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These Are The 5 Best Industries For Jobs In Mississippi For 2026

By Chris Kolmar
Mar. 1, 2018
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 15, 2026

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Top 5 Industries for Jobs in Mississippi in 2026

When you think of Mississippi, you might picture stunning hikes, delicious home-cooked meals, and vibrant culture. However, the state also boasts a robust economy and a thriving job market that continues to evolve.

At Zippia, we delve into local economies to identify which jobs and industries are thriving. This insight helps job seekers and those considering relocating to Mississippi understand the current landscape.

In our quest to uncover the top industries in Mississippi, we analyzed various metrics to determine where the best opportunities lie.

Continue reading to learn how we determined which industries stand out in Mississippi.

For more insights on the Mississippi job market, check out these articles:

How We Identified the Best Industries in Mississippi

We believe that data provides a more accurate reflection of the job market than individual opinions. Thus, we embarked on a mission to gather comprehensive data about the Mississippi job landscape.

We focused on the following criteria to evaluate the best industries:

  • Average Salary
  • Job Availability
  • Average Stress Level of Jobs in the Industry

Our data sources include the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor.

The stress level index is derived from self-reported statistics from industry professionals, where we ranked each industry from 1 to 22, with 1 being the most favorable.

We averaged the rankings to create a ‘Best Industry’ index, with the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical industry earning the top spot in Mississippi.

For a detailed breakdown of the data, refer to the table at the bottom of this post. Let’s explore why these industries are excellent for job seekers.

Detailed List of the Best Industries in Mississippi

Rank Industry Average Salary # of Employees
1 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical $64,210 77,970
2 Education, Training, and Library $42,790 75,450
3 Production and Manufacturing $34,210 109,330
4 Management $81,490 54,940
5 Architecture and Engineering $71,960 14,970
6 Legal $83,910 5,750
7 Office and Administrative Support $31,410 161,410
8 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry $32,760 4,850
9 Transportation $32,160 94,320
10 Computer and Mathematical $66,430 11,300
11 Business and Financial Operations $59,150 30,630
12 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair $40,840 51,460
13 Life, Physical, and Social Science $59,360 6,220
14 Community and Social Service $38,570 13,890
15 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media $41,920 7,760
16 Protective Service $31,230 33,320
17 Construction and Extraction $39,190 42,020
18 Sales $30,190 115,190
19 Personal Care and Service $22,640 32,700
20 Food Preparation and Serving Related $20,280 104,700
21 Healthcare Support $24,260 31,930
22 Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance $22,080 37,180

Summarizing the Best Industries in Mississippi

In conclusion, the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical industry remains the top sector for job seekers in Mississippi, offering solid salaries and growth potential.

Conversely, the Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance industry ranks lowest, primarily due to lower wages and limited job opportunities.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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