Cost of hiring in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area
BLS counts about 6,720 people in these 16 roles in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($77,120 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($30,310), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,390 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | -16.1% | 90 | |
| HR Assistant | -16.3% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | -16.4% | 890 | |
| Office Manager | -18.4% | 1,060 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.3% | 520 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -20.9% | 910 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -21.5% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -22.7% | 380 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.1% | 370 | |
| Project Coordinator | -24.6% | 180 | |
| Executive Assistant | -25.3% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -27.9% | 1,390 | |
| Recruiter | -30.4% | 290 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -33.9% | 140 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.2% | 210 | |
| Paralegal | -40.2% | 130 |
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 $34,270 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $44,219 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area against the US
The West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 16 roles. The gap is smallest for payroll specialists (-16.1%) and HR assistants (-16.3%) and largest for paralegals (-40.2%). The middle gap across all 16 is -22.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for payroll specialists, #379 of 486 areas by median pay; its lowest is for administrative assistants, #518 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (20.7% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and office managers (15.8% against 9.1%), and fewer executive assistants (1.0% against 2.9%) and marketing specialists (2.1% against 5.7%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% | 14 | 3,590 |
| Hammond, LA | -22.6% | 14 | 3,540 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Monroe, LA | -22.8% | 16 | 7,200 |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -22.9% (this area) | 16 | 6,720 |
| Alexandria, LA | -23.3% | 14 | 4,980 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area span $26,810–$94,630, the widest band (3.5×); paralegals the narrowest, $36,400–$48,370. Wider than nationally for HR assistants and medical administrative assistants, narrower for paralegals and marketing specialists. Budget from the median for accountants, sales development representatives, recruiters and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($74,180 against a $64,670 median for accountants).
the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area against Mississippi
Against Mississippi as a whole, the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 16 roles, led by payroll specialists (+8.3%) and executive assistants (+2.8%), and less for 14, most of all paralegals (-18.6%). It has the highest median in Mississippi for payroll specialists, and the lowest for project coordinators, recruiters and e-commerce order specialists and 1 more role.
Other areas in Mississippi
By jobs in these roles, the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area is #5 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 |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | 6,110 | 15 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 5,210 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $77,120 a year, about $99,510 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $30,310.
Is hiring in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 16 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for paralegals (-40.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.