According to an August 2018 Mississippi Business Journal article, Mississippi is struggling to meet the demand for nurses throughout the state. And while recent nursing graduates are needed, so are higher educated nurses who can “provide better care and have better patient outcomes.”
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For example, the article states that primary care in Mississippi is often inadequate, particularly in rural areas, so it’s crucial that the state’s nursing workforce include advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) like nurse practitioners who can practice in those areas and collaborate with physicians to provide geriatric, psychiatric, and pediatric care, among others.
Stakeholders in Mississippi agree that education is the key to increasing the number of nurses in the state. To highlight educational opportunities at all levels, the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning, Nursing Education partnered with the Mississippi Council of Deans and Directors of Schools of Nursing to publish a summary of Nursing Education Opportunities in Mississippi for 2016-17.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) provides the highest level of practical training available to nurses and is rapidly becoming the preferred credential for APRNs.
Earning a DNP confers an assurance of high salaries. The Advance Healthcare Network documented the increase in salary provided by a DNP with its 2018 survey of nurse practitioners throughout the US. Nurse practitioners with a DNP earned an average of $7,683 more than NPs whose highest degree was an MSN.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Mississippi
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Mississippi Department of Employment Security, 2018):
- Nurse Anesthetists – $192,870+
- Nurse Practitioners – $124,570-$152,670
- Nurse Administrators and Executives – $106,670-$151,880
- Nurse Educators – $80,620-$102,620
Salaries for DNP Nurses in the Major Cities of Mississippi
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the major cities of the state (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Gulfport-Biloxi: $102,460-$123,740
- Hattiesburg: $101,930-$176,700
- Jackson: $120,590-$157,630
Nurse Practitioners:
- Gulfport-Biloxi: $115,590-$128,400
- Hattiesburg: $147,750-$162,530
- Jackson: $118,200-$139,370
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Gulfport-Biloxi: $204,050+
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Mississippi’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that 78% of APRNs are paid overtime for their work. It’s therefore beneficial to also view wages for these professionals on an hourly basis to account for overtime opportunities that can dramatically supplement pay.
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $92.72+
- Nurse Practitioners: $59.89-$73.40
- Nurse Administrators: $51.28-$73.02
Salary and employment data compiled by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security in May of 2018 – (https://www.mdes.ms.gov/information-center/labor-market-information/). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.