Cut, groom, and style hair for male and female clients. Barbering is one of Jamaica's most accessible self-employment paths, with HEART/NSTA Trust offering NCTVET-accredited certification and every parish requiring licensed barbers.
Salary Breakdown
New barber renting a chair or working in an established shop. Income depends on client volume; typically J$1,000-2,000 per cut. Indicative market estimate, not a published salary scale. This is self-employed income, not a wage: the national minimum wage applies to employees, so own-account earnings can fall below it in a slow month and rise well above it in a good one.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
Based on the midpoint of the Entry salary range ($800,000 JMD), after NIS, NHT, Education Tax, and PAYE.
Show deduction breakdown
- Gross (annual)
- $800,000 JMD
- NIS (3%)
- −$24,000 JMD
- NHT (2%)
- −$16,000 JMD
- Education Tax
- −$17,460 JMD
- PAYE Income Tax
- −$0 JMD
- Net (annual)
- $742,540 JMD
Estimate only — illustrative rates and thresholds, not tax advice. Confirm current figures with Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
Career Path Roadmap
- 1
Finish Secondary School
Complete secondary school. CSEC passes are not mandatory, but English and Mathematics help with running a business later.
Forms 1-5 - 2
HEART/NSTA Trust Barbering Training
Enrol in Barbering Level 2 at HEART College of Beauty Services or a HEART-accredited community training centre. Earn the NCTVET/NVQ-J certificate.
6 - 12 months - 3
Get Licensed by Your Municipal Corporation
Apply for a barber's licence from your parish Municipal Corporation and complete the public health food-handler-style medical check required for personal care workers.
1 - 2 months - 4
Build a Client Base
Rent a chair in an established shop or do mobile barbering. Use social media (Instagram, TikTok) to showcase your work and attract bookings.
1 - 3 years - 5
Open Your Own Shop
Register a business with the Companies Office of Jamaica, secure a location, and hire or rent chairs to other barbers. Consider HEART Level 3-4 and entrepreneurship training.
Ongoing
Required Education
- Secondary school (CSEC passes helpful but not mandatory)
- HEART/NSTA barbering certification - check the current NVQ-J level on the Qualifications Registry of Jamaica
- Municipal Corporation barber's licence and health certificate
Common Local Certifications
- HEART/NSTA barbering certification - check the current NVQ-J level on the Qualifications Registry of Jamaica
- Municipal Corporation Barber's Licence (required by law)
- HEART Entrepreneurship / Small Business modules (optional)
Local Institutions Offering Programs
- HEART College of Beauty Services, Kingston - Kingston
- HEART/NSTA Trust Community Training Institutes (islandwide)
- Private barbering academies (NCTVET-accredited)