Tupelo Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Tupelo, MS: $17.19/hr median hourly wage, $35,748 median annual salary, cost of living index 84.5, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Mississippi taxes.
Tupelo Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Tupelo, MS is $17.19/hr,equivalent to $35,748 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $10.66/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $24.41/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures are Salario estimates: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area wage series that covers Tupelo, MS.
Median Salary
$35,748
$17.19/hr
Cost of Living
84.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
3.9%
rate
Tupelo, MS Overview
Population
38,206
Median Salary
$35,748
Average Salary
$40,038
Avg Commute
19 min
Median Home Price
$185,000
Median Rent
$759/mo
Job Growth
+2.1%
Sales Tax
7%
Tupelo is located in Mississippi with a population of 38,206. The median annual wage across all occupations is $35,748 ($17.19/hour, Salario estimate), which is $15,232 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 19 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.1%.
Tupelo Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Tupelo, MS built around the $35,748 median salary (Salario estimate). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $22,164 | $10.66/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $35,748 | $17.19/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $50,762 | $24.41/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $63,631 | $30.60/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value where BLS covers the metro, which is not the case here. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Tupelo Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Tupelo, MS, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$29,966
$2,497.13/month · $1,152.52/biweekly · Effective Rate: 16.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,152.52 take-home per paycheck after estimated Mississippi and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$35,748
Federal Tax
-$2,110
State Tax
-$938
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$2,735
Net Pay
$29,966
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $2,979.00 | $35,748.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$175.81 | -$2,109.76 |
| Mississippi State Tax (2.62% eff.) | -$78.16 | -$937.92 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$184.70 | -$2,216.38 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$43.20 | -$518.35 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $2,497.13 | $29,965.60 |
Salary Comparison: Tupelo vs Other Cities
See how Tupelo's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tupelo, MS | $35,748 | 84.5 | $42,305 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Butte, MT | $35,744 | 88.5 | $40,389 |
| Salina, KS | $35,759 | 82.5 | $43,344 |
| Oxford, MS | $35,735 | 92.5 | $38,632 |
| McAllen, TX | $35,830 | 80.2 | $44,676 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Tupelo
Tupelo's cost of living index is 84.5 (national average = 100). Living in Tupelo is 15.5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$185,000
Median Monthly Rent
$759
Annual Rent Cost
$9,108
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $29,966 annual take-home pay in Tupelo has the purchasing power of approximately $35,462 in an average-cost US area. Your $35,748 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Tupelo
Tupelo's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $35,748.
Salary Tips for Tupelo Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Tupelo has a cost of living 15.5% below the national average. A salary of $35,748 here has the purchasing power of about $42,305 in an average-cost area.
- Research top industries. Tupelo's top industries include Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $35,748 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Tupelo salary data: BLS OEWS does not publish a metropolitan-area series covering Tupelo, so the median and average salary here are Salario estimates built from state and regional wage references, not BLS survey values. The entry/senior/top-10% rows and paycheck estimate are Salario calculations built on that estimate. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Tupelo indexed at 84.5.
- Median salary: $35,748 annual, $17.19 hourly, Salario estimate.
- Tax burden reflects Mississippi 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4%) (no local income tax), sales tax (7%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Tupelo: 3.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.1% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Mississippi.
- Housing context: median home price $185,000, median rent $759/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Tupelo, MS:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Tupelo unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Tupelo QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Mississippi, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Tupelo's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Mississippi labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) where available · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Tupelo, MS?
The median hourly wage in Tupelo, MS is estimated at $17.19 per hour (Salario model; BLS does not publish a metropolitan-area series for this city). At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $35,748 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $10.66/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $24.41/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Tupelo, MS?
The median salary in Tupelo, MS is $35,748 per year, or $17.19 per hour (Salario estimate). The average salary is $40,038. This is $15,232 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Tupelo, MS?
Tupelo's cost of living index is 84.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 15.5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $185,000 and the median monthly rent is $759.
What are the best industries in Tupelo?
The top industries in Tupelo, MS include Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 2.1% and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $35,748.
How does Tupelo's salary compare to other cities?
Tupelo's median salary of $35,748 is 29.9% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 84.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $42,305.
What is the minimum wage in Tupelo, MS?
The minimum wage in Tupelo, MS is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.