Pay in Jamaica - Jamaican wages, pay rates and pay scales

by Rebecca
(Salida, CO, USA)

QUESTION: Also, we have a friend who works at a resort hotel in Jamaica. He says that he doesn't get paid well. What is the average yearly income for resort help?


ANSWER: by Wellesley February 16, 2012



How timely Rebecca!

I think I actually answered a part of this question in this answer to jamaican spending in a week Rebecca.

Take a peek at that for some background.

I mentioned the minimum wage though, and that it is currently at 4,500 Jamaican dollars per week, effective February 28, 2011.

The Gleaner added: "In the case of industrial security guards, the minimum wage will increase from $6,050 to $6,655 for a 40-hour workweek. The guards will also receive an increase in dog handler's premium from $20.35 per hour to $22.39. Firearm premium allowance is to be increased from $30.25 per hour to $33.28 while laundry allowance is to move from $27.50 to $30.25 per hour." (Gleaner Newspaper)

As the name implies, minimum wage is the lowest rate or wage employees can pay their employees per week and I believe that your friend should be getting something above that.

I was not too successful determining the wage for hotel workers specifically but I manage to get some useful and insightful information from the statistical institute of Jamaica (STATIN see chart above.

It shows "the average of weekly wage earners in large establishments, by industry groups" for periods in 2008 and 2009.

They don't appear to have much more recent data but that is still helpful - I think.

The category "Trade, Hotels and Restaurants", which would include hotel workers, showed that the average base wage was 6,534 in 2008 but moved to 7,711 by September 2007 - yes all Jamaican dollars.

All sectors average $8,868 per week at September 2009 according to STATIN.

I also consulted Payscale.com.
It's a website that allows people to research jobs, while posting their current earnings and it showed some very useful information.

Here is the report, actually a live and dynamic feed (auto updated).

Median Salary by Job - Country: Jamaica (Jamaica)

Compare your salary: Get a free Salary Report

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