Bookkeeper salary in Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg is a lower-cost market for bookkeepers: the median of $40,230 a year1 is 6.1% below the Mississippi statewide median of $42,840, and 20.6% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally that is #509 of 521 areas, in the bottom tenth. BLS counts about 630 people in this job here, 5% of the Mississippi total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Hattiesburg, MS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Hattiesburg against Mississippi and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | $29,640 | $40,230 | $60,470 | |
| Mississippi | $28,210 | $42,840 | $62,390 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
Bookkeepers at the 90th percentile earn $60,470, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.1. The middle half of bookkeepers in Hattiesburg earns $34,200–$48,190. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,990 wide, against $16,190 across Mississippi and $17,950 nationally: employers in Hattiesburg pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 | $38,245 |
| 25th percentile | $34,200 | $2,850 | $16.44 | $44,129 |
| Median | $40,230 | $3,352 | $19.34 | $51,910 |
| 75th percentile | $48,190 | $4,016 | $23.17 | $62,181 |
| 90th percentile | $60,470 | $5,039 | $29.07 | $78,026 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,030 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,960, or about $10,271 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in Hattiesburg, and the Mississippi statewide median of $42,840 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local bookkeepers earn.
What a hire really costs in Hattiesburg
At the $40,230 median, a local hire costs about $51,910 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,680 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for bookkeepers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Hattiesburg
Of the 15 roles we track in Hattiesburg, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between paralegals ($45,050) and customer support specialists ($36,700). Project Coordinator is the highest at $81,710.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +12.5% | 160 | |
| Paralegal | +12.0% | 100 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 630 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.8% | 1,280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -11.5% | 790 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #7 of the 15 roles we track in Hattiesburg (-20.6%), between payroll specialists (-20.2%) and virtual receptionists (-21.5%). The typical role here is at -21.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Bookkeepers hold 12.1% of the jobs in the 14 of these roles with a job count in Hattiesburg, 12.6% across Mississippi and 9.3% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Mississippi
Across the 7 areas of Mississippi with data for this job, the median runs from $39,520 in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area to $43,920 in Jackson, a gap of $4,400 a year. Of the 6 areas in Mississippi with more bookkeepers than Hattiesburg, 1 pays less: the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area ($39,520).
| Area | Median | vs Hattiesburg | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | +9.2% | 2,610 | |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | +5.2% | 890 | |
| Upper East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | +4.2% | 2,070 | |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | +1.2% | 1,190 | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | +0.7% | 1,500 | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | this area | 630 | |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 900 |
Hattiesburg against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Hattiesburg is #368 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Mississippi, Johnson City and Gadsden pay just above Hattiesburg and Laredo and Lafayette just below. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Hattiesburg | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | +20.0% | 630 | jobs | |
| St. George, UT | +17.2% | 620 | jobs | |
| Morgantown, WV | +6.4% | 630 | jobs | |
| Gadsden, AL | +1.4% | 290 | pay | |
| Johnson City, TN | +1.2% | 870 | pay | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | this area | 630 | ||
| Laredo, TX | -1.3% | 1,070 | pay | |
| Lafayette, LA | -3.3% | 2,130 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Hattiesburg, MS?
About $51,910 a year at the median, or $4,326 a month: $40,230 in pay plus about $11,680 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Hattiesburg?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,230 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,640, the 90th $60,470, and the middle half earned $34,200 to $48,190.
Is Hattiesburg cheaper than the rest of Mississippi for bookkeepers?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,230 against $42,840 statewide. The next area up in Mississippi is Gulfport-Biloxi at $40,530, the next down the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area at $39,520.
How many bookkeepers work in Hattiesburg?
BLS counts about 630 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Mississippi total of 12,160. 6 areas in Mississippi have more; the closest in size is the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area, with about 890.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a customer support specialist in Hattiesburg?
Yes: $3,530 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,230 and $36,700.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.