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Guide · checked 28 September 2026

How to read a government job's grade and salary

A public-sector vacancy often gives a code instead of a job level, and a salary range with no explanation. Both come from one document: the Government's salary scales. Here is how to read them.

See every published band in the salary guide
In this guide 6In this guide
  1. 1The code is a group, a series and a level
  2. 2Each grade sits in a pay band
  3. 3Every figure is a year's pay
  4. 4A band has thirteen steps
  5. 5Three rows: 2025, 2026 and 2027
  6. 6A code that isn't on the scale

01The code is a group, a series and a level

"GMG/SEG 2" reads as General Management Group, Senior Executive Series, level 2.1

The letters before the slash are the group, and the letters after it the series. The number is the level within that series: a higher number is a more senior post.

Other groups you'll see on notices include the Financial Management Group (FMG), the Scientific Officers Group (SOG), the Mass Communication Group (MCG) and the secretarial series (OPS/SS).1

02Each grade sits in a pay band

Every grade is placed in a numbered pay band. GMG/SEG 2 is Pay Band 8; GMG/SEG 1 is Pay Band 7.1 Grades from different groups can share a band, so two very different jobs can pay the same.

03Every figure is a year's pay

The scales are for staff paid monthly, but every figure in them is per year: each column is headed "$p.a.".1 Divide by twelve for a month, before tax and deductions.

04A band has thirteen steps

Each band runs from a minimum to a maximum in thirteen steps.1 A notice that gives a range is usually giving you the first and the last step.

05Three rows: 2025, 2026 and 2027

The scales cover April 2025 to March 2028, and each band has three rows: "Existing", then one that applies from 1 April 2026, then one from 1 April 2027.1

For GMG/SEG 2, the existing row runs from J$4,266,270 to J$5,737,658 a year. From 1 April 2026 its minimum is J$4,479,584.1

So a notice quoting the existing figure today is quoting the older row. Ask which row an offer will use.

06A code that isn't on the scale

Some agencies and statutory bodies pay on their own scales, and their notices say "Level 4" or "Band 3". Those codes aren't in the Ministry's document.1

Go by the figure the notice gives. Our salary guide shows those published bands side by side.2

Checked28 September 2026

Sources

  1. Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, "Salary scales for monthly paid staff, for the period April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2028" (Compensation Unit, dated 2 September 2026)www.mof.gov.jm
  2. Hello Opportunity salary guide, every band as the employer advertised it/salaries

Every fact above was checked against its source on 28 September 2026. Rules and fees change: if one is wrong, tell us.

Ready? Next step.

See every published band in the salary guide