Mississippi

Can you afford to live in Mississippi? Here’s what you should earn as a livable wage

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2024

Can you afford to live in Mississippi? Here’s what you should earn as a livable wage

JACKSON, Miss. — Living paycheck to paycheck? If it feels like you’re working all the time and just can’t make ends meet, you’re not alone. And it might not just be about budgeting better. The living wage across Mississippi is higher than federal minimum wage, meaning most people need to make a lot more than the lowest pay tier to get groceries and pay bills without help. See how your paycheck compares and how much pay you’d need to bring home to live comfortably in your community.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s living wage calculator determined what a person in a household would have to earn to support themselves or their family and stay self-sufficient if working full time for 2,080 hours per year. The federal poverty line is still based on three times the minimum food budget in 1963, and MIT created the poverty wage using 2024 data from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Poverty Guidelines.

An adult in Mississippi with no kids needs to make $19.89 per hour to be self-sufficient. The poverty wage is $7.24 for an adult in Mississippi with no kids. It’s one cent below the federal minimum of $7.25. Required income to cover costs including housing, food, transportation, and phone/internet service is about $41,361 before taxes and $35,287 after.

If a single adult has three children, the living wage is about $47.50 per hour. The poverty wage is $15 per hour. Required income to cover costs is $98,795 before taxes and $87,360 after.

Two adults in a household with one working needs $27.52 per hour to live without assistance. The poverty wage is $9.83. Required income to cover costs is $57,258 before taxes.

A family that has two adults with one working parent and three kids needs a living wage of $39.72, and the poverty wage is $17.59 per hour. Required income before taxes is $82,620.

In a four-person family with two children and two working parents, the living wage is $21.37 per hour, and the poverty wage is $7.50. They need at least $88,895 a year before taxes.

Learn more below about living wages in Mississippi metro areas and how many people in the state live in poverty.

What is the minimum wage in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour for covered nonexempt workers. The magnolia state is among many without their own rate. Instead, that’s set by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

The last minimum wage raise in the United States was in 2009.

How many people in Mississippi live in poverty?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 18% of Mississippi residents live in poverty.

The median household income in the state is $54,915, and average income per person is $30,529.

What’s a living wage in Jackson?

In the Jackson metro area, the living wage per hour necessary for one adult with no kids is $21.02 while those with one child is $32.93, two children is $39.48 and three children is $49.76. Average expenses are $41,361 for an adult with no kids, $65,515 with one kid, $78,075 with two kids and $98,795 with three kids.

The wage for two adults (one working) with no children is $28.57, those with one kid is $34.51, two kids is $39.02 and three kids is $40.68. Averages expenses are $57,258 for two adults with no kids, $69,413 with one, $78,613 with two and $82,620 with three.

The wage for two adults (both working) with no children is $14.21 while those with one is $18.66, two is $22.39, and three is $24.78. Average expenses are $56,960 with no kids, $74,404 with one kid $88,895, with two kids and $98,626 with three kids.

What’s a living wage in Hattiesburg?

In the Hattiesburg metro area, the living wage per hour necessary for one adult with no kids is $19.29 while those with one child is $31.98 two children is $38.29 and three children is $48.69. Average expenses are $40,122 for an adult with no kids, $66,516 with one kid, $79,649 with two kids and $101,284 with three kids.

The wage for two adults (one working) with no children is $27.59, those with one kid is $33.59, two kids is $38.02 and three kids is $40.03. Averages expenses are $57,387 for two adults with no kids, $69,869 with one, $79,083 with two and $83,261 with three.

The wage for two adults (both working) with no children is $13.72 while those with one is $18.13, two is $21.75, and three is $24.26. Average expenses are $57,089 with no kids, $75,423 with one kid $90,489, with two kids and $100,938 with three kids.

What’s a living wage in Gulfport-Biloxi?

In the Gulfport-Biloxi metro area, the living wage per hour necessary for one adult with no kids is $19.68 while those with one child is $32.24, two children is $38.44 and three children is $49.23. Average expenses are $40,937 for an adult with no kids, $67,052 with one kid, $79,951with two kids and $102,405 with three kids.

The wage for two adults (one working) with no children is $27.86, those with one kid is $33.94, two kids is $38.37 and three kids is$40.87. Averages expenses are $57,948 for two adults with no kids, $70,592 with one, $79,804 with two and $85,006 with three.

The wage for two adults (both working) with no children is $13.86 while those with one is $18.26, two is $21.83 and three is $24.54. Average expenses are $57,650 with no kids, $75,941 with one kid $90,801, with two kids and $102,083 with three kids.

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Mississippi

East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team – Meridian Star

Published

8 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team

Published 12:08 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025

East Mississippi Community College running back Gavin Griffin has added to his list of 2025 season accomplishments by being named to this year’s NJCAA Division I Football All-America First Team. The National Junior College Athletic Association announced the organization’s first-team, second-team and honorable-mention football selections on Dec. 20.

As an NJCAA All-Region 23 honoree as well as being the MACCC North Division’s Offensive Player of the Year recipient this season, Griffin’s most recent honor gives East Mississippi’s football program a total of 36 NJCAA All-America selections during the past 18 seasons under the guidance of NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame head coach Buddy Stephens. Dating back to the 2008 season, the EMCC Lions have had at least one NJCAA All-American in football during 13 of the past 18 years.

In becoming EMCC’s 15th first-team NJCAA All-American dating back to 2008, Griffin helped lead the Lions to a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 MACCC North Division mark while earning the program’s 12th division crown and 15th conference playoff appearance during the Stephens coaching era.

A Troy University signee, Griffin was twice selected as the NJCAA and MACCC Offensive Player of the Week this season while topping the NJCAA Division I statistical leaders with 22 rushing touchdowns and ranking second nationally with 1,168 rushing yards. With six 100-yard rushing outings on the year, Griffin’s top performances on the ground included a career-high 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 22 attempts during EMCC’s 49-27 home win over Pearl River. He also had 189 rushing yards and three scores in 23 carries during the Lions’ 34-28 road victory at Northwest Mississippi.

With at least one rushing touchdown in all 10 games this past season, Griffin had seven contests with multiple scoring runs, including an additional four-touchdown effort in EMCC’s 50-39 home win over Holmes. During the Stephens coaching era at EMCC, Griffin’s 134 total points scored and 22 touchdown runs this season rank second behind Tyrell Price’s NJCAA-leading 24 rushing touchdowns and 150 points scored during the Lions’ 2017 national championship season.

On EMCC’s single-season statistical leaders list during the Stephens era, Griffin’s 1,168 rushing yards in 10 games played rank third behind 2025 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rod Moore (1,303 in 2011) and Lakenderic Thomas (1,334 in 2013), who both had the advantage of playing two additional games during EMCC’s respective national championship seasons. Griffin’s 207 rushing attempts this season are the most by an EMCC player during the Stephens era, breaking the mark of 200 carries previously held by second-team NJCAA All-American Deon McIntosh during the Lions’ 2018 national championship season.

For his two EMCC seasons, Griffin’s 1,722 career rushing yards rank third behind Thomas (1,724) and Moore (2,211), while his 30 career rushing touchdowns tie Price for the most during the Stephens era. Along with the 66 points that Griffin scored (8 rush TDs and 3 TD catches) as an EMCC freshman in 2024, the 2023 MHSAA Class 1A Mr. Football out of Velma Jackson High School became just the second EMCC player of the Stephens era to reach 200 career points scored.

EMCC’s 35 NJCAA All-America players under Stephens’ leadership are divided among 18 offensive performers, 15 defensive honorees and two special teams players. Leading the way positionally for EMCC dating back to 2008, the Lions have had 10 All-America quarterback selections, including NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year recipients Ty Keyes (2023) and Bo Wallace (2011) as well as two-time All-America signal-caller Randall Mackey (2008 & 2009). On the defensive side of the football during the Stephens coaching era, the Lions have featured eight All-America defensive linemen, headlined by 12-year NFL veteran Denico Autry (2011) of the Houston Texans and recently retired 11-year NFL standout Za’Darius Smith (2012).

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

Published

20 hours ago

December 23, 2025

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

20-21-22-24-25

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 1-8-7, FB: 3

Evening: 9-1-4, FB: 1

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 0-6-1-7, FB: 3

Evening: 1-2-4-0, FB: 1

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 13

Evening: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Mississippi

No snow in a Mississippi Christmas – Meridian Star

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

No snow in a Mississippi Christmas

Published 11:11 am Monday, December 22, 2025

From the looks of the weather forecast, it appears I am going to be disappointed again this year: no White Christmas, no one-horse open sleigh ride, and no chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Our songs and traditions this time of year sure paint a pretty picture! Unfortunately, almost every Christmas season I’ve ever experienced in Mississippi has found me wearing shorts on Christmas Day. I think the forecast calls for a high of 74 degrees on Christmas Eve, 73 on Christmas Day, and 75 the day after.

Even though the weather disappoints me, I love my Christmas traditions. As silly as it sounds for a grown man, I love Christmas socks and wear them throughout the year. I grew up with a mom who made fresh eggnog. I haven’t had any homemade in years, but I purchase some every season.

In true Clark Griswold fashion, no Christmas would be complete without proper outdoor Christmas illumination. To make it even funnier, you can’t see my lights unless you come up our very rural driveway. Yes, the lights are just for me.

Speaking of Clark and company, my sweet indulgent wife always watches Christmas Vacation at least once each season with me. And then there are my other favorite Christmas shows and movies: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charlie Brown’s Christmas, the Grinch, and Home Alone. (Also, I vote that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.)

And because my wife indulges me, I’ve been known to indulge her by sleeping through, er, I mean watching a Hallmark Christmas movie or two. She’s just blessed like that. What a guy I am!

But moving on from praising myself, when my oldest son got married, his wife brought us a new Christmas tradition: the Christmas Pickle ornament. You hide it on the tree, and whoever finds it gets to open the first present. I’m not sure that one has much of a future. Nevertheless, I unabashedly love Christmas.

Here’s my Christmas rule: “If you quit believing in Santa Claus, you get clothes for Christmas.” Not this guy. I’m all in it for the toys. (You may be familiar with the adage that the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys—I resemble that remark.)

And in case you are wondering what to get me, my sizes are .45, 9mm, .233, .22, .380, and 12 gauge. Smile! It’s all in good fun.

In the immortal words of Clark Griswold, “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together.”

And we are. May your blessings be great, and your opportunities and abilities to bless others be even greater.

Merry Christmas!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”

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