Salaries in Gulfport, MS

Let’s be real—Gulfport, Mississippi isn’t the first place that comes to mind for a high salary. But here’s a surprise: the city’s top marketing managers pull in over $150,000, and thanks to the cost of living, that feels like nearly $171,000 in purchasing power. That’s not a typo.

With a cost-of-living index of 89.3—about 11% below the national average—your dollar stretches further here. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $923 a month, and the median household income of $47,564 goes a lot further than it would in, say, Austin or Atlanta. It’s not a bargain-basement steal, but it’s a solid value, especially if you’re coming from a pricier market.

Gulfport’s economy leans on healthcare, construction, and a surprising slice of tech. You’ve got big employers like Memorial Hospital at Gulfport and the Mississippi Power headquarters, plus a steady stream of tourism and port-related logistics work. The software developer salary here—adjusted for COL—hits nearly $138,000, which is nothing to sneeze at for a coastal town of 73,000 people.

The catch? Wages haven’t kept pace with the national surge, and the unemployment rate, while low at 3.8%, masks a lot of underemployment. If you’re in a skilled trade or a licensed profession like pharmacy, Gulfport can work beautifully. But if you’re in a field where remote work is an option, you might find your paycheck goes even further elsewhere.

Below, we’ll break down the numbers—what’s earning, what’s not, and who’s really making it work in the Gulf Coast’s quiet economic engine.