A business-friendly environment (one of the most business-friendly in the nation, according to Forbes) has allowed Mississippi to keep its economic engine chugging and its legal services industry growing. Corporate law departments with major Mississippi companies like Sanderson Farms and the University of Mississippi Medical Center are big employers of paralegals, while law firms like Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A. in Gulfport and Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. in Jackson are always on the hunt for paralegals with specialized legal knowledge in areas like commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and family law.
Paralegal Job Market Trends in Mississippi
As of May 2020, the average paralegal salary in Mississippi was $48,240, or $23.19 per hour. While this falls below the national average for this profession by about $8,000, the low cost of living in this southern state has allowed paralegal salaries to remain on par with paralegals in other parts of the country.
There’s plenty of room for growth in the paralegal profession in Mississippi for those who have gained the experience and industry credentials that today’s top employers demand. As of May 2020, the top earning paralegals here (top 10%) earned about $70,750, or $34.01 per hour.
Average Paralegal Salary in Mississippi by City
The metro areas of Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula and Jackson reported average paralegal salaries that far outpaced the state average, as of May 2020.
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula area:
Average – $54,280 ($26.10 hourly)
Top 10% – $74,240 ($35.69 hourly)
Hattiesburg:
Average – $43,760 ($21.04 hourly)
Top 10% – $68,780 ($ hourly)
Jackson:
Average – $51,700 ($24.86 hourly)
Top 10% – $74,400 ($35.77 hourly)
May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary, growth, and job market trends for paralegals and legal assistants. Figures represent state data, not school specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2021.