BLS May 2025
Mechanic Salary in Mississippi
Mississippi sits 49th of 50, above only 1 state. For automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 median is $37,820 a year, $12,800 below the national median of $50,620, and 7,410 wage and salary jobs sit behind it. Aircraft mechanics pull 98 percent ahead of automotive technicians, at $74,880.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group
At a Glance
- 49th of 50 states on median pay for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023), $37,820 against $50,620 nationally.
- $74,880 for aircraft mechanics, 98 percent over automotive technicians.
- 7,410 jobs, a location quotient of 1.41 (6.4 per 1,000 jobs).
Aircraft Mechanics Out-Earn Auto Mechanics by $37,060 in Mississippi
The top trade, aircraft mechanics, pays $74,880 across 1,360 jobs, a $37,060 premium over automotive technicians ($37,820). Automotive technicians sit last of 5.
| Trade | Mississippi median | U.S. median | Rank of 50 | Jobs | Best metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $74,880 | $79,870 | 35th | 1,360 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR, $92,180 |
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | $58,180 | $65,510 | 48th | 1,690 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, $63,640 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $54,360 | $61,770 | 47th | 3,140 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR, $61,360 |
| Collision Repair Technician | $49,500 | $54,890 | 34th | 1,380 | Jackson, MS, $56,410 |
| Auto Mechanic | $37,820 | $50,620 | 49th | 7,410 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR, $50,490 |
Below their national medians: aircraft mechanics ($74,880, -$4,990), heavy equipment mechanics ($58,180, -$7,330), diesel mechanics ($54,360, -$7,410) and collision repair technicians ($49,500, -$5,390).
Heavy equipment mechanics are 48th of 50 states on $58,180, the softest of the trades here.
Aircraft mechanics do best in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, where the median is $92,180.
Mechanic Employment 41 Percent Above the National Rate in Mississippi
6.4 of every 1,000 jobs are technician jobs, which is 41 percent higher than nationally (location quotient 1.41). The state is 2nd of 50 on concentration.
Diesel mechanics rank first on concentration at 1.45 on 3,140 jobs, while collision repair technicians sit lowest at 1.24.
6 Ranked Mechanic Programs in Mississippi
4 schools supply 6 ranked programs (3 automotive, 1 diesel and 2 aviation maintenance); Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS scores best, 50.4 in automotive.
Prices start at $3,420 per year, in-state (Itawamba Community College, Fulton, MS) and come to $4,250 annually, in-state (Hinds Community College, Raymond, MS) across 6 priced programs.
- Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MS, automotive, score 50.4, #224 of 415
- Itawamba Community College Fulton, MS, automotive, score 48.9, #243 of 415
- Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MS, aviation maintenance, score 48.1, #98 of 148
- East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MS, diesel, score 46.1, #62 of 76
- Hinds Community College Raymond, MS, automotive, score 39.4, #376 of 415
- Hinds Community College Raymond, MS, aviation maintenance, score 32.6, #144 of 148
Best Mechanic Schools in Mississippi lists all six with scores
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Pays 33 Percent More Than Jackson, MS
4 metropolitan areas reach into Mississippi, and Memphis, TN-MS-AR is the largest with 2,980 jobs. Its $50,490 median is $12,670 over the state's $37,820 median.
Memphis, TN-MS-AR leads on both jobs and pay, $50,490 versus $38,040 in Jackson, MS, counting areas with 500 or more jobs.
Rural pay sits below the state median of $37,820: 4 nonmetropolitan areas, 3,390 jobs, $36,390 to $37,720.
1 of the 4 areas, led by Memphis, TN-MS-AR, extend into TN and AR and carry one figure for the whole area.
| Area | Median | Against Mississippi | 10th to 90th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $50,490 | +$12,670 | $34,930 to $82,370 | 2,980 |
| Jackson, MS | $38,040 | +$220 | $29,530 to $75,790 | 1,900 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $39,120 | +$1,300 | $28,450 to $76,450 | 980 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $37,700 | -$120 | $27,040 to $74,600 | 430 |
| Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,560 | -$260 | $26,890 to $65,040 | 1,170 |
| Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,220 | -$600 | $28,580 to $67,040 | 800 |
| West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,390 | -$1,430 | $28,670 to $65,040 | 720 |
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,720 | -$100 | $28,650 to $77,440 | 700 |
Mechanic Salary in Mississippi Runs $12,800 Below the National Median
The bottom tenth earns $28,650 or less, $6,010 below the U.S. figure, and the top tenth makes $74,000 or more, $7,790 below the U.S. figure. $45,350 from the 10th percentile to the 90th nearly matches the national spread. For the top tenth of earners, Mississippi stands 48th nationally.
| Measure | Mississippi | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,650 | $34,660 | -$6,010 |
| 25th percentile | $32,630 | $38,900 | -$6,270 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $37,820 | $50,620 | -$12,800 |
| 75th percentile | $55,000 | $70,430 | -$15,430 |
| 90th percentile | $74,000 | $81,790 | -$7,790 |
| Mean | $45,650 | $56,420 | -$10,770 |
| Wage and salary jobs | 7,410 | 704,640 |
Pay for the middle half runs $32,630 to $55,000, behind the national middle half at both edges (-$6,270 and -$15,430).
Mean pay of $45,650 sits $7,830 above the median, lifted by top earners.
Note that $28,650 at the 10th percentile describes the distribution, not what a new hire earns.
Mississippi Between Arkansas and West Virginia on Mechanic Pay
Closest in pay is West Virginia, at $37,660, $160 lower; after that comes Arkansas at $44,160, $6,340 more.
The closest state is $160 away.
Questions About Mechanic Salary in Mississippi
What is the mechanic salary in Mississippi?
Half earn more than $37,820 a year, or $18.18 an hour, $12,800 below the nation. At the bottom tenth it is $28,650, at the top tenth $74,000.
What is the pay gap between aircraft mechanics and auto mechanics in Mississippi?
The median gap is $37,060, $74,880 for aircraft mechanics against $37,820 for automotive technicians in the OEWS count.
Which mechanic school in Mississippi ranks highest?
Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, MS, scoring 50.4, from 6 ranked programs.
The figures here are the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for wage and salary workers, so the mechanic salary in Mississippi for any one job depends on the employer, the metro area and the trade.
Sources for Mechanic Salary in Mississippi
- BLS OEWS, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics May 2025, read October 23, 2026.
- BLS OEWS technical notes Wage and salary workers only.