Paralegal salary in Jackson, MS
Jackson is the most expensive place in Mississippi to hire a paralegal. The median is $50,470 a year1, 9.3% above the Mississippi statewide median of $46,180 and 19.7% below the US median of $62,890. Among US areas it comes in at #346 of 506. It is the largest market for the job in Mississippi: about 960 people, 42% of the Mississippi total.
BLS occupation 23-2011, area Jackson, MS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jackson against Mississippi and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | $35,460 | $50,470 | $68,690 | |
| Mississippi | $35,660 | $46,180 | $67,960 | |
| United States | $44,740 | $62,890 | $101,500 |
The middle half of paralegals in Jackson earns $43,890–$62,970. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $68,690, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.3 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $19,080 wide, against $21,890 across Mississippi and $29,740 nationally: employers in Jackson pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a paralegal here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,460 | $2,955 | $17.05 | $45,755 |
| 25th percentile | $43,890 | $3,658 | $21.10 | $56,632 |
| Median | $50,470 | $4,206 | $24.26 | $65,123 |
| 75th percentile | $62,970 | $5,248 | $30.27 | $81,252 |
| 90th percentile | $68,690 | $5,724 | $33.02 | $88,632 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $12,500 over the median, the 25th only $6,580 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $16,129 a year in employer cost. 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 $62,890 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Mississippi statewide median of $46,180 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $14,653 to the $50,470 median and brings it to $65,123 a year. 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 paralegals 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 Jackson
Of the 17 roles we track in Jackson, this one ranks #7 by median pay, between executive assistants ($52,100) and payroll specialists ($46,600). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,150.
| Role | Median | vs paralegal | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Manager | +19.1% | 3,070 | |
| Executive Assistant | +3.2% | 430 | |
| Paralegal | this role | 960 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -7.7% | 280 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -7.9% | 1,020 |
Measured against the US median, paralegals rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Jackson (-19.7%), between medical administrative assistants (-19.7%) and payroll specialists (-20.0%). The typical role here is at -17.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Paralegals hold 3.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Jackson and 2.5% 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 $36,420 in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area to $50,470 in Jackson, a gap of $14,050 a year. No other area in Mississippi has as many paralegals, and all 6 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | this area | 960 | |
| Upper East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -4.8% | 420 | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -8.4% | 290 | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -10.7% | 100 | |
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -25.5% | 130 | |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -27.4% | 100 | |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -27.8% | 120 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #67 of 503 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Mississippi, Columbus and Lynchburg pay just above Jackson and Johnson City and Salisbury just below. All four are within $190 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many paralegals, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | +21.2% | 970 | jobs | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | +17.0% | 960 | jobs | |
| Tucson, AZ | +3.9% | 980 | jobs | |
| Lynchburg, VA | +0.4% | 140 | pay | |
| Columbus, IN | +0.1% | 50 | pay | |
| Jackson, MS | this area | 960 | ||
| Johnson City, TN | -0.0% | 120 | pay | |
| Salisbury, MD | -0.1% | 80 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a paralegal in Jackson, MS?
About $65,123 a year at the median, or $5,427 a month: $50,470 in pay plus about $14,653 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do paralegals earn in Jackson?
The median was $50,470 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,460, the 90th $68,690, and the middle half earned $43,890 to $62,970.
Is Jackson the most expensive area in Mississippi for paralegals?
Yes. Its median of $50,470 is the highest of 7 areas in Mississippi. The Upper East Mississippi nonmetro area comes next at $48,030.
How many paralegals work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 960 in the May 2025 survey. That is 42% of the Mississippi total of 2,270. No other area in Mississippi has as many.
Does a paralegal cost more than a payroll specialist in Jackson?
Yes: $3,870 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,470 and $46,600.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 23-2011: 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.