Truck Driver Salary in Mississippi (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against the BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release (published March 2025).
Mississippi's trucking economy runs on I-55 north-south, I-20 east-west, I-59 to New Orleans, and the I-10 Gulf Coast corridor. The state hosts KLLM Transport Services (HQ Richland) — one of the largest refrigerated carriers in the U.S. — and sits adjacent to FedEx's global Memphis hub (just across the Tennessee border), creating meaningful Northern Mississippi freight density.
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — Mississippi state median: $52,440. Employment: ~22,560.2
- Mississippi median sits ~$5,000 below the national median — below-national on nominal, offset by the lowest cost of living in the U.S. per BEA RPP.
- Top paying metros: Jackson MSA, Gulfport–Biloxi MSA, DeSoto County (Memphis metro southern suburbs).
- Distinguishing features: Lowest cost of living in the U.S. per BEA RPP,3 KLLM Transport HQ Richland, FedEx Memphis adjacency, Gulf Coast port freight, state income tax capped ~5%.
Mississippi Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ms.htm.2
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median wage | $52,440 |
| State employment | ~22,560 |
| State vs national median | −$5,000 (−8.7%) |
How Mississippi Compares to the National Median
Mississippi's $52,440 median sits ~$5,000 below national on nominal. But BEA Regional Price Parities place Mississippi among the lowest cost-of-living states in the U.S.3 Real purchasing power for a Mississippi driver is materially above what the nominal suggests — often competitive with or better than states paying $10,000 more nominal in high-cost regions.
Top Mississippi Metros for Truck Drivers
Jackson MSA
- KLLM Transport HQ Richland — major refrigerated carrier.
- State capital + distribution.
- I-20 / I-55 convergence.
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_27140.htm.4
Gulfport–Biloxi MSA
- Port of Gulfport — container + project cargo + bulk.
- I-10 Gulf Coast corridor — LA to Florida transit.
- Casino hospitality freight.
Data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_25060.htm.4
DeSoto County / Memphis metro southern suburbs (Southaven, Olive Branch)
- FedEx World Hub Memphis — adjacency drives significant ground freight into Northern Mississippi.
- Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, Nike distribution — major fulfillment centers in Olive Branch and Southaven serve Southeast distribution.
- Lower cost of living than Memphis TN side.
Major Freight Industries Driving Mississippi Pay
| Industry | Endorsement fit | Pay band |
|---|---|---|
| KLLM refrigerated | None | $55–$80k |
| FedEx Memphis-adjacent ground | T helpful | $55–$78k |
| Gulf Coast port drayage | TWIC | $50–$72k |
| LTL linehaul | T | $70–$95k experienced |
| Agricultural freight (cotton, rice, poultry) | None | $48–$72k |
| Fuel / chemical tanker | X | $62–$88k |
Major Carriers Hiring in Mississippi
- Mississippi-based: KLLM Transport Services (HQ Richland) — major refrigerated carrier. Frozen Food Express / FFE (Louisiana HQ, MS ops).
- Mega OTR: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Knight-Swift, Heartland, J.B. Hunt.
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, FedEx Freight, Estes, ABF Freight.
- Memphis-adjacent: FedEx Ground linehaul, Amazon Freight, Williams-Sonoma dedicated, major Olive Branch/Southaven fulfillment-center freight.
- Gulf Coast specialty: various Gulfport-based drayage specialists, Kenan Advantage fuel.
- Dedicated: Walmart Private Fleet, Sanderson Farms (MS poultry), Tyson dedicated.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $55–$75k; KLLM reefer OTR is a common entry.
- Regional (MS/TN/LA/AL): $60–$80k.
- Local: $45–$72k; Gulfport drayage and Memphis-adjacent distribution at upper end.
- Dedicated: $55–$80k; Walmart PF and Sanderson Farms dedicated at upper end.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in Mississippi in 2026? Mississippi state median is $52,440 per BLS OEWS May 2024, with ~22,560 drivers employed.2 State sits ~$5,000 below national nominal but among the lowest cost-of-living states means real purchasing power is competitive.
Is KLLM Transport a good employer? KLLM (HQ Richland) is one of the largest refrigerated carriers in the U.S. with meaningful hiring volume. Specific program economics vary — verify pay bands in writing.
How does Mississippi's cost of living affect real pay? Mississippi consistently ranks among the lowest BEA Regional Price Parity states.3 A $52,440 Mississippi driver's real purchasing power is often equivalent to $60,000+ nominal in higher-cost states.
Does FedEx Memphis really affect Mississippi drivers? Yes. FedEx World Hub sits across the TN border, and the southern Memphis metro (DeSoto County MS — Southaven, Olive Branch) has massive distribution center density serving Southeast fulfillment. Many Mississippi-resident drivers work Memphis-metro freight.
What are the largest carriers hiring in Mississippi in 2026? KLLM Transport (Richland), FedEx Ground linehaul (DeSoto County), Schneider, Werner, Walmart Private Fleet, Amazon Freight, Old Dominion, Saia, Kenan Advantage.
Sources
-
BLS OEWS 53-3032 National. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm ↩
-
BLS OEWS Mississippi State. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ms.htm ↩↩↩
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BEA Regional Price Parities. https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area ↩↩↩
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BLS OEWS MSAs. Jackson: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_27140.htm · Gulfport-Biloxi: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_25060.htm · All MS: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm ↩↩
