Excavation costs and wages in Mississippi
What equipment operators and construction laborers earn in Mississippi, how many excavation contractors are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in Mississippi
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Mississippi earn a median of $22.79 an hour, or $47,410 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $19.00 and $27.50 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 4,170 of these jobs in Mississippi. That's below the national median of $28.78 an hour (BLS).
Construction laborers in Mississippi earn a median of $18.13 an hour, or $37,710 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $16.25 and $22.01 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 8,800 of these jobs in Mississippi. That's below the national median of $22.66 an hour (BLS).
These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.
Contractors in Mississippi
Mississippi has 213 excavation contractors listed, and 69 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll match you with excavation contractors near you.
Permits and rules in Mississippi
Mississippi licenses contractors through the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (Frequently Asked Questions, Mississippi State Board of Contractors; Classifications, Mississippi State Board of Contractors).
National price ranges
National price ranges for excavation, clearing, grading and driveway work, each credited to its source, are in our guides to excavation, land clearing, grading and driveway costs.
For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.
Mississippi against the national range
Published labor data puts the Southeast's average rates lowest in the country (SiteX).
That's an average across a region, not a price for your job, and local quotes vary inside it.
Get quotes from contractors in your county
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Cite this page
“Excavation costs and wages in Mississippi.” LeaderExcavation.com, updated October 2, 2026. https://leaderexcavation.com/ms/costs/