Mississippi has long been one of the poorest states in America. The Magnolia State has the lowest median yearly wage in the land –significantly below the national median figure of $48,069 – and the lowest average too at just $47,570. But why?

Agriculture, which doesn't tend to pay well, is the state's number one industry, employing 17.4% of the workforce. Educational attainment is also low, with 14.7% of the population failing to graduate high school (the worst figure nationally) and college graduates few and far between. Exacerbating the issue is the lack of a state minimum wage; Mississippi is one of only five states without one, while the flat-rate income tax of 4.7% effectively penalizes low-paid workers.

Unsurprisingly, Mississippi has the second highest poverty rate nationwide at 18.2% and the lowest life expectancy at just 71.9, akin to a developing country. On the upside, the state has the second lowest cost of living in America as per US News & World Report.

The Average US Salary By State Revealed. How Does Yours Compare?