How much money can you make working on yachts?

It seems to be the question everyone wants to know the answer to lately. Especially as Below Deck has risen in popularity. I bet you have sat there wondering “How much does the crew on Below Deck make?” Of course, the TV show is different to the real world and the yacht crew on Below Deck will also be getting various other sponsorship deals out of it too.

Ignoring Below Deck, how much can you, as a junior crew member make? If you have never worked on a boat before you will be considered “green”. Sometimes you will see “green stew” or “green deckhand” roles advertised, this just means the yacht is open to employing someone who has no experience.

Read on to find out more about how much you should expect to make in your first year of yachting.

What is the salary of a yacht stewardess?

If setting beautiful tablescapes, and ironing gets you excited, maybe you have started looking into how to be a stewardess already. If you think you have the skills to stew but want to know if it’s worth it, read on.

A green stewardess should be making €3000+ per month in her first year. This is pretty much the minimum wage for stews. It’s not a lot, sure. But you may not have to pay tax on that, depending on your tax situation. And don’t forget everything is paid for onboard the yacht. You won’t need to buy toiletries, pay rent, power, or even cover medical expenses. The boat will cover all of those expenses leaving you with a stack of cash each month.

As you work your way up in the industry, expect that to increase. Even without HOD status, there are stews with a couple of years of experience making €5-6k per month on private yachts.

Of course, working on charter yachts is a different story. Keep reading to find out how much you will make working on charter yachts.

How much does a deckhand make on a yacht?

Deckhands have a really interesting skill set. When you enter the super yachting industry, you will be likely to have some attributes such as a passion for watersports, or a background in handyman type work. But rarely do deckhands come into the industry with professional-level tender driving skills, teak maintenance know-how, or sikaflex skills. These are all taught on the job and a junior deckhand salary usually reflects this.

Junior deckhands usually command a lower starting salary than their junior stewardess counterparts. Expect to make €2800+ per month initially. Some yachts will boost that salary up after you have passed probation (usually 3 months) but others really do pay low and expect you to graft for a bit and “pay your dues” so to speak.

Keep in mind, you may not have to pay tax on this (again, check your own country’s laws and your tax status within them) and everything is provided for you on the boat.

After a year or so in the industry, or if you have additional skills, such as a carpenter degree, expect to boost that wage up considerably.

What is a yacht chef salary?

Many restaurant chefs ask how much a yacht chef makes. And it’s because yacht chefs can command very high salaries in their first year as yacht chefs that it is a lucrative career path. A good chef can be hard to find, and captains and owners know how important food is for both the crew and the guests. A successful charter often hangs on the food.

If you have Michelin experience or extensive restaurant experience, and if you have a culinary degree you can command a higher salary. Depending on the boat size, you can expect to start as a chef on a yacht for around €5000+ per month. If you land a head chef role on a vessel over 80m, expect that salary to double. If you work as a sous chef on yachts, you will likely make €4500-€6000per month.

Salaries for yacht chefs is very dependent on the yacht size and the programme of the yacht. A new yacht chef can very easily get a job paying more than €10k per month if they happen to have the right skill and be available at the right time.

If you are considering becoming a yacht chef, but do not have a formal culinary education, you can still enter the industry. Stew/Chefs are common on smaller yachts (25-30m) the workload and culinary expectations are very different. A stew/chef can expect to make €3500per month in their first year.

Deck/chef is a very uncommon role.

Related: if you want to know more about being a yacht chef and how to get started, there are free resources and information at TheSuperyachtChef.com

How much will I earn as an engineer on superyachts?

If you are considering working on superyachts as an engineer, it is likely that you already have commercial tickets. Many engineers come into the industry this way as it makes a great change from the commercial shipping side of life. If you are wondering how the pay differs from how much an engineer on a superyacht gets paid, keep reading!

Firstly, you will likely be starting in a rotational role. This means you will only 6 months a year, assuming you get a time for time rotation. It is common for yacht engineers to go straight into a rotational role. There are no such things as having to prove yourself in yachting for this to happen- so long as you have those commercial tickets. Salary for yacht engineers is also somewhat dependent on the yacht size and your experience. A Second Engineer might make €6000 per month (again, only working 6 months a year but being paid for 12) but a Chief Engineer on the same sized yacht could be on €12,000 easily.

Most Engineers join yachting as a second engineer first before stepping up to chief. Even if their tickets allow them the role of a chief. Because the engineering department is so specialized with their tickets and the types of yachts/engines each engineer has experience on, the salary is just a ballpark.

If you do not have any commercial tickets but you are handy with a spanner and think like an engineer, you can enter yachting with very basic engineering qualifications. You will need to sit the AEC course to be allowed to work in the engine room on big yachts. This role will generally not be rotational, as you will be learning on the job and of course, will be doing all the dirty jobs. Expect to make around €4000per month as a starting salary.

Is it tax free working on superyachts?

This is a question I get asked a lot. Do I have to pay tax? At the end of the day, that’s your decision. You should contact your own accountant in the country where you are a tax resident to confirm if you have to pay tax or how much. Yachting can be a tax-free job for some people.

How much money will I make on a charter yacht?

Everyone wants to know about charter yachts and charter tips. How much do guests tip? How much money will I make working on charter yachts? When do I get rich!? ha. Ok, but seriously, charter tips are not a given. I’ve had many times where I have joined a charter yacht with dollar signs in my eyes. only for the charters to cancel or in one case, the guests didn’t even leave a tip! So you shouldn’t consider going to a charter yacht purely on the tips alone.

But ok, you want to know how much you will make for a charter tip?

How long is a piece of string? I know of crew getting €0 for a charter, and I know of plenty who have gotten tens of thousands of dollars or euros per week-long charter.

Keep in mind…

When you accept a yacht job, no matter what department you will be working in. There are other things to consider when you see the salary.

Is it private or charter?

Is the yacht dual season? if it is a dual season, you will likely be busier with work.

How many charters do they already have confirmed for the upcoming season?

What is the nationality of the owners? (This is important for the chef, as some nationalities have different expectations)

What is the leave package like? Do you have some form of rotation? Do you get weekend off (uncommon, but not impossible)

Is there a 13-month bonus?

What other retention programmes does the yacht offer the crew? Some will pay for courses etc

So, how much will I make working on a superyacht?

I really can’t say. There are averages and unofficial rates. But every yacht will tweak this as best as they see fit. A busier programme might balance the role with more rotation. A quieter programme may pay less, but you have weekends off and laid back owners etc. It really all depends on the programme and what sort of yacht you are looking for.

Money is not everything, and I wouldn’t suggest chasing a dream job on the salary alone.

Dockwalk has a really good table of yacht crew salaries that is updated each year. It is self reposted and of course not all yacht crew participate, but it should give you an idea of what the salaries are for yacht crew in 2023.