<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001311958</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000902791</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-21886</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 200</com:street2>
        <com:city>VANCOUVER</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>WA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>98662</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>(800) 494-5669</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Justesen Jon L</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corporation</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>4000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>379440.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>6729644</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>08/22/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/02/2012</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/02/2012</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Jonnie Justesen</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>PO Box 69</com:street1>
          <com:city>Trout Lake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>98650</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/20/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3499</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>307037.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Jonnie Justesen</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>PO Box 69</com:street1>
          <com:city>Trout Lake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>98650</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/27/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1842</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>158762.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Jonnie Justesen</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>PO Box 69</com:street1>
          <com:city>Trout Lake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>98650</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>06/28/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3158</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>269192.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Jonnie Justesen</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>PO Box 69</com:street1>
          <com:city>Trout Lake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>WA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>98650</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>07/05/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3500</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>305802.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>Shares acquired between 07/02/2012-07/01/2020 via vested stock awards acquired via equity compensation</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>08/22/2023</noticeDate>
      <signature>Jonnie L Justesen</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 5192}]
144
0001311958
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000902791
BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
000-21886
8100 NE PARKWAY DRIVE
SUITE 200
VANCOUVER
WA
98662
(800) 494-5669
Justesen Jon L
Affiliate
Common
Charles Schwab Corporation
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
4000
379440.00
6729644
08/22/2023
NASDAQ
Common
07/02/2012
RSU
Issuer
N
4000
07/02/2012
Equity Compensation
N
Jonnie Justesen
PO Box 69
Trout Lake
WA
98650
Common
06/20/2023
3499
307037.00
Jonnie Justesen
PO Box 69
Trout Lake
WA
98650
Common
06/27/2023
1842
158762.00
Jonnie Justesen
PO Box 69
Trout Lake
WA
98650
Common
06/28/2023
3158
269192.00
Jonnie Justesen
PO Box 69
Trout Lake
WA
98650
Common
07/05/2023
3500
305802.00
Shares acquired between 07/02/2012-07/01/2020 via vested stock awards acquired via equity compensation
08/22/2023
Jonnie L Justesen