Average Salary in Jamaica 2026
Currency: JMD · Updated for 2026
How much money does a person working in Jamaica make?
Average Monthly Salary
161,002 JMD
( 1,932,024 JMD yearly )
~ 1,019 USD per month ( 12,228 USD yearly )
LOW
40,290 JMD
255 USD
AVERAGE
161,002 JMD
1,019 USD
HIGH
563,586 JMD
3,567 USD
A person working in Jamaica typically earns around 161,002 JMD per month. Salaries range from 40,290 JMD (lowest average) to 563,586 JMD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Distribution of Salaries in Jamaica
Median and salary distribution monthly Jamaica
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What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated.
The median (141,726 JMD) represents the middle salary value — 50% earn more and 50% earn less. The average (161,002 JMD) is the sum of all salaries divided by the number of workers, and can be skewed by extremely high or low salaries.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person's salary progress over time?
- 0–2 Years (Entry Level)966,012 JMD
- 2–5 Years (Junior)1,255,784 JMD
- 5–10 Years (Mid-Career)1,642,252 JMD
- 10–15 Years (Experienced)1,932,024 JMD
- 15+ Years (Senior)2,318,492 JMD
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average +30% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average +31% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by +18% and an additional +20% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
“On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years experience mark.”
Salary Comparison By Education
How does the education level affect your salary?
- High School1,159,246 JMD
- Certificate1,352,480 JMD
- Associate1,545,556 JMD
- Bachelor's1,932,024 JMD
- Master's2,318,492 JMD
- PhD2,704,802 JMD
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High School → Certificate
+17%
Certificate → Bachelor's
+43%
Bachelor's → Master's
+20%
Master's → PhD
+17%
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average +17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn +43% more than those who only managed to attain a certificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are +20% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn +17% more than Master's Degree holders on average.
Salary Comparison By Gender
Salary comparison by gender monthly Jamaica
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Jamaica earn 8% more than their female counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Jamaica
How much are annual salary increments? How often do employees get salary raises?
8%
Average Raise
15 months
Review Frequency
9%
Annualized Increase
Employees in Jamaica are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 15 months.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Jamaica is 9%.
Bonus and Incentive Rates in Jamaica
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
42%
Received Bonus
58%
No Bonus
42% of surveyed staff in Jamaica reported receiving at least one form of monetary bonus.
Average Bonus Rate
8%
of annual salary
Types of Bonuses Considered:
• Individual Performance-Based Bonuses
• Company Performance Bonuses
• Goal-Based Bonuses
• Holiday / End of Year Bonuses
Top 5 Highest Paying Industries
Annual average salaries
- Legal2,608,264 JMD
- Aviation2,511,568 JMD
- Information Technology2,511,568 JMD
- Banking2,415,030 JMD
- Pharmaceuticals2,415,030 JMD
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Salaries for Popular Jobs
Sample job titles and their average salaries
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | 4,830,060 JMD | 402,584 JMD |
| Pilot | 3,864,048 JMD | 322,004 JMD |
| Software Developer | 3,477,580 JMD | 289,772 JMD |
| Data Scientist | 3,284,504 JMD | 273,656 JMD |
| Financial Manager | 3,091,270 JMD | 257,540 JMD |
| Database Administrator | 2,898,036 JMD | 241,582 JMD |
| Engineer | 2,704,802 JMD | 225,466 JMD |
| Marketing Manager | 2,511,568 JMD | 209,350 JMD |
| Project Manager | 2,415,030 JMD | 201,292 JMD |
| Accountant | 2,125,258 JMD | 177,118 JMD |
| Hotel Manager | 1,932,024 JMD | 161,002 JMD |
| Nurse | 1,738,790 JMD | 144,886 JMD |
| Graphic Designer | 1,642,252 JMD | 136,828 JMD |
| Chef | 1,449,018 JMD | 120,712 JMD |
| Teacher | 1,352,480 JMD | 112,654 JMD |
Salary Comparison By City
Average annual salaries by city
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Kingston | 2,221,796 JMD |
| Montego Bay | 2,028,562 JMD |
| Spanish Town | 2,028,562 JMD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more?
152,944 JMD
Private Sector
169,060 JMD
Public Sector
+11%
Public sector employees in Jamaica earn 11% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Average Hourly Wage in Jamaica
948 JMD
per hour
The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Jamaica is 948 JMD. This means that the average person in Jamaica earns approximately 948 JMD for every worked hour. Hourly Wage = Annual Salary ÷ (52 × 5 × 8)
Cost of Living in Jamaica
Estimated monthly expenses
Rent
23,384 JMD
/month
Food
7,426 JMD
/month
Transport
2,844 JMD
/month
Utilities
3,792 JMD
/month
Compare Your Salary
See how your salary compares with the average in Jamaica and explore top-paying jobs.