Cost of hiring in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area
BLS counts about 9,210 people in these 17 roles in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($79,960 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($29,450), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,680 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -11.3% | 70 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -16.4% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -19.6% | 1,580 | |
| Bookkeeper | -19.7% | 1,190 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -20.3% | 30 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.9% | 320 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -22.5% | 680 | |
| Office Manager | -23.0% | 1,390 | |
| Recruiter | -23.3% | 350 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.9% | 560 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -24.3% | 170 | |
| Accountant | -25.5% | 490 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -25.8% | 1,680 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -28.6% | 260 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -34.0% | 180 | |
| Executive Assistant | -39.9% | 110 | |
| Paralegal | -42.1% | 120 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $35,280 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $45,523 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area against the US
The Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-11.3%) and data entry specialists (-16.4%) and largest for paralegals (-42.1%). The middle gap across all 17 is -23.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #310 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #508 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area has more payroll specialists (1.8% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and administrative assistants (18.2% against 10.8%), and fewer marketing specialists (2.0% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (2.8% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Alexandria, LA is nearest, at -23.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond, LA | -22.6% | 14 | 3,540 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Monroe, LA | -22.8% | 16 | 7,200 |
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -23.3% (this area) | 17 | 9,210 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, executive assistants in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area span $24,550–$79,400, the widest band (3.2×); e-commerce order specialists the narrowest, $31,040–$53,040. 8 of 17 bands are wider than the US ones, so where an offer sits matters more here; HR assistants most ($37,340–$68,280 nationally). Budget from the median for paralegals, sales development representatives, accountants and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($44,020 against a $36,420 median for paralegals).
the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area against Mississippi
Against Mississippi as a whole, the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 17 roles, led by sales development representatives (+3.2%) and project coordinators (+1.4%), and less for 13, most of all paralegals (-21.1%). It has the highest median in Mississippi for sales development representatives, and the lowest for accountants, office managers and executive assistants and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Mississippi
By jobs in these roles, the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area is #4 of 7 areas in Mississippi. The table shows the other 6.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 25,750 | 17 |
| Upper East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 16,090 | 17 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 12,820 | 17 |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 6,720 | 16 |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 6,110 | 15 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 5,210 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $79,960 a year, about $103,174 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $29,450.
Is hiring in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for paralegals (-42.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.