Mississippi's average paralegal salary of $49,500 falls below every state in this comparison, including the nearest neighbor Alabama at $52,730. For employers, this means Mississippi is one of the more cost-effective states in the region for paralegal hiring. If you are benchmarking offers against candidates who have worked in Georgia or Tennessee, expect those candidates to have higher salary expectations than the Mississippi market typically supports.
Paralegal salary in Mississippi (2026)
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The average paralegal salary in Mississippi is $49,500 per year. A small pool of high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $46,180 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Mississippi employs 2,270 paralegals, and the $3,320 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior paralegals in Mississippi typically earn around $35,660, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $67,960 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a paralegal hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $46,180 |
Average Annual Salary | $49,500 |
vs. National Average | 29.0% below the national mean of $69,700 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,270 employed paralegals across Mississippi.
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Paralegal salary percentiles in Mississippi
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $35,660 |
25th Percentile | $36,900 |
75th Percentile | $58,790 |
90th Percentile | $67,960 |
Employers setting offers for entry-level paralegals in Mississippi should expect to land near $35,660 to $36,900, while experienced hires will push toward $58,790 and beyond. Senior specialists at the top of the market reach $67,960, so offers for highly experienced candidates should be anchored at or above that threshold to remain competitive.
Paralegal salary by city in Mississippi
City | Average Annual Salary |
Meridian | $60,700 |
Jackson | $53,110 |
Hattiesburg | $48,520 |
Gulfport | $48,010 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a paralegal hire in Mississippi. Meridian commands the highest average at $60,700, which is $12,690 more than Jackson at $53,110 and over $12,000 more than Hattiesburg and Gulfport. If you are hiring in the Gulf Coast or Hattiesburg markets, you can anchor offers closer to the statewide average, but Meridian-based roles will require a noticeably higher budget.
How Mississippi compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Mississippi | $49,500 | $46,180 |
Georgia | $71,210 | $62,400 |
Tennessee | $60,790 | $58,820 |
Arkansas | $60,110 | $47,420 |
Louisiana | $59,360 | $60,250 |
Alabama | $52,730 | $47,260 |
Mississippi is a cost-effective market for paralegal hiring relative to every neighboring state in this comparison. The statewide mean of $49,500 sits below Alabama's $52,730 and well below Georgia's $71,210, meaning employers operating in Mississippi can budget meaningfully less than peers in those markets. If you are managing multi-state teams, Mississippi-based roles offer a real cost advantage without requiring a significant departure from regional norms at the lower end of the range.
Frequently asked questions about paralegal salary in Mississippi
How does Mississippi compare to other states for paralegal salary?
What do the top-earning paralegals make in Mississippi?
Paralegals at the 90th percentile in Mississippi earn $67,960 per year. Senior specialists with deep experience or niche practice area knowledge are the candidates most likely to command offers at or above that level. Budget accordingly if you are competing for experienced talent, since the spread between the 75th percentile at $58,790 and the 90th percentile at $67,960 reflects a meaningful jump for the most senior roles.
What is the salary range for a paralegal in Mississippi?
The full documented range runs from $35,660 at the 10th percentile to $67,960 at the 90th percentile. Entry-level and junior paralegals cluster between $35,660 and $36,900, while mid-career professionals sit closer to the median of $46,180. When you set your offer, use the seniority and specialization of the specific role to determine where within that range to anchor your number.
What is the average paralegal salary in Mississippi?
The average paralegal salary in Mississippi is $49,500 per year. The median of $46,180 is the more grounded figure for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average above what most candidates will expect. Use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on experience level and the specific demands of the role you are filling.
Paralegal salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 23-2011 (Paralegals and Legal Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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