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Yacht Crew Salary Guide 2026

Figures below are current market ranges by role and vessel size, monthly, in euros, and are starting ranges only — actual pay depends on the individual candidate, the yacht’s programme, and negotiation. A dash means no typical figure applies for that role at that vessel size.

Captain, Officer and Deck

RoleBelow 30m30–40m40–50m50–60m60–80m80–100m100m+
Captain€5,000–6,000€6,000–9,000€8,500–12,500€10,000–16,000€14,000–18,000€16,000–23,000Discretionary
Chief Officer / First Mate€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€5,500–7,000€7,000–8,000€7,000–9,000€8,000–10,000€9,500+
First Officer——————€7,500–9,500
Second Officer———€5,000–6,000€5,500–6,500€6,000+€6,500–7,500
Third Officer————€4,500+€5,500–6,500€5,500–6,500
Bosun—€3,500–4,500€3,750–4,500€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,500€4,500–5,500€5,000–6,000
Specialised Deckhand—€3,250€3,800–4,000€3,800–4,000€3,800–4,000€3,800–4,000€3,800–4,000
Junior Deckhand€3,000€3,000–3,200€3,000–3,200€3,000–3,200€2,800–3,000€2,800–3,000€2,800–3,000

Captain and Officer salaries depend on experience and yachting qualifications. On smaller yachts the Chief Officer is often called the Mate or First Mate; yachts over 100m / 3,000 GT typically distinguish a First Officer from a Chief Officer. “Specialised Deckhand” covers roles such as Tender Driver, Kite Surfer, Carpenter, Diver, Videographer and Photographer. Most bands above 50m carry 60–90 day leave or an equal (e.g. 2:2, 3:1) rotation.

Engineering

RoleBelow 30m30–40m40–50m50–60m60–80m80–100m100m+
Chief Engineer—€5,000–7,000€6,500–8,000€8,000–12,000€11,000–12,000+€12,000–15,000€13,000–15,000+
1st Engineer——————€8,500–10,000
Second Engineer——€4,500–5,000€5,500–7,000€7,000–8,000€7,500–9,000€6,500–7,500
Third Engineer————€4,000–5,500€5,000–6,000€5,000–6,000
Motorman—————€3,500–5,000€3,500–5,000
ETO & AV/IT————€7,000–8,500€8,500–10,000+€9,000–10,000+

Engineer salaries track flag-state engineering qualifications (AEC, Y3/Y1, EOOW, Class I/II) which scale with vessel size and kW rating — a higher-GT yacht generally requires a higher certificate of competency, which is reflected in pay.

Chef

RoleBelow 30m30–40m40–50m50–60m60–80m80–100m100m+
Head Chef / Sole Chef€4,500–6,000€5,000–7,500€6,000–9,000€6,500–9,000€7,000–9,000€9,000+€10,000+
Sous Chef——€4,000–5,000€4,500–6,000€5,000–6,000€6,000+€6,000+
Third Chef—————€4,500–5,500€4,500–5,500

Figures marked for smaller bands often apply to crew new to yachting. Yachts increasingly offer rotation at every level in the galley to secure and keep good Chefs.

Interior: Purser and Stewardess

RoleBelow 30m30–40m40–50m50–60m60–80m80–100m100m+
Purser————€7,000–8,500€8,000–10,000€8,500+
Chief Stewardess—€4,000–6,500€4,500–7,000€5,500–7,500€7,000–8,500€7,500–10,000€8,500+
Head of Service————€4,500–6,000€5,500–6,500€6,000+
2nd Stewardess——€3,500–5,000€4,500–5,500€4,500–6,000€5,500–6,500€6,000+
Experienced Stewardess (1–3 yrs)€3,500–4,000€3,000–4,000€3,000–4,500€3,300–4,500€3,300–4,500€3,300–4,500€3,300–4,500
Junior Stewardess (~1 yr)€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500€3,000–3,500

Experienced Stewardesses on smaller vessels often work alone as a Sole Stewardess, which explains the higher starting figure on those bands relative to larger yachts where the role is more junior within a bigger team.

Interior: Specialist Positions

RoleBelow 30m30–40m40–50m50–60m60–80m80–100m100m+
Spa Manager—————€4,500+€4,500+
Spa Therapist——€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,500€4,000–5,000
Masseuse / Beautician——€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500
Nurse——€4,000–4,500€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,000€4,000–5,000
Personal Trainer——€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500
Laundry Master————€3,500–4,500€3,500–4,500€4,000–5,000+

Rotation patterns referenced (e.g. 3:1, 2:2) mean three months on/one off, two on/two off, and so on. Figures are a general guide to current pay bands, not Cara Lees Yacht Crew’s own placement data — individual offers vary by candidate, yacht and programme.

Common questions

How much do yacht crew earn?
It depends heavily on role and vessel size — see the tables above. As a general range, entry-level deck and interior roles start around €3,000 a month, rising well into five figures for senior officers, Engineers and Chefs on the largest yachts. Because crew pay no rent, bills or food costs, most of it is saved.
Do yacht crew pay tax on their salary?
It depends entirely on your nationality, residency and where the vessel is flagged and operating. It is a question for an accountant who specialises in crew, not for a recruitment agency.
Does vessel size change what a role pays?
Substantially. The same job title on a 30m and a 100m yacht can differ by several thousand a month, because the responsibility, crew size and guest programme all scale with the boat — see the vessel-size columns above.
Where do these figures come from?
They are a current, general guide to market pay bands across the yachting industry, not Cara Lees Yacht Crew’s own placement data. Individual offers vary by candidate, yacht and programme.

Roles this guide covers

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