You might have watched the crew on below deck and now you want to know, what is the salary for yacht crew ?
As a Deckhand your salary can range depending, on the size of the Yacht, wether it is private or charter and the Yacht travel plans. You can expect these salaries when you get into a new Junior Deckhand Position.
| Position | Superyacht size | Normal Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Mate | + 100 m | $6,000 – $9,000 US & Europe Based |
| 60-100 m | $3,000 – $6,500 US & Europe Based | |
| Bosun | 60 m | $3,500 – $6,000 US & Europe Based |
| Deckhand | General Guidelines | $3,000 – $5,000 US & Europe Based |
| Junior Deckhand | General Guidelines | $2,500 – $3,500 US & Europe Based |
This will also depend on factors such as if you choose to work on Sailing yachts or motor yachts, moreover you can select large yachts or small yachts, and decide between charter or private yachts. Together we will select your yacht type in the Kick-start Deckhand Package.Â
You can check a full Salary report here
The yacht salary guidelines above can increase depending on your leave and salary package…..
Once you spend a few years in the industry and get additional training in your department you can progress into a leadership position on board. As a Deckhand on yachts this will lead to the Bosun or 1st Mate position, the Salary for a 1st mate can range up to 10 000/ USD per month on the largest Yachts including bonuses and tips.
- Chief Officer (Deck) up to 10 000 USD/month with 7-10 years yacht industry experience
- Captain (Deck ) Up to 25 000 USD /month on the largest Yachts with +10 years yacht industry experience
- Chief Engineer (Engine) Up to 15000-20000 USD/ Month on the largest Superyachts owned by billionaires such Steve Jobs yacht Venus and Larry Ellison.
What is the Deckhand Yacht Salary without any experience ?
When you are starting to work as a Junior Deckhand you can expect a salary between 2300-3000€/ month and you will have at least 38 days paid leave per year.Â
A few things to think about:
- On larger Yachts you will have less free time, but longer and better holiday packages
- On private yachts your salary could be less but you could have a rotational leave package for example:
- Work 3 months / Holiday 1 month
- Work 5 months / Holiday 1 month
- On Charter yachts you can earn a lot of tips but will have a lower salary and not as good holiday package.
- Salaries are not taxed, and you are responsible for your tax in your home country, if any.
How much do you earn in tips on board Superyachts as Deck crew ?
On private yachts you can expect bonuses if you remain on board for several years, such as an annual bonus to keep the crew on board longer and create longevity.
If you choose to work on Charter Yachts, you can instead work hard and long hours, but get awarded with very large tips. Tips for Superyacht crew are as follows:
- Divided equally among Deckhands, Stewardesses and the rest of the crew
- Independent of rank on board
- Usually range between 10-20% off the charter price
- Based on a weekly charter price for the Yacht size
Example of Superyacht tips for a Junior Deckhand
- Superyacht size 5o meter
- Crew On board – 13Â
-  1 week charter – 30 000€
- After a very good job by the crew they will leave 15% tips
- This equals more than 2000€ Tips per crew member
You could earn an additional 2000€ on a charter yacht per week. If you do 8 weeks of charter in a year, which is normal for a Chart yachts you will earn an additional 15 000€ tips to your Yacht salary.
Remember that this is very hard work and long hours, but so worth it ! To start working as a Superyacht Deckhand the best way is to start with Yachtiecareers.Â
