Minimum Wage Mississippi 2026
Last updated: · Source: Mississippi Department of Labor
Mississippi · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2009-07-24
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.13/hr
Tip Credit
$5.12/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2009-07-24
Mississippi Wage Calculator
Minimum Wage Mississippi
The minimum wage in Mississippi is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Mississippi follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. Also searched as minimum wage Mississippi. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Mississippi Tipped Minimum Wage
In Mississippi, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.13/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.13/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $5.12/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $7.25/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Mississippi Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Mississippi follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Mississippi
Mississippi Code Section 17-1-51 prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing a minimum wage rate higher than the federal minimum wage.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Mississippi's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Gulfport | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Mississippi's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Southaven | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Mississippi's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
| Hattiesburg | $7.25/hr (state rate) | Follows Mississippi's federal-minimum wage rate; state law preempts local minimum wage ordinances. |
Mississippi Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Mississippi over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 | |
| 2020 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Mississippi is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $7.25/hr.
Mississippi has no state minimum wage law; employers must pay the federal rate of $7.25/hr. Several 2026 legislative session bills (HB 108, HB 524, HB 526, SB 2277) proposed a state minimum wage, but none became law.
In Mississippi, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr.
Mississippi follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Mississippi Code Section 17-1-51 prohibits counties and municipalities from establishing a minimum wage rate higher than the federal minimum wage.
The minimum wage in Mississippi is $7.25 per hour in 2026, the same as the federal minimum wage.