How much do yacht crew earn?

Entry-level deck and interior roles typically start around €2,500 to €3,500 a month, rising quickly with experience and vessel size. 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 70m yacht can differ by several thousand a month, because the responsibility, crew size and guest programme all scale with the boat.

Yacht Crew Salary Guide | Every Role and Rank

Last updated 3 August 2026

A yacht captain earns roughly $60,000 to $150,000 a year. A chief engineer on a 100m+ yacht earns €12,000 to €15,000 a month, against €4,000 to €6,000 on a 30–40m. Pay is driven by vessel size, rotation, charter versus private, and certification.

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What yacht crew earn

These are the ranges published on this site, by role and vessel size. They reflect 2021 market data and are a guide rather than a quote — pay moves with programme, rotation and whether the yacht is private or charter.

Role	Vessel	Typical range
Captain	All sizes	$60,000 – $150,000 per year
Chief Engineer	100m+	€12,000 – €15,000 per month
Chief Engineer	30–40m	€4,000 – €6,000 per month
ETO	All sizes	€6,000 – €8,000 per month
Head Chef	100m+	€8,000+ per month
Sous Chef	100m+	€4,000 – €7,000 per month
Third Chef	100m+	€3,500 per month
Head Chef	Under 30m	€4,000 – €4,500 per month
Bosun	Varies with size	€3,500 – €5,500 per month

Figures as published on caraleesyachtcrew.com, based on 2021 market data. Roles not listed are being added as verified figures become available.

What actually drives yacht crew pay

Vessel size

The single biggest factor. Pay steps up at recognised bands — roughly under 30m, 30 to 50m, 50 to 70m, and above 70m — because larger yachts carry more crew, more systems and more regulatory burden. The same role can pay very differently across those bands.

Rotation

Rotational positions pay more in total cost to the owner because two people cover one seat, but the individual monthly rate is often similar to a permanent role. Rotation above roughly 50m is now common for officers and engineers.

Charter versus private

Charter yachts usually pay similar base salaries but add tips, which can be a substantial portion of annual earnings on a busy programme. Private yachts trade that for a more predictable schedule.

Certification

Most pronounced in engineering, where each Y-ticket step changes what you can legally serve on, and on deck, where officer certificates gate progression. In the interior, certification matters less than experience and references.

What to consider beyond the number

Leave. Anything from 30 to 60+ days depending on the programme.
Medical insurance. Should be provided while serving; check what happens on leave.
Flights. Often an annual allowance rather than unlimited.
Contract type. A proper SEA under MLC 2006 sets out your protections.
Probation. Commonly three months.

Negotiating

Salary bands on any given yacht are usually narrower than the market range suggests, because they are set against the crew already on board. The room for movement is often in leave, flights and rotation rather than in the monthly figure.

Looking at what a specific role involves? See the live vacancies or the career guides for bosun, engineer, chef and interior positions.

Common questions

How much do yacht crew earn?: Entry-level deck and interior roles typically start around €2,500 to €3,500 a month, rising quickly with experience and vessel size. 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 70m yacht can differ by several thousand a month, because the responsibility, crew size and guest programme all scale with the boat.

Yacht Crew Salary Guide