Payroll Specialist salary in Jackson, MS
For this job Jackson sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $46,600 a year1. That is 3.2% above the Mississippi statewide median of $45,170, and 20.0% below the US median of $58,260. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#422 of 486). It is the largest market for the job in Mississippi: about 280 people, 21% of the Mississippi total.
BLS occupation 43-3051, 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 | $33,330 | $46,600 | $70,220 | |
| Mississippi | $30,560 | $45,170 | $66,930 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in Jackson earns $37,290–$59,810. The top tenth earns $70,220 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.1 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $22,520 wide, wider than in Mississippi as a whole ($20,740) and the US ($21,610), so what a payroll specialist earns in Jackson depends more on the employer.
What to budget for a payroll specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,330 | $2,778 | $16.02 | $43,006 |
| 25th percentile | $37,290 | $3,108 | $17.93 | $48,116 |
| Median | $46,600 | $3,883 | $22.40 | $60,129 |
| 75th percentile | $59,810 | $4,984 | $28.75 | $77,174 |
| 90th percentile | $70,220 | $5,852 | $33.76 | $90,606 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,310 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $13,210, or about $17,045 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 $58,260 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Mississippi statewide median of $45,170 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
At the $46,600 median, a local hire costs about $60,129 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,529 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 payroll specialists 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 #8 by median pay, between paralegals ($50,470) and sales development representatives ($46,470). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,150.
| Role | Median | vs payroll specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | +11.8% | 430 | |
| Paralegal | +8.3% | 960 | |
| Payroll Specialist | this role | 280 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -0.3% | 1,020 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.8% | 130 |
Measured against the US median, payroll specialists rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Jackson (-20.0%), between paralegals (-19.7%) and marketing specialists (-23.4%). The typical role here is at -17.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Payroll specialists hold 1.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Jackson and 1.0% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Mississippi
Across the 7 areas of Mississippi with data for this job, the median runs from $44,100 in the Lower East Mississippi nonmetro area to $48,900 in the West Delta Mississippi nonmetro area, a gap of $4,800 a year. No other area in Mississippi has as many payroll specialists, and 4 of the other 6 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Delta Mississippi (Nonmetro) | +4.9% | 90 | |
| Upper East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | +1.1% | 200 | |
| Jackson, MS | this area | 280 | |
| Hattiesburg, MS | -0.2% | 60 | |
| Lower West Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -0.2% | 100 | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -0.8% | 190 | |
| Lower East Mississippi (Nonmetro) | -5.4% | 170 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #84 of 482 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, yet its pay sits in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Mississippi, Blacksburg-Christiansburg and Decatur pay just above Jackson and Corpus Christi and Weirton-Steubenville just below. All four are within $210 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many payroll specialists, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +15.7% | 280 | jobs | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | +14.9% | 280 | jobs | |
| Fort Wayne, IN | +7.4% | 280 | jobs | |
| Decatur, AL | +0.5% | 40 | pay | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | +0.4% | 60 | pay | |
| Jackson, MS | this area | 280 | ||
| Corpus Christi, TX | -0.0% | 170 | pay | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -0.1% | 30 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a payroll specialist in Jackson, MS?
About $60,129 a year at the median, or $5,011 a month: $46,600 in pay plus about $13,529 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for payroll specialists in Jackson?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $46,600 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,330, the 90th $70,220, and the middle half earned $37,290 to $59,810.
Is Jackson cheaper than the rest of Mississippi for payroll specialists?
No, it costs more: a median of $46,600 against $45,170 statewide. The next area up in Mississippi is the Upper East Mississippi nonmetro area at $47,130, the next down Hattiesburg at $46,510.
How many payroll specialists work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 21% of the Mississippi total of 1,330. No other area in Mississippi has as many.
Does a payroll specialist cost more than a sales development representative in Jackson?
Yes: $130 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,600 and $46,470.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: 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 2026-11-13.