Work legally in Mississippi

Minimum wage and tips in Mississippi

  • Minimum:$7.25/hr
  • Tips:$2.13/h (subminimum)
  • Paid family leave: No statewide programs (federal unpaid FMLA only)
  • Maximum weekly unemployment: approximately $235 (if you qualify — F-1 usually doesn’t)

CPT and OPT: practice sequence

  1. See DSO: CPT eligibility (usually after 1 academic year, linked to curriculum).
  2. Job offer consistent with the major; letter dated for SEVIS.
  3. Update I-20 with CPT endorsement before starting.
  4. For OPT: request 90 days in advance, USCIS fee, waiting for EAD card.
  5. Store every pay stub; verifies federal and state withholdings.

Read Mississippi’s only job

  • At will: at-will
  • Non-competes: enforceable
  • OSHA: Federal OSHA (DOL regions)

On-campus vs. off-campus

  • On-campus— Up to 20 hours/week per term; CPT is not needed in many cases (check DSO policy).
  • Off-campus CPT— Must be integral to the program; part-time hours in session.
  • OPT / STEM OPT— After completion or during thesis in some cases; limited unemployment days.

Payroll taxes

In Mississippi you will have state withholdings in addition to federal; uses W-4 forms and state equivalent.

Mistakes that cost your status

  • Work before CPT/OPT approval.
  • Exceeding permitted hours or working for an unauthorized employer.
  • Do not report job loss to the DSO during OPT (unemployment days).
  • Accept “cash” work below minimum without documentation.

STEM OPT and grace period

  • 24-month extension for USCIS-listed STEM majors — verify course CIP code.
  • Report employment every 6 months on myUSCIS during STEM OPT.
  • 90 cumulative days of unemployment during standard OPT; 150 during STEM (check current rules).

Typical on-campus jobs

  • Dining, library, recreation, research assistant (often linked to major).
  • Minimum hourly payout $7.25 — check pay stub.
Report problems

Tenant/labor: documents emails and photos; not threats — use official DOL or housing channels.

Quick reference

Sicurezza e diritti in Mississippi: at-will. Rischi: Uragani (stagione giu–nov), Tornado (primavera).

  • 911 emergencies
  • 988 mental health crisis
  • Federal Rule — CPT/OPT/STEM OPT: Same USCIS rules in all states
  • Minimum wage $7.25 (federal/state)

Practical safety

Campus and travel

In this state, having a car is often not optional outside of a few compact campuses.

  • Save campus police in address book
  • Uber/Lyft limited outside major cities
  • Commute meter average ~18 min (where applicable)

Weather risks

Sign up for county/university alerts; recommended water and torch kit.

  • Hurricanes (June–November season)
  • Tornado (spring)

Rights and actions

If something goes wrong

Federal + state
  • Work: Federal OSHA (DOL regions)
  • HUD fair housing for rent discrimination
  • Small claims court for deposits (limits vary by state)
  • Immigration: accredited attorney only — no generic “notaries”.

Campus work

Federal rule — same in all states

Federal Rule — CPT/OPT/STEM OPT: Same USCIS rules in all states; also respects local wage laws

Emergencies

Numbers and resources

Federal rule — same in all states
  • 911
  • 988
  • Campus alert system (email/SMS)
  • County hurricane alerts

Ranked 9 of 50 for minimum wage

Ranked 1 of 50 for max unemployment

State-specific data for Mississippi: Work

Data verified: 2026-03

Federal rule — same in all states

Regola federale — CPT/OPT/STEM OPT: stesse regole USCIS in tutti gli stati; rispetta anche leggi salariali locali

Minimum wage$7.25/hr ⚠️
Tipped subminimum$2.13/hr ⚠️
At-will employmentat-will
Non-compete agreementsenforceable
Paid family leaveNessun programma statewide (solo FMLA federale non retribuito)
OSHA coverageFederal OSHA (regioni DOL)
Max weekly unemployment$235 ⚠️

Sources: DOL · DOL state labor

Official U.S. sources

Informational summary only—always read the latest official pages. Not legal, tax, or medical advice.

Immigration status, student employment, work authorization

Rules for F/M/J students, CPT/OPT, and Form I-765 are published by USCIS. Confirm the current page before starting any work.

Work, wages, and international taxation

Minimum wage and overtime: DOL topics. International taxpayer obligations and resources: IRS international taxpayers hub.