Cost of hiring in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area
BLS counts about 6,110 people in these 15 roles in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($99,510 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($28,760), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 1,110 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | -2.7% | 220 | |
| Accountant | -10.5% | 420 | |
| HR Assistant | -11.6% | 70 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.2% | 100 | |
| Office Manager | -20.8% | 930 | |
| Bookkeeper | -22.0% | 900 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -22.4% | 1,110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.1% | 300 | |
| Recruiter | -23.3% | 230 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -24.3% | 400 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -27.0% | 950 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -30.9% | 200 | |
| Executive Assistant | -33.5% | 70 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -34.0% | 110 | |
| Paralegal | -41.8% | 100 |
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 $34,740 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $44,826 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area against the US
The Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for project coordinators (-2.7%) and accountants (-10.5%) and largest for paralegals (-41.8%). The middle gap across all 15 is -23.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #128 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for virtual receptionists, #519 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area has more HR assistants (1.1% of these jobs here, against 0.6% nationally) and bookkeepers (14.7% against 8.8%), and fewer marketing specialists (1.8% against 5.7%) and executive assistants (1.1% against 2.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Monroe, LA is nearest, at -22.8%.
| 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 |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -23.1% (this area) | 15 | 6,110 |
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area span $30,550–$99,580, the widest band (3.3×); paralegals the narrowest, $29,390–$45,340. Wider than nationally for HR assistants and payroll specialists, narrower for paralegals and sales development representatives. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters, marketing specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,780 against a $48,330 median for sales development representatives).
the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area against Mississippi
Against Mississippi as a whole, the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area pays more for 3 of 15 roles, led by project coordinators (+26.2%) and accountants (+10.0%), and less for 10, most of all paralegals (-20.7%). It has the highest median in Mississippi for project coordinators, and the lowest for bookkeepers, customer support specialists and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Mississippi
By jobs in these roles, the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area is #6 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 |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 9,210 | 17 |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 6,720 | 16 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 5,210 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $99,510 a year, about $128,400 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $28,760.
Is hiring in the Lower West Mississippi nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for paralegals (-41.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.