Janitorial Wages in Mississippi

BLS reports a statewide median of $13.27/hr for janitors and cleaners in Mississippi (OEWS May 2025, SOC 37-2011), tied with Louisiana for the lowest figure in the region and $4.00/hr below the national median. The state has no minimum wage statute. Federal FLSA's $7.25/hr floor is the only wage protection, and private-sector union density runs below 4%. Commercial cleaning operates in one of the least regulated labor markets in the country.

What employers should plan for

• Floor: $7.25/hr federal minimum (no Mississippi state minimum wage statute — Mississippi is one of five states with no minimum wage law). Market wages for cleaning workers substantially exceed the federal floor in all populated areas, but the absence of a state floor creates legal exposure for contractors relying solely on competitive market discipline.
• Local floors: No Mississippi municipality has enacted a local minimum wage ordinance. Jackson and Biloxi have not enacted local wage floors.
• Loaded labor rate: Commercial cleaning bids in Mississippi typically run $19–$24/hr total loaded cost — the lowest total labor cost range in this batch. WC costs are modest; Mississippi's non-union, low-cost structure makes it highly price-competitive for cleaning contracts.
• Workers' comp class 9014 — Mississippi is an NCCI jurisdiction; estimated base rate approximately $0.90–$1.30/$100 payroll. The Rich States Poor States WC index shows Mississippi at $0.94/$100 average — below-average nationally, consistent with the low-wage structure.

High-wage metros vs. low-wage metros

Memphis TN-MS-AR MSA (Mississippi portion — DeSoto County, which includes Southaven) leads the state at median $15.18/hr (25th: $13.49, 75th: $17.49, 90th: $20.32) — reflecting Memphis metro labor market spillover and the logistics-industrial corridor along I-55. Jackson MSA, the capital, shows a median $13.75/hr (25th: $11.64, 75th: $17.63) — notable that the 75th percentile tops at $17.63/hr, suggesting some premium commercial and government facility contracts. On the low end, Hattiesburg MSA posts a median $12.02/hr (10th: $9.98/hr) and the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area (including Vicksburg/Greenville corridor) shows a median of $11.96/hr — both reflecting the persistent economic underdevelopment of Mississippi's rural and Delta regions.

Wage percentile distribution (BLS OEWS 2024)

• 10th percentile: $9.95/hr
• 25th percentile: $11.01/hr
• Median (50th): $13.27/hr
• 75th percentile: $15.75/hr
• 90th percentile: $17.63/hr

Mississippi's 10th percentile at $9.95/hr is just $2.70/hr above the federal minimum wage — confirming that for a substantial share of workers, the legal floor is near-binding. The $7.68/hr spread from 10th to 90th is moderate in absolute terms but enormous relative to the median (58% of median), reflecting Mississippi's extreme economic fragmentation between the Memphis suburban corridor and the rural Delta.

Union presence

Mississippi is a right-to-work state with the lowest private-sector union density range nationally (below 4%). There is no SEIU commercial cleaning presence in Mississippi. Casino housekeeping in Biloxi and Tunica is largely non-union (unlike Atlantic City or Las Vegas). A very small number of public facility custodians at Jackson-area state agencies and public universities operate under informal personnel policies but no CBAs. The commercial cleaning market is entirely market-driven with no pattern bargaining influence.

What this means for bid math

Mississippi offers the lowest total loaded labor cost in this batch for cleaning services. Budget $13.27/hr as the statewide base benchmark; Memphis suburban market (DeSoto County) warrants $15.00–$15.50/hr base. Total loaded labor runs $19–$23/hr (1.45–1.73× base). Mississippi's low WC rates (~$0.94/$100 average) and absence of union obligations make it the most cost-competitive state in this batch after Louisiana. However, very low prevailing wages create recruitment challenges for reliable, experienced commercial cleaning workers — quality-focused contracts should budget at or above the 75th percentile ($15.75/hr) to attract and retain above-average workers.

Primary sources

• O*NET Local Wages — Mississippi (BLS OEWS May 2025 data)
• DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws
• Mississippi Department of Employment Security — LMI