How Well Do Yacht Jobs Really Pay?

They define the phrase "working for the man"

Depending on position, yacht crew can get anywhere from $2,000 – $15,000 per month. Interested? I thought you would be. Let's go into the juicy details.

As we pointed out in part 1, working on a yacht is not easy. They work very long days, often from 10 to 16 hours each. So just how much do they make on average? Below we have a list of the most common positions onboard.

Each yacht crew has a salary range, with the lower salaries going to less experienced crew and on smaller yachts, and the higher range going to more experience and more years in the yachting industry. Remember this is just an average as each crewmember works out their own salary. Some make more, others make less.

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Junior and 1st or 2nd year steward: Has 2 years or less of experience. 2,000 – 4,000 per month.

Chief Stewardess: Has about 5 or more years of experience, the chief stewardess is in charge of the guests satisfaction. Must be organized. 3,000 – 7,000 per month.

Cook: The Cook is at the bottom of the kitchen totem pole, working very long hours on prep and cooking to the guests desires. A great job for a recent culinary school grad. 3,000 – 5,000 per month.

Head Chef: The Head chef runs the kitchen just as they would in a regular restaurant. This position must have at least 3-5 years experience in fine dining environment and provisioning. 5,000 – 10,000 per month

Deckhand: Usually a new person with less than 2 years of experience. 2,000 – 3,500 per month

Deckhand / Engineer: This position is a combination of the two and requires some experience and certification working on yachts. 3,000 and up

Mate: The captains right hand man or woman, they often have several years experience and have worked their way up. 3,000 – 7,000 per month

Purser: Usually found on the larger ships, this position must be good with money and accounting. They have to be very organized as well. 5,000 – 8,000 per month

First or second officer: They are Next in charge after the captain. They have more experience and it shows by how much they make. They also have certifications and are licensed. 7,000 – 10,000 per month.

Captain: The Captain has made a career of the ocean and lots of quality experience. They know how to work in any situation and are excellent leaders. 7,000 – 10,000 per month.

Senior Master: This one has the most experience and usually works on only the largest of yachts. He has knowledge of the waters the world over and are very strong leaders. 9,000 – 15,000 per month.

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Salary for yacht crew is also dependent on how big the yacht is and how much experience the person has. And let us not forget how salary also has to do with how well the owners and guests like your service. In the yachting world you have to be well liked to ensure you will keep getting work in the future.

Now if you want to know how to land a job in Yachts and don't have any contacts, I would recommend doing your research before going straight to a well respected yacht crewing agency. Just be prepared a serious lifestyle change and have fun.

Good luck!