Mississippi’s construction industry will have the second largest increase in production of any industry in the state according to the Summer 2016 Mississippi Economic Outlook from the University Research Center of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. The construction industry in Mississippi should be tied for the largest percentage increase in jobs during 2017.
In late 2015, the Sun Herald described the large amount of construction taking place across South Mississippi as money comes in from BP. In fact, the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula area had the 2nd highest concentration of jobs for electricians in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Construction is taking place throughout Gulfport as restaurants materialize on the beach and north of I-10. In addition, houses are being built along the beach. In Pascagoula, 37 businesses opened in 2015, and the former Josette’s building is being transformed to office space.
In Jackson, the $250 million 636-unit Colonial Highlands project moved into the business phase in 2016 according to the Mississippi Business Journal. More than 30 construction projects were underway on the campus of the University of Mississippi as of early 2016 according to HottyToddy.com, thus providing opportunities for electricians. According to the campus paper Ole Miss, large projects that will take years to complete include:
- $50 million renovation of the Student Union
- $100 million new science building
Salaries for Residential Electricians Throughout Mississippi
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians in the major urban and rural areas of Mississippi. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians in Mississippi
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in Mississippi’s largest cities and rural areas (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula: $60,530 – $75,140
- Hattiesburg: $65,230 – $78,870
- Jackson: $61,050 – $75,680
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula: $57,540 – $72,320
- Jackson: $55,060 – $70,940
- Rural Northeast Mississippi: $45,720 – $56,860
- Rural Southeast Mississippi: $50,380 – $61,650
- Rural Southwest Mississippi: $47,270 – $66,290
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula: $69,950 – $79,390
- Rural Northeast Mississippi: $71,180 – $76,410
- Rural Southeast Mississippi: $70,780 – $80,250
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Transportation Equipment:
- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula: $23,670 – $51,320
Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installers and Repairers:
- Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula: $34,820 – $55,900
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Jackson: $29,210 – $38,120
- Rural Northeast Mississippi: $27,610 – $31,610
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in Urban and Rural Mississippi
Mississippi offers large numbers of jobs for electrician apprentices according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015):
- The state had the 5th highest concentration of jobs for electrician apprentices in the country
- Southeast rural Mississippi had the highest number of jobs for electrician apprentices of any rural area in the country
The agency provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” throughout Mississippi. Shown below is information that represents the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship: