Firefighter Salary in Mississippi (2026)

Worth knowing: Mississippi's substantial post-Hurricane Katrina + Camille + Frederic + Camille hurricane response training + experience is a distinctive feature of MS firefighting most national firefighter career surveys understate for the state. MS substantial coastal hurricane exposure (the substantial MS Coast exposure to Hurricane Katrina Aug 2005 Category 3 at MS landfall + ~$125B+ MS Coast damage + Hurricane Camille Aug 1969 Category 5 the most intense US Gulf Coast hurricane at MS landfall + Hurricane Frederic 1979 + Hurricane Elena 1985 + Hurricane Georges 1998 + the substantial ongoing MS coastal hurricane response readiness) has driven substantial MS fire department + USAR + post-disaster + structural collapse + flood + boat rescue + helicopter rescue + mass casualty response training + equipment investment. Jackson Fire Department (~450 sworn + IAFF Local 87 + the largest MS fire department + the substantial post-Katrina + post-Ida MS Joint Hurricane Task Force coordination with MS National Guard + USCG + MDOT + MS Department of Wildlife and Fisheries) supports substantial high-acuity MS urban + post-disaster firefighter operations. Senior Jackson + Gulfport + Biloxi + Tupelo + Meridian + Hattiesburg firefighter officers clear $72-108K + OT. The substantial MS petrochemical + shipbuilding industrial fire brigade demand at Chevron Pascagoula + Ingalls Shipbuilding supports substantial industrial fire brigade + hazmat + petrochem fire specialty work. Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS, ~$32B AUM, founded 1952) provides the MS public employee defined-benefit pension covering substantially all MS public employees including firefighters at 2.5% × years × FAS multiplier supporting career firefighter retirement after 25 years. MS does NOT recognize public-sector collective bargaining at state level — MS RTW since 1954 + IAFF Locals operate as professional advocacy with limited bargaining authority. MS flat 4.0% by 2026 + no state estate tax + MS RTW since 1954 + MS retirement income FULL EXEMPTION. The 2025 OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028.