"How long does it take to become a home health aide in Mississippi?"

"Most paths into the home health aide field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do home health aides need a license in Mississippi?"

"Yes. Mississippi requires state-level licensing or registration for home health aides, administered by the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for home health aides in Mississippi?"

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Home Health Aide in Mississippi

Q: "How much do home health aides earn in Mississippi?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home health aides in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $23,860. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.68 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for home health aides in Mississippi?"

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 21,800 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Mississippi home health and personal care aides earn a median annual wage of $23,860 ($11.47/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 21,800 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -33.4% below the national median of $35,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $23,860 ($11.47/hr)
25th percentile: $23,070 per year
75th percentile: $27,300 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $29,620 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $21,870 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 21,800
Versus national median: -33.4% below the U.S. median of $35,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Mississippi employs approximately 21,800 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $23,860 ¹. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 765,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a home health aide in Mississippi, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Mississippi

How do I become a home health aide in Mississippi? Mississippi requires credentials such as Certified Nurse Aide (CNA). The licensing authority is the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do home health aides earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for home health aides in Mississippi is $23,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $21,870 and experienced professionals can earn $29,620 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure
Median wage (Mississippi): $23,860 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Home Health Aide License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure oversees home health aide licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)	Student must complete the state-approved nurse aide training program.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Current employment in field required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Mississippi vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Jackson	7,800	$23,130	$25,120	$22,930	$29,440
Memphis	7,280	$30,900	$32,110	$27,800	$37,720
Gulfport-Biloxi	1,530	$26,020	$26,200	$22,050	$30,120
Hattiesburg	1,460	$25,410	$25,670	$22,340	$30,900

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Home health aides in Mississippi

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Mississippi according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	7,800	$23,130
Gulfport-Biloxi	1,530	$26,020
Hattiesburg	1,460	$25,410

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for home health aides in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 21,800 home health aides ¹. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a home health aide in Mississippi with an out-of-state license? Contact the MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Mississippi? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Mississippi.

How much do home health aides earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Mississippi is $23,860, which is $11,040 below the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS State Dept. of Health - Office of Licensure - Licensing Information: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/30,0,82.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)