2026-10-17 · 6 min read
How much to pay a days worker in Jamaica (2026 rates by parish)
CareLink Jamaica
Trusted care, close to home · All 14 parishes
Quick answer · 2026
In Kingston and St. Andrew, pay a days worker about J$4,900–J$7,000 for a seven-hour day. Pay the top of that range for an experienced worker or a heavy day.
That comes from the going hourly rate of J$700–J$1,000 an hour. Rural parishes pay less, and every parish pays above the J$425-an-hour minimum wage. The full table is below.
“How much for days work?” is one of the most common questions a Jamaican household asks, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Offer too little and the good worker simply doesn’t come back. Offer without agreeing what the day covers and you will both feel cheated by Friday.
Days work rates by parish, 2026
| Parish | Hourly rate | Seven-hour day |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston | J$700–J$1,000 | J$4,900–J$7,000 |
| St. Andrew | J$700–J$1,000 | J$4,900–J$7,000 |
| St. James | J$700–J$950 | J$4,900–J$6,650 |
| St. Catherine | J$650–J$900 | J$4,550–J$6,300 |
| St. Ann | J$650–J$900 | J$4,550–J$6,300 |
| Hanover | J$600–J$850 | J$4,200–J$5,950 |
| Westmoreland | J$600–J$850 | J$4,200–J$5,950 |
| Portland | J$550–J$800 | J$3,850–J$5,600 |
| Trelawny | J$550–J$800 | J$3,850–J$5,600 |
| Manchester | J$550–J$800 | J$3,850–J$5,600 |
| St. Mary | J$500–J$750 | J$3,500–J$5,250 |
| St. Elizabeth | J$500–J$700 | J$3,500–J$4,900 |
| Clarendon | J$500–J$750 | J$3,500–J$5,250 |
| St. Thomas | J$450–J$650 | J$3,150–J$4,550 |
A day here is seven hours at the parish’s going hourly rate. The hourly bands themselves, with what drives each parish up or down, are in domestic helper wages by parish.
What a fair day should cover
“Days work” means different things in different homes. Before the first day, agree:
- The hours. A start and finish time, for example 8am to 3pm, not “until the work is done”.
- The jobs. Cleaning, washing, ironing, cooking. Washing and ironing for a family of five is a different day from tidying a two-bedroom flat.
- Lunch and fare. Not required by law, but common. Say which you are providing.
- How and when she is paid. At the end of each day or at the end of the week, in cash or by transfer.
Writing it down takes ten minutes and prevents most disputes. Our guide to a written role brief shows what to include.
Don’t divide a weekly wage by five
A full-time helper earns J$18,000 to J$25,000 a week, so it is tempting to offer J$4,000 for a single day. That undercuts the going rate. A worker coming one day a week pays the same fare as one coming five, and her one day usually holds a week’s worth of washing. More on this in part-time helper rates.
The minimum wage is a floor, not the rate
From July 1, 2026, the national minimum wage is J$17,000 for a 40-hour week, or J$425 an hour. That makes the legal minimum for a seven-hour day J$2,975. No parish pays that little in practice, and a worker who is offered it will usually find another household quickly. Your obligations as an employer, including NIS, are set out in how to legally hire a helper.
Want someone vetted instead of a stranger?
The hardest part of days work is not the rate. It is knowing who is coming into your home. CareLink books vetted day helpers in Kingston and St. Andrew: every one has her government ID checked, her references telephoned by us, and an interview, and we tell you her police certificate status before she arrives.
There is a one-time J$5,000 Booking & Vetting Fee on your first booking, then an all-inclusive day rate we quote on WhatsApp before you confirm, with her pay included. Message us on WhatsApp or see pricing.
Questions families ask
How much should I pay a days worker in Jamaica in 2026?
In Kingston and St. Andrew a days worker is paid about J$4,900–J$7,000 for a seven-hour day. Experienced workers and heavy days sit at the top of that range. Rural parishes run lower; St. Thomas is the lowest. Agree the amount, the hours and the duties before the first day.
What is the minimum I can legally pay a days worker?
From July 1, 2026, Jamaica's national minimum wage is J$17,000 per 40-hour week, or J$425 an hour. A seven-hour day at minimum wage is J$2,975. That is a legal floor, not the going rate: in every parish the standard day rate is above it.
Should a days worker get lunch or bus fare on top?
Many households provide lunch, and some add fare for a worker travelling from far. Neither is set by law. What matters is agreeing it before day one and writing it down, so nobody is surprised on payday.
Is it cheaper to pay by the day or hire full-time?
At one or two days a week, pay by the day. Around four days a week, a full-time weekly wage (J$18,000–J$25,000 for a live-out helper) usually works out better for both of you and keeps a good worker loyal.
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