
Use the Salary Comparison Tool to model different overtime assumptions before comparing departments — treat any overtime figure as a range, not a guarantee.
Retirement and Pension
Mississippi career firefighters participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), a defined-benefit plan covering most state and local government employees. Employee contribution rates run around 9% of gross pay. Because PERS is a statewide system rather than department-specific funds, the benefit formula is generally consistent across Mississippi departments, though it's still worth confirming the current contribution rate and vesting schedule with your specific department's HR office.
Cost of Living — What Your Salary Actually Buys
Mississippi consistently has the lowest cost of living of any U.S. state, and housing is extremely affordable statewide, including in Jackson and along the Gulf Coast. A $52,000-$67,000 firefighter salary in Jackson or Gulfport provides meaningfully better real purchasing power than the same nominal number would in most other states — this is the central trade-off to weigh when Mississippi's pay figures look low next to neighboring states on paper.
How to Compare Two Mississippi Departments
- Match the same rank and step (Fire Fighter I vs. Fire Fighter II vs. top step) — comparing an entry rate at one department to a tenured rate at another isn't a fair comparison.
- Confirm the schedule type and how overtime is calculated under the current contract.
- Get the actual PERS contribution rate — not just the general benefit formula.
- Ask for healthcare premium costs for your specific coverage tier.
- Subtract deductions, then compare realistic take-home against housing costs in that specific city.
- Weigh Mississippi against neighboring states (Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana) if you're open to relocating — pay differences between states can outweigh differences between Mississippi's own departments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average firefighter salary in Mississippi?
ZipRecruiter's 2026 data puts the average firefighter salary in Mississippi at $56,451, well below the national BLS median of $59,530 (May 2024), and explicitly ranks Mississippi 50th out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Career firefighters typically earn $45,000-$60,000 in base pay depending on rank, step, and department. With realistic overtime, total compensation ranges from $60,000-$78,000.
Do Mississippi firefighters get a pension?
Yes. Mississippi career firefighters participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), a defined-benefit plan with employee contributions around 9% of gross pay. As a statewide system, the benefit formula is generally consistent across departments.
Is Mississippi a good state for a firefighter career?
Mississippi is the lowest-paying state for firefighters in the nation by most measures, but it also has the lowest cost of living, which meaningfully softens that gap in real purchasing power. Career advancement opportunities are concentrated in Jackson and the Gulf Coast (Gulfport, Biloxi), and it's worth carefully weighing Mississippi against neighboring states like Tennessee and Alabama if relocation is on the table.
Interested in working as a firefighter in Mississippi? See our firefighter hiring process guide — requirements, CPAT, written exam, and academy explained step by step.
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