How to Become a Maintenance Technician in Mississippi

If you’re the person everyone calls when a machine starts whining, Mississippi needs you.

Plants, hospitals, casinos, and schools run on people who can keep systems alive.

Maintenance techs here troubleshoot, replace parts, and prevent chaos before it starts.

The hours are steady, the pay grows with skills, and the work never gets boring.

Here’s how to train up, get certified where it counts, and land your first job as a maintenance technician in Mississippi.

Steps to Become a Maintenance Technician in Mississippi

While Mississippi offers a rather easy path to becoming a maintenance technician, there are some requirements you’ll need before you apply for college or apprenticeships.

Let’s walk through those steps:

1. Have a high school diploma or pass the GED. These are the basic entry-level requirements for any program or job that involves maintenance technician duties. If you don’t have a diploma, most community colleges offer adult education courses to prepare you for the GED.
2. Take any necessary assessment test. Before you can get into a maintenance technician program at any school, you’ll need to meet specific requirements that each school will detail. Many require minimum ACT scores, commonly around 16 in Composite and Math, or equivalent placement test results. A Silver Certificate on the ACT WorkKeys is a frequent standard. Some programs also mandate specialized exams, like a 55% or higher on the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test (BMCT), to gauge mechanical aptitude before admission.
3. Enroll in a maintenance technician (or related) program at a Mississippi College. Most programs run one to two years, with an associate’s degree being the standard option for those who want to maximize entry-level job potential.
4. Explore apprenticeship options across Mississippi. Sometimes college tuition isn’t realistic, especially for those just starting their careers. In that case, look for apprenticeships throughout the state that will include work/study programs that also earn you a paycheck.
5. Get certified in specialized areas. Earning credentials in HVAC, electrical systems, welding, or industrial safety can boost your hireability and earning potential, even for entry-level roles.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Maintenance Technician in Mississippi

A license isn’t required to be a maintenance technician in Mississippi.

However, if you’re planning to do contractor work, you will need a license.

Check with the Mississippi State Board of Contractors for more information.

License requirements for specific industries (roofing/HVAC/construction) can also be determined based on the value of the project.

As an example, residential remodeling or roofing over $10,000 requires a license, as does building a residential structure over $50,000.

This is one reason why it’s important to review all the licensing rules before you determine if you’re impacted or not.

Plus, knowing this process can also help you down the road when you might consider opening your own contracting agency.

Maintenance Technician Programs in Mississippi

Across Mississippi, some programs will benefit future maintenance technician programs.

You can usually earn a degree or certificate within two years.

Also, if you’re going the apprentice route, be sure to check your preferred programs to see which colleges the gig is tied to.

Be sure to ask during any college interview what the job placement rate is for maintenance technicians in Mississippi.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State gives you two ways to gear up for a maintenance career.

The fast track is their online Maintenance Technician course.

This ed2go program spans 250 hours over 18 months for about $1,950.

There’s a second option to take this program with a starter tool kit included, but that brings the cost to $3,295.

Both programs are self-guided and virtual.

If you’re playing the long game, there’s a Bachelor’s in Industrial Technology with a manufacturing and maintenance focus.

That’s roughly 124 credits (some transferable), about $460 a credit, or around $5,200 a semester.

It’s four years, but it can open doors to higher-paying, management-level roles.

East Mississippi Community College

With locations in Scooba and Mayhew, East Mississippi Community College offers a two-year program in Industrial Maintenance Technology.

A one-year certificate program is also available under the same heading.

Students get experience in safety, machine maintenance, welding, pipefitting, and electricity, preparing them for entry-level positions as maintenance technicians in Mississippi.

Tuition averages about $2,745 for the 2025/2026 school year, and that’s a flat rate per semester with all fees included.

Mississippi Delta Community College

The Moorhead campus at Mississippi Delta Community College also has an Industrial Maintenance program, with three options: a technical certificate (1 year), an advanced technical certificate (2 years), or an Associate of Applied Science degree (2 years).

You can also consider adding a Precision Manufacturing & Machining Technology certificate or degree in addition to that.

Full-time tuition is $1,725 for the fall of 2025, but always check for updated cost information.

Don’t forget to add up the fees and applicable program charges.

You’ll need to contact the department manager to get that information.

Northeast Mississippi Community College

Located in Boonville, Northeast Mississippi Community College is another school offering an Industrial Maintenance Program.

Over two years, students learn about mechanical and electrical elements, eventually earning an associate’s degree.

Tuition starts at $1,915 for in-state students and goes up to $3,650 for out-of-state students.

Salary

Before we get into the salaries for maintenance technicians in Mississippi, it’s important to know that the cost of living in this state is fairly low.

That’s why some of the numbers we’re going to give you don’t always match national averages.

Here’s a quick breakdown by the city for maintenance technicians in Mississippi, looking at the median, high end, and low end.

• Biloxi: $53,625 (median) | $44,172 (low) | $65,339 (high)
• Greenville: $53,789 (median) | $44,307 (low) | $65,538 (high)
• Gulfport: $53,202 (median) | $43,823 (low) | $64,823 (high)
• Jackson: $53,795 (median) | $44,312 (low) | $65,545 (high)

For 2025, Mississippi applies a 0% tax on the first $10,000 of taxable income.

Anything above that is taxed at 4.4%

Regional Salary in Mississippi

Maintenance Technician by State