The Below Deck Crew’s Salary & How Much They Make On The Show

Not only does the crew on Below Deck get paid for their designated job, but they also receive a fee for appearing in the reality series. The franchise features long-time and new crew members who are eager to make a name for themselves in the yachting industry. Those who join Below Deck use the platform to help get a step ahead by appearing on TV. While the work on a superyacht might seem hard, the cast’s compensation makes it all worth it in the end.

The popular Bravo reality series Below Deck hit viewers’ TV screens for the first time in 2013. Since then, the show has garnered quite a large following, with Below Deck as one of the highest-rated series on Bravo. After being on for so many years, fans have wondered how much the cast makes, both for being part of the show and for their regular crew duties. For only working four months out of the year, the cast makes an impressive salary that would have anyone convinced yachting is a good career choice.

The Below Deck Crew Makes A Salary & An Appearance Fee

According to Refinery29, the cast of Below Deck makes quite a hefty salary for simply doing their superyacht job. On a yacht the size of the My Seanna from Below Deck, for example, a second and third steward makes about $5,000 per month, while a chief steward brings in around $5,500 to $6,000 per month. As for the chef, such as Chef Ben Robinson from Below Deck, they make about $7,000-$10,000 a month, depending on experience and training. The deckhands usually make around $3,500-$4,500 a month, while a bosun would make a little bit more at approximately $5,000 a month. However, don’t forget at the end of every charter, the whole crew even receives tips from the guests in addition to their salary. On Below Deck, the crew usually brings in around $15,000 per person in tips for about six weeks of work. Plus, the crew does not work a whole yacht season, so they likely make more throughout the season as they move from boat to boat.

As for the Captain of the boat, they usually make between $150,000 to $210,000 a year working on a 185-foot superyacht like Captain Lee Rosbach’s My Seanna on Below Deck, assuming the Captain is working full-time. As for the tip, a Captain can make up to $100,000 on top of the salary they are getting if they charter their yacht for the full year. On top of the money they make working on the yacht, the crew also gets a small fee for appearing on Below Deck. While the exact number is not known, viewers are assuming it is at least a few thousand dollars an episode. Plus, most of the crew’s food is paid for on the boat, and they get a van to drive them to dinner once their charter season is complete.

Since Bravo has created such a cult following in the past few years, they opened so many doors for the people they hire. Now, cast members from any Below Deck series can make appearances for a small fee and profit from their fame on social media. In short, it pays to work on a yacht and to appear on a reality TV show.

More: Who Are The Heroes & Villains Of Below Deck Adventure So Far

Sources: Refinery29