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Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in Mississippi

The median payroll specialist in Mississippi earned $45,170 a year in May 2025[1], 22.5% below the US median of $58,260. That puts Mississippi at #51 of 51 states for this job.

$3,764median pay per month in Mississippi
$5,377employer cost per month with benefits
$21.72median pay per hour
1,330people in this job in Mississippi

BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.

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Salary range

Range10thMedian90th
Mississippi$30,560$45,170$66,930
United States$39,500$58,260$81,350
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

The middle half of payroll specialists in Mississippi earns $36,100–$56,840; the top tenth earns $66,930 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth.

What a hire really costs

Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Mississippi median that makes about $64,529 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].

$64,529local hire, first year incl. benefits
-remote hire, first year incl. fee
-difference in year one
-of the local cost saved

Pay by metro area in Mississippi

AreaMedian75th percentileJobs
West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
$48,900
$59,99090
Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
$47,130
$58,250200
Jackson, MS
$46,600
$59,810280
Hattiesburg, MS
$46,510
$57,95060
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
$46,510
$57,200100
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
$46,230
$54,770190
Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area
$44,100
$57,260170

West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area pays the most ($48,900) and Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area the least ($44,100): $4,800 a year apart for the same job.

What a payroll specialist does

A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.

Neighbours in the ranking

StateMedianvs Mississippi
Alabama
$46,170
+2.2%
Arkansas
$46,110
+2.1%
Mississippi
$45,170
+0.0%

Questions

How much does a payroll specialist earn in Mississippi?

The median was $45,170 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $36,100 to $56,840.

What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in Mississippi?

About $64,529 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).

Where in Mississippi do payroll specialists earn the most?

West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area, with a median of $48,900 a year.

Other roles in Mississippi

Hire payroll specialists remotely

How to hire payroll specialists

Sources

  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
  3. Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.