Style, treat, braid, and chemically process hair, plus offer skincare and beauty services. HEART/NSTA Trust's College of Beauty Services provides accredited cosmetology training up to supervisory levels.
Salary Breakdown
Junior stylist in a salon or renting a booth. Building speed in braiding, relaxing, and styling while growing a clientele. 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 ($875,000 JMD), after NIS, NHT, Education Tax, and PAYE.
Show deduction breakdown
- Gross (annual)
- $875,000 JMD
- NIS (3%)
- −$26,250 JMD
- NHT (2%)
- −$17,500 JMD
- Education Tax
- −$19,096 JMD
- PAYE Income Tax
- −$0 JMD
- Net (annual)
- $812,153 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. English, Mathematics, and Chemistry (for understanding chemical treatments) are useful CSEC subjects.
Forms 1-5 - 2
HEART Cosmetology Training
Complete Cosmetology or Hairdressing Level 2 at HEART College of Beauty Services or an NCTVET-accredited private academy. Progress to Level 3 for advanced chemical services.
1 - 2 years - 3
Get Licensed
Obtain a hairdresser's licence from your parish Municipal Corporation along with the required health certificate.
1 - 2 months - 4
Build Clientele & Specialise
Work in a salon or rent a booth. Specialise in high-demand niches: bridal styling, natural hair care, wigs and units, or colour correction.
2 - 4 years - 5
Open a Salon or Beauty Brand
Register your business, open a salon, train juniors, and add retail product lines. Tourism areas (Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril) offer premium clients.
Ongoing
Required Education
- Secondary school (CSEC English and a science helpful)
- HEART/NSTA - NVQ-J Level 1 and Level 2 in Cosmetology (Qualifications Registry of Jamaica)
- Municipal Corporation hairdresser's licence
Common Local Certifications
- HEART/NSTA - NVQ-J Level 1 and Level 2 in Cosmetology (Qualifications Registry of Jamaica)
- Municipal Corporation Hairdresser's Licence
- Product-line certifications (e.g., colour systems) - optional
Local Institutions Offering Programs
- HEART College of Beauty Services, Kingston - Kingston
- HEART/NSTA Trust Community Training Institutes (islandwide)
- NCTVET-accredited private cosmetology schools