Lawyer Hourly Pay in Hattiesburg, MS: $44.08 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a lawyer working in Hattiesburg, MS runs $44.08 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $91,686 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 23-1011). Weighted against Hattiesburg's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.6, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $50.30 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $55,010 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Lawyers in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, are projected to earn a median hourly rate of $44.08 in 2026, significantly lower than the national median of $80.37. This local rate affects part-time lawyers, especially those working three days a week, who may find their perspectives on work-life balance impacted by these figures. For instance, per-diem arrangements in environments like law firm offices or courtrooms can vary widely, with entry-level positions starting at around $24.63 and top earners reaching $80.68 per hour. Such variations in lawyer hourly pay in Hattiesburg reflect the local demand and the type of legal practice, whether in corporate settings, government roles, or smaller legal firms, as indicated by the official Bureau of Labor Statistics hourly data.
Lawyer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.63 | $197.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31.07 | $248.60 |
| Median (P50) | $44.08 | $352.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $60.31 | $482.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.68 | $645.45 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Hattiesburg
Based on $44.08/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $44.08/hr, a lawyer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Hattiesburg, MS can expect to earn approximately $91,684 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $52,894. With a cost-of-living index of 87.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Hattiesburg.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Hattiesburg
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,763.15 | $7,640 | $91,684 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,057.89 | $4,584 | $55,010 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $705.26 | $3,056 | $36,673 |
Compare Esq Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Lawyer (Hattiesburg) | $44.08 |
| Paralegal (National Avg) | $29.95 |
| Judge / Magistrate (National Avg) | $68.41 |
| Arbitrator / Mediator (National Avg) | $38.60 |
| Court Reporter (National Avg) | $30.10 |
Lawyers in Hattiesburg, MS earn a median of $91,686 per year (2026 est.), which is 45.16% lower than the national median of $167,174 and 36.00% below the Mississippi state average of $143,259.
Lawyer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $44.08/hr = $55,010/year (purchasing power: $62,773).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $91,684/year (purchasing power: $104,622).
CoL index: 87.633 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$35.06/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$42.10/hr
2026 Current Est.
$44.08/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+31.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Lawyers in Hattiesburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35.06/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $38.78/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $35.95/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $39.69/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $41.82/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $39.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $42.10/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $44.08/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $46.15/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for lawyers in Hattiesburg grew 20.1% from $35.06/hr (2019) to $42.10/hr (2025). At a 4.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $46.15/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem lawyers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hattiesburg metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Lawyer in Hattiesburg
Delving into the part-time earning potential, a lawyer working 24 hours a week might take home significantly less annually compared to their full-time counterparts, usually seeing their income shrink to around $55,000 or so if maintained consistently over the year. In the realm of per diem lawyer pay in Hattiesburg, it's common for contract attorneys to bill between $25 to $50 per hour for doc review work, while those under 1099 arrangements might command rates from $200 to $500 per hour when partnering with established attorneys. Compensation dynamics shift based on the type of employers as well, with BigLaw firms offering high salaries but demanding extensive hours, whereas government positions generally offer more balance with lower pay but stable employment and benefits. Those negotiating their hourly rates should consider these dynamics and the trade-offs of choosing positions with higher pay but no additional benefits, versus those that provide healthcare and retirement options with lower hourly compensation.
More salary data for Hattiesburg, MS:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alexandra Chen, JD
Career Analyst
Alexandra has 10 years of experience in corporate law. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alexandra works at a mid-sized law firm in New York City.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for lawyers in Hattiesburg. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for lawyers (SOC 23-1011).
Compiled and verified by Alexandra Chen, JD, a licensed lawyer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov