Jobs, pay and daily life in Indianola, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Indianola is a city in Mississippi with 9,062 residents. The median household earns $41,708 a year and the median rent is $720 a month, which is 20.7% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Jackson, MS (270,730 jobs), about 43 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Indianola compares. Among the 60 largest places in Mississippi, Indianola is #46 by population, #4 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #46 for household income (#1 = highest), #46 for college degrees (#1 = most). Its county, Sunflower County, is #71 of 82 counties for average pay ($41,018).
Indianola has 9,062 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.3% of the population of Mississippi. It covers 9 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,057 people per square mile. The median age is 35.7, 8% younger than the state median (35.7 against 38.6).
The median gross rent is $720 a month (rent plus utilities), 25% below the state median ($720 against $954). Over a year that is 20.7% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $108,800, which is 2.6 times the median household income ($41,708); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 51.8% of households own their home, 26% below the state average (51.8% against 70.0%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Jackson, MS, metropolitan area has 270,730 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $42,850 a year, 16% below the national median ($42,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (32,750 jobs, median $39,830); transportation and material moving (26,210 jobs, median $38,130); sales and related (23,800 jobs, median $31,890). The area is most specialised in healthcare practitioners and technical (1.4 times) and protective service (1.3 times), where the share of workers is above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($99,730) and healthcare practitioners and technical ($73,840). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Sunflower County was 4.4%. 60.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Sunflower County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 81.0% drive alone, 0.0% use public transit, 0.5% walk, 5.2% work from home. 8.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 39% below the state average (8.9% against 14.4%).
21.0% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 16% below the state share (21.0% against 25.1%). 1.6% of residents were born outside the United States, 35% below the state share (1.6% against 2.4%). The poverty rate is 30.6%, 62% above the state rate (30.6% against 18.9%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 83°F (28.3°C), and the coolest is Jan at 43°F (5.9°C). About 1,367 mm (54 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Dec is the wettest month (138 mm) and Aug the driest (90 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Cleveland (21 miles, rent 31% higher); Greenville (24 miles, rent 21% higher); Greenwood (26 miles, rent 6% lower); Yazoo City (43 miles, rent 7% higher). Rent differences are against Indianola; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in Mississippi (241) →State guide: MississippiCountry guideSunflower CountyMississippi rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 241 federal postings open in Mississippi (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Mississippi →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 8,770 | 1.29 | $29,070 | $22,850 | $42,670 | -18% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,700 | 1.48 | $82,630 | $63,250 | $106,480 | -15% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 8,460 | 1.26 | $22,630 | $18,340 | $29,130 | -27% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 7,800 | 1.04 | $23,130 | $22,930 | $29,440 | -35% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 6,590 | 1.84 | $58,100 | $37,000 | $89,990 | -1% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 5,890 | 1.15 | $36,910 | $28,190 | $45,980 | -8% |
| Cashiers | 5,320 | 0.99 | $28,000 | $20,640 | $34,110 | -15% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 4,810 | 1.97 | $63,170 | $31,920 | $69,190 | +41% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 4,450 | 0.90 | $34,060 | $27,050 | $45,900 | -9% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 4,270 | 0.95 | $37,850 | $30,450 | $56,170 | -15% |
| Office Clerks, General | 4,020 | 0.94 | $35,910 | $21,740 | $54,220 | -20% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 3,730 | 1.26 | $38,440 | $27,500 | $60,750 | -19% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,390 | 0.88 | $28,820 | $21,490 | $39,500 | -22% |
| Security Guards | 3,340 | 1.50 | $27,950 | $21,950 | $44,820 | -26% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 3,310 | 1.24 | $44,890 | $28,740 | $66,630 | -9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 3,070 | 1.23 | $60,100 | $39,140 | $99,170 | -14% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,030 | 0.50 | $114,190 | $48,850 | $262,360 | +8% |
| Nursing Assistants | 3,000 | 1.19 | $32,040 | $28,010 | $37,940 | -24% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 2,760 | 1.42 | $47,330 | $28,950 | $75,030 | -2% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,750 | 0.70 | $21,440 | $15,430 | $44,380 | -39% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,330 | 3.46 | $175,090 | $55,320 | $315,480 | +63% |
| Pharmacists | 860 | 1.54 | $132,080 | $103,370 | $158,480 | -6% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 570 | 0.49 | $128,800 | $84,700 | $187,620 | -26% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,310 | 2.34 | $124,730 | $99,480 | $156,480 | -6% |
| Sales Managers | 550 | 0.49 | $123,700 | $62,440 | $312,560 | -17% |
| Financial Managers | 840 | 0.57 | $119,580 | $63,240 | $225,470 | -28% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,030 | 0.50 | $114,190 | $48,850 | $262,360 | +8% |
| Lawyers | 1,390 | 1.06 | $104,460 | $61,490 | $188,060 | -35% |
| Physical Therapists | 520 | 1.13 | $103,000 | $77,200 | $120,740 | +0% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,310 | 1.26 | $101,040 | $62,770 | $172,850 | -18% |
| Software Developers | 550 | 0.19 | $96,990 | $61,950 | $155,420 | -29% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 550 | 1.19 | $95,510 | $55,240 | $215,430 | -16% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 500 | 0.55 | $86,280 | $51,150 | $125,880 | -18% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 660 | 1.16 | $85,890 | $66,980 | $122,270 | -19% |
| Registered Nurses | 8,700 | 1.48 | $82,630 | $63,250 | $106,480 | -15% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,290 | 0.69 | $78,150 | $49,870 | $134,280 | -24% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 960 | 0.51 | $77,560 | $46,350 | $124,700 | -7% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 760 | 0.91 | $76,310 | $28,510 | $154,350 | +23% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 560 | 1.49 | $72,330 | $45,960 | $112,570 | -17% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 1,530 | 1.08 | $71,810 | $46,820 | $105,190 | -10% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Jackson, MS, about 43 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $42,850 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.0% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.8% |
| Retail trade | 18.8% |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.9% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.3% |
| Other services | 6.6% |
| Public administration | 5.8% |
| Construction | 5.5% |
| Information | 2.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.4% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.3% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 1.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 0.0% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Indianola lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower County | 24,333 | $863 million | $35,453 | 8,222 | 535 | $41,018 | -3.1% | 4.4% | 8,671 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,106 | 30.3% | $42,025 | 3.18 |
| Retail trade | 775 | 21.3% | $27,894 | 0.94 |
| Accommodation and food services | 480 | 13.2% | $15,644 | 0.64 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 313 | 8.6% | $40,804 | 4.70 |
| Manufacturing | 291 | 8.0% | $55,082 | 0.43 |
| Construction | 229 | 6.3% | $58,266 | 0.53 |
| Finance and insurance | 155 | 4.3% | $54,937 | 0.46 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 139 | 3.8% | $39,910 | 0.56 |
| Professional and technical services | 72 | 2.0% | $44,389 | 0.13 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 41 | 1.1% | $22,441 | 0.30 |
| Real estate and rental | 27 | 0.7% | $32,535 | 0.21 |
| Information | 18 | 0.5% | $56,361 | 0.12 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 81.0% |
| Public transit | 0.0% |
| Walk | 0.5% |
| Work from home | 5.2% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 8.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,708 |
| Income per person | $22,102 |
| Median gross rent per month | $720 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 20.7% |
| Median home value | $108,800 |
| Homeowners | 51.8% |
| Poverty rate | 30.6% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 89.0 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $42,850 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 4.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 80.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 21.0% |
| Born abroad | 1.6% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 60.1% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5.9 | 43 | 116 |
| Feb | 8.0 | 46 | 135 |
| Mar | 12.9 | 55 | 126 |
| Apr | 17.6 | 64 | 134 |
| May | 22.2 | 72 | 123 |
| Jun | 26.6 | 80 | 93 |
| Jul | 28.3 | 83 | 101 |
| Aug | 28.3 | 83 | 90 |
| Sep | 25.2 | 77 | 91 |
| Oct | 18.7 | 66 | 119 |
| Nov | 12.1 | 54 | 101 |
| Dec | 7.6 | 46 | 138 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | MS | 21 mi | 10,623 | $44,074 | $943 |
| Greenville | MS | 24 mi | 28,166 | $40,083 | $872 |
| Greenwood | MS | 26 mi | 14,086 | $35,473 | $678 |
| Yazoo City | MS | 43 mi | 10,219 | $28,157 | $767 |
| Clarksdale | MS | 52 mi | 14,231 | $36,382 | $774 |
| Grenada | MS | 53 mi | 12,375 | $46,303 | $802 |
| Kosciusko | MS | 67 mi | 6,933 | $40,085 | $814 |
| Monticello | AR | 67 mi | 8,257 | $27,238 | $707 |
| Canton | MS | 69 mi | 10,811 | $38,337 | $989 |
| Batesville | MS | 73 mi | 7,387 | $51,727 | $895 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
9,062 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$720 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 20.7% of the median household income.
$41,708 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.4% (BLS county, Sunflower County (latest month 2026M09)).
Mississippi. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.