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Mississippi is known for its hospitality, so it’s fitting that it is a popular state for nurse practitioners to serve. The state has a location quotient of 2.2 meaning that nurse practitioners are more than twice as concentrated within the state lines than the average state.
How Much Do Nurse Practitioners Make in Mississippi?
While Mississippi comes out at rock bottom on the median family income rankings, making it the poorest state in the nation, nurse practitioners hover toward the top, earning a significantly higher income.
Impressively, the average mean wage of nurse practitioners in Mississippi is $117,260 per year, just below the national average of $124,680. With the top 10% of earners at over $153,020 per year, there are plenty of opportunities to increase your nurse practitioner salary in the Magnolia State.
Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Salaries – Visualized
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in urban areas of Mississippi
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 510 | $113,640 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 320 | $107,650 |
| Jackson, MS | 1,150 | $123,670 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Nurse Practitioners Salaries in rural areas of Mississippi
| Metro Area | # Employed | Mean Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 810 | $112,730 |
| Northwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 280 | $113,200 |
| Southeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 440 | $115,360 |
| Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 210 | $122,640 | Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - 2022 |
Northwest non-metropolitan Mississippi has the highest earning potential for nurse practitioners in the state, exceeding the national average with the highest earners at over 30% higher. Even if you’re not located in this part of the state, there is still an abundance of money for nurse practitioners to earn in Mississippi. Let’s cover some ways to up your earnings.
Increasing Your Nurse Practitioner Salary in Mississippi
Specialize in Mental Health
Mississippi limits nurse practitioners only by the scope or population group in which they specialize, which means you need to decide early which specialty you will focus on. Some of those groups include:
- Geriatric (GNP)
- Pediatric (PNP)
- Neonatal (NNP)
- Family (FNP)
- Psychiatric (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health (WHNP)
If you’re still contemplating which care group to specialize in, consider the differences in earning potential for each group. Popular online job boards are showing that mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are offered higher compensation, potentially 80% higher. With an increased demand for mental health practitioners, it might be worth considering a switch to this career path for a boost in earning potential. More information about licensing and laws for nurse practitioners can be found on the Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Licensing Guide page.
Telehealth
Another way to maximize your nurse practitioner salary in Mississippi is by embracing telehealth medicine. The Hospitality State has lived up to its name again by allowing patients to remain in the comfort of their own homes while receiving medical care. Mississippi has a telehealth parity law that requires insurance companies to cover these appointments the same as in-person visits.
Patients aren’t the only ones who can benefit substantially from moving healthcare online. As a nurse practitioner, you can make a very profitable career by providing services online rather than in a brick-and-mortar healthcare facility. Telemedicine has made it possible for entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams without being bogged down with the logistics of renting large facilities to run their practice out of. Find more information about how to get qualified for telemedicine in Mississippi from the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP).
Conclusion
Mississippi has proven to be a friendly landing pad for nurse practitioners by providing the tools and resources NPs need to best serve the state’s population. The Mississippi Board of Nursing even provides a free continuing education tracking system, CE Broker, for their medical professionals to easily find and document credits.