AnswerIn Mississippi, a middle-class household earns roughly $39,600 to $118,200 per year — bracketing the state median household income of $59,100.
Middle-class range: $39,600 – $118,200 · State median: $59,100
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates · Pew Research Center methodology (0.67× to 2× median)
Middle Class Income in Mississippi (2026)
What it takes to count as middle class in Mississippi— anchored to the state's ACS 2024 median household income and the Pew Research Center's 0.67×-to-2× framework. Most populous city: Jackson.
In Mississippi, a household is middle class in 2026 if it earns between $39,600 and $118,200 per year, bracketing the state median of $59,100. That is the Pew Research Center's 0.67×-to-2× window applied to US Census Bureau ACS 2024 data — 27.6% below the national median.
Mississippi middle-class bounds
Following Pew Research Center methodology, middle-income households earn two-thirds to double the median. For Mississippi, that means anywhere from $39,600 on the low end up to $118,200 on the high end. Below $39,600 is classified as lower-income; above $118,200 is upper-income.
Local context: Jackson
Mississippi's middle class is small and geographically concentrated. The Nissan plant in Canton just north of Jackson, the Toyota plant in Blue Springs, and a network of supplier plants form the largest single source of middle-income manufacturing wages outside healthcare and education. The Mississippi Gulf Coast - Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula - runs on casino tourism, the Ingalls shipyard, and Keesler Air Force Base, all of which support middle-class households. Jackson is the state capital and a healthcare center anchored by the University of Mississippi Medical Center, but the city has lost population steadily and faces severe infrastructure problems. The Delta counties along the Mississippi River, between Tunica and Vicksburg, contain some of the lowest-income census tracts in the country, with row-crop agriculture, a small catfish industry, and limited alternative employment. Mississippi has the largest Black population share of any state and the persistent racial inequities in education funding, healthcare access, and household wealth shape its middle-class distribution heavily.
Compare South states
Frequently asked questions
What income is considered middle class in Mississippi in 2026?
In Mississippi, a household is considered middle class if it earns roughly $39,600 to $118,200 per year, using the Pew Research definition (two-thirds to double the state median household income of $59,100).
How is the middle class defined?
We use the Pew Research Center definition: middle-income households earn between two-thirds (0.67×) and double (2.00×) the relevant median household income.
Is $59,100 a middle-class income in Mississippi?
Yes. $59,100 is the ACS 2024 median household income for Mississippi, so it sits at the center of this page's $39,600 to $118,200 middle-class range.
Related tools and guides
- What Is Middle Class Income in 2026? — full guidedefinition, methodology, history of the term
- Am I Middle Class? — interactive calculatorplug in your income, household size, state
- Middle Class Income by State — huball 50 states + DC compared
Methodology & data sources
Calculations on this page use published benchmarks from US federal statistical agencies. Percentile breakpoints are interpolated linearly between published cells. Figures are in current-year USD unless noted. Numbers are educational estimates, not personalized financial advice.