Yacht Crew Salary Guide 2026 — What Every Position Pays

Complete yacht crew salary guide for 2026. Monthly pay ranges for deckhands, stewardesses, chefs, engineers, and captains by yacht size. Plus tips, rotations, and what affects your pay.

Quick Facts

• Entry-level crew: €2,500–€3,500/month
• Mid-level crew (bosun, 2nd stew, 2nd engineer): €3,800–€7,000/month
• Senior crew (chief stew, head chef, chief engineer): €5,500–€15,000/month
• Captains: €8,000–€25,000+/month depending on yacht size
• Charter tips can add €1,000–€5,000+ per charter week

Yacht crew salaries in 2026 range from €2,500 per month for entry-level deckhands on smaller yachts to over €25,000 per month for captains commanding superyachts above 100 metres. Pay varies primarily by position, yacht size, and whether the yacht is private or charter.

Deck Department Salaries

The deck department is the most common entry point into yachting, with deckhand positions available on virtually every yacht.

Position	30–40m Yacht	50–70m Yacht	80m+ Yacht
Junior Deckhand	€2,500–€2,800	€2,800–€3,200	€3,000–€3,500
Deckhand	€2,800–€3,000	€3,000–€3,500	€3,500–€4,000
Bosun	€3,500–€4,000	€3,800–€4,500	€4,500–€5,500
First Officer	—	€5,500–€7,500	€7,500–€9,000+
Captain	€6,000–€8,000	€8,000–€12,000	€12,000–€25,000+

Interior Department Salaries

The interior department handles all guest-facing services, from cabin maintenance to silver service dining.

Position	30–40m Yacht	50–70m Yacht	80m+ Yacht
Junior Stewardess	€2,500–€2,800	€2,800–€3,200	€3,200–€3,500
Stewardess	€2,800–€3,200	€3,200–€3,800	€3,800–€4,500
Chief Stewardess	€3,800–€4,500	€4,500–€6,000	€6,000–€8,000+
Purser	—	€4,500–€6,000	€6,000–€8,000

Galley (Chef) Salaries

Yacht chefs are among the highest-paid crew members relative to team size.

Position	30–40m Yacht	50–70m Yacht	80m+ Yacht
Sole Chef / Cook	€3,500–€5,000	€4,500–€7,000	—
Head Chef	—	€7,000–€9,000	€9,000–€12,000+
Sous Chef	—	€3,500–€4,500	€4,500–€6,000

Engineering Department Salaries

Engineering remains one of the highest-demand departments in yachting.

Position	30–40m Yacht	50–70m Yacht	80m+ Yacht
Junior Engineer	€3,000–€3,500	€3,500–€4,500	€4,500–€5,500
Second Engineer	—	€5,000–€7,000	€6,000–€8,000
Chief Engineer	€4,500–€6,000	€7,000–€10,000	€10,000–€15,000+
ETO	—	€5,000–€7,000	€7,000–€9,000

What Affects Your Salary

Yacht Size

Yacht size is the single biggest factor determining salary. A deckhand on a 30m yacht might earn €2,800/month, while the same role on an 80m+ superyacht pays €3,500–€4,000/month.

Private vs. Charter

Private yachts typically pay higher base salaries but offer little to no tip income. Charter yachts pay lower base rates but add significant tip potential.

Rotational vs. Permanent

Rotational positions typically pay 10–20% less in base salary but offer predictable time off for work-life balance.

Understanding Charter Tips

On charter yachts, tips represent a significant portion of crew income. The standard charter tip ranges from 5% to 15% of the charter fee, with 10–15% being common for excellent service. A busy charter season with back-to-back charters can add €10,000–€30,000+ to your annual income.