Jpeg is a compressed file format. The compressed file size (size on disk) varies with picture content and should generally be ignored, as long as its no bigger than 25MB, which is our upper limit for Jpeg size. Whats important is the uncompressed (opened) file size. The opened file must be at least 24MB at 8 bit to get through our quality control. Typically a 24MB 8 bit Tiff file will be between 2MB and 5MB as a Jpeg if your image was shot digitally. Film scans will be larger. This is because Jpeg sees film grain as image detail and compresses it too. Remember, we do not want a Jpeg 24MB in size as that would be ridiculously large when uncompressed (opened)!
One thing you dont want to do is work on your images whilst they are in Jpeg form, repeatedly saving as you go along. Saving a Jpeg as a Jpeg is pretty much a no no, as you are recompressing an already compressed file.