Registered Nurse Salary in Gulfport, MS: $83,153 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Gulfport, MS earns a median $83,153/year (≈ $39.98/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Gulfport's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.0), that paycheck buys what $92,386 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.6% below the Mississippi state average.
Official BLS data · View source

In Gulfport, MS, registered nurses can expect a median annual salary of $83,153 in 2026, a figure that highlights a significant disparity between local staff nurses and traveling nurses. The salary range for registered nurses in this area extends from $65,819 at the 10th percentile to $115,199 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the variations in experience, specialty, and employment settings. These estimates are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026. Given the regional cost of living and local health care landscape, the compensation landscape for registered nurses in Gulfport is shaped by myriad factors, including hospital assignments, the prevalence of travel nurses, and the local demand for skilled nursing professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,819 | $31.65 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,252 | $33.77 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,153 | $39.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,244 | $47.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115,199 | $55.38 |
Median Salary Position
19.06% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gulfport
In Gulfport, MS, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,380 (2026 est.). At $83,153, the local median is 19.06% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gulfport: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Gulfport Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Gulfport median: $83,153/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gulfport Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Average | $88,086 | -5.60% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -19.06% less |
Registered Nurses in Gulfport, MS earn a median of $83,153 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.06% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 5.60% below the Mississippi state average of $88,086.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gulfport has a cost of living 9.99% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Gulfport, MS has a cost-of-living index of 90.006 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $83,153 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $92,386 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.1% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,270
2025 BLS Actual
$78,960
2026 Current Est.
$83,153
2019–2027 Growth
+42.9%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Gulfport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,270 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,810 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,760 | Actual |
| 2022 | $64,180 | Actual |
| 2023 | $73,590 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,970 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,960 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,153 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,568 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gulfport metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 28.9% from $61,270 (2019) to $78,960 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,568 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,298 (42.92%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gulfport metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $65,819 – $70,252 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,252 – $83,153 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,153 – $99,244 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,244 – $115,199 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Gulfport
The local job market for registered nurses in Gulfport is robust, with approximately 3,740 licensed RNs practicing in the area. The cost of living index, at 90.006, suggests that salaries provide a reasonable purchasing power for residents, even if they trail national averages. In Gulfport, hospital systems, particularly those operating in acute care, emergency departments, and surgical specialties, typically offer the most competitive pay. The salary variation can be attributed to several factors, including shift differentials—where night shifts usually add $3-7 per hour and weekends can enhance earnings by $3-5 per hour—specialty certification stipends, and additional roles such as charge nurse positions. To maximize compensation, registered nurses in Gulfport should consider obtaining specialty certifications and exploring opportunities in high-demand shifts, as well as staying informed about local job openings that prioritize or incentivize BSN-prepared and magnet-status nursing practices.
More salary data for Gulfport, MS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $78,960 for registered nursesin the Gulfport metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov