chef on yacht salary

You Won't Believe How Much a 'Below Deck' Charter Chef Makes

Published Nov. 16 2020, 3:45 p.m. ET

The life of a yachtie seems like a dream job. Working onboard a state-of-the-art vessel, being surrounded by the bluest ocean, and getting to explore exotic locations are just some of the perks of working onboard a luxury mega-yacht. 

But as any seasoned fan of Below Deck can tell you, it’s not all stunning locations and water slides.

Pulling at least 16-hour shifts while attending to every whim of charter guests and being filmed around the clock is just another day in the life of a Below Deck yachtie. But while the team indulges every ridiculous request from their ultra-rich clientele, they are well paid for their hard work — especially the chefs, who have to meet all kinds of demands even when the weather is too rough for the exterior crew. 

So, what is a Below Deck chef salary like, as the sole person cooking onboard?

What is the Chef’s salary on 'Below Deck?'

Captain Lee is back helming My Seanna for another season of Below Deck set in the Caribbean. With the departure of his long-time right-hand woman, Chief Stewardess Kate Chastain, he’s got a whole new crew to whip into shape. 

But one person who already seems to have everything under control is the yacht’s new chef: Rachel Hargrove.

This predominantly self-taught chef has quickly made a mark with her unflappable attitude and calm demeanor even in the face of the most demanding guests. Rachel keeps her galley in order and is experienced in a lot of different cuisines from around the world, which hopefully means she won’t get thrown by a request for vegan food… Ahem, Kiko.

But just how much does a talented chef like Rachel make? Charter companies pay each crew member a base salary, which depends on the size of the boat, the number of charter guests, and the professional role of the yachtie. 

On top of this base pay, cast members in the Bravo show also get additional tips and a small appearance fee from the network. 

According to the average salary rates for super-yacht chefs, they are estimated to make a base salary of anywhere between $85,000 and $100,000 for a standard charter season. The chef's specific rate would be determined by their professional qualifications, the ship’s itinerary, and the number of charter guests on-board — but they get to keep all the money they make since crews earn a tax-free income. 

'Below Deck' star Chef Ben Robinson.

In addition to the generous salary, the Below Deck chef would also benefit from the tips that guests leave at the end of each charter. On Below Deck , the crew customarily receive a tip that’s around 5 to 30 percent of the charter base fee, depending on the level of service and pampering that the guests receive. 

All told, Captain Lee's chef could potentially walk away from the season with over $100,000 for about six weeks of work. 

And since the Below Deck crew doesn’t work an entire yachting season, which is usually between four and five months, it’s entirely possible for the chef to finish out the season on another yacht and make even more money.

Sounds like we’re all about to quit our day jobs for the life of a yachtie!

Tune in to new episodes of Below Deck on Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Welcome to the Most Expensive Yacht in 'Below Deck' History

Chef Kiko Said His Firing on 'Below Deck: Med' Was Bittersweet

Captain Lee May Be Hard on the 'Below Deck' Staff but He's a Total Softie With His Wife

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How Much Do Superyacht Chefs Make? (Salary Breakdown and Tips)

Are you a culinary expert dreaming of a life on the open seas? Or maybe you’ve recently become a professional chef and want to explore higher-paying opportunities? If so, a career as a superyacht chef may be the perfect fit for you! From the average salaries to the various benefits and responsibilities, this article will provide an in-depth overview of what its like to be a superyacht chef.

Plus, youll also get tips and tricks on how to get your foot in the door, maximize your earnings, and get tips from the guests.

So, if youre ready to learn more about the world of superyacht chefs, lets dive in!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Superyacht chefs typically make between $3,500 and $10,000 per month, depending on experience, skill level, and the size of the yacht.

They may also receive additional compensation for overtime, extra duties, and tips.

In addition to their salary, they may also receive benefits such as health insurance, meals, and free travel.

The most experienced and successful superyacht chefs may command higher salaries, with some earning up to $15,000 per month.

Overview of Superyacht Chefs

When it comes to luxury and extravagance, nothing quite beats the life of a superyacht chef.

These highly sought-after professionals are responsible for providing the ultimate fine dining experience for discerning guests and crew members while at sea.

From creating exquisite menus to managing the onboard kitchen, superyacht chefs must have a keen eye for detail and a passion for exceptional cuisine.

But how much do these professionals make?

Superyacht chefs can make a significantly higher salary than most chefs on land.

Salary for a superyacht chef can range from $50,000 to $250,000 per year depending on experience and the size of the yacht.

Most superyacht chefs can expect to make an average of $90,000 to $140,000 per year with benefits such as free travel and accommodation.

In addition to salary, superyacht chefs may receive tips from guests for outstanding service.

For those looking to embark on this exciting career journey, its important to take into account the necessary qualifications and experience.

Superyacht chefs must hold various food safety qualifications, and be proficient in a range of international cuisines.

Furthermore, most superyacht chefs have a minimum of five years experience in a professional kitchen, preferably with some experience in the hospitality or cruise line industry.

Superyacht chefs are expected to work in all weather conditions, be able to plan and prepare meals for large groups, and possess strong leadership and organisational skills.

In addition, they must be able to work well under pressure and have a passion for delivering outstanding culinary experiences.

All in all, superyacht chefs are highly sought-after professionals, with the ability to command high salaries and enjoy a life of luxury and adventure.

Average Salaries for Superyacht Chefs

Superyacht chefs can make substantially more than their peers working in restaurants on land.

According to the SuperYacht Crew Agency, the salaries for superyacht chefs can range from $50,000 to $250,000 per year, depending on experience and the size of the yacht.

Most superyacht chefs make an average of $90,000 to $140,000 per year, with benefits such as free travel and accommodation.

Salary is not the only factor when it comes to compensation for superyacht chefs.

In addition to their base salary, they may receive tips from guests for outstanding service.

This can be a significant source of additional income.

It is important to note that the salary of a superyacht chef is dependent on the size of the yacht, the number of guests, and the chef’s experience.

The larger the yacht, the more guests, and the more experience the chef has, the higher the salary.

Onboard chefs are also responsible for creating menus for both guests and crew, as well as managing the onboard kitchen.

This requires a high level of skill and knowledge, and is often reflected in the salary.

It’s also important to note that the salaries of superyacht chefs are usually tax-free, as they are considered live-aboard employees, meaning they live on the yacht.

This can be a great perk for those who want to travel and see the world while still making a good salary.

Benefits of Working as a Superyacht Chef

Being a superyacht chef can be a rewarding and lucrative career path.

Not only do you get to travel the world, but you also get to take advantage of some incredible benefits.

These include a competitive salary, free travel and accommodation, and the potential to earn tips from guests.

The salary of a superyacht chef can range from $50,000 to $250,000 per year, depending on experience and the size of the yacht.

Most chefs can expect to make an average of $90,000 to $140,000 annually.

This is significantly higher than most chefs on land, making it a desirable job.

In addition to a salary, superyacht chefs may also receive tips from guests for outstanding service.

As a superyacht chef, you will have the opportunity to travel to some of the most exciting places on earth.

You will get to experience the culture and cuisine of different countries and explore the beautiful views of the sea.

You will also have free accommodation provided by the yacht, allowing you to save money on hotels and meals.

In addition to free travel and accommodation, superyacht chefs are also responsible for creating menus for guests and crew.

This gives you the chance to show off your creativity and culinary skills.

You will also be responsible for managing the onboard kitchen, ensuring that all meals are prepared correctly and on time.

Overall, working as a superyacht chef can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Not only do you get to enjoy the benefits of a competitive salary and free travel and accommodation, but you also get to be creative with your menus and manage the onboard kitchen.

Moreover, you may even receive tips from guests for outstanding service.

Responsibilities of Superyacht Chefs

When it comes to superyacht chefs, the responsibilities they are tasked with are both unique and demanding.

Superyacht chefs are responsible for creating menus for both guests and crew, as well as managing the onboard kitchen.

They must be able to create and execute recipes that will satisfy both a high-end clientele and the crew, all while working under the confines of a small kitchen space.

In addition to creating menus, superyacht chefs must be able to source ingredients, often while in remote locations, and manage multiple cooks and staff.

They must also be able to shop for the freshest ingredients, plan meals for days in advance, and keep up with the ever-changing flow of orders from the guests and crew.

Superyacht chefs must also be able to manage their time efficiently, as they could be preparing multiple meals for different locations on the yacht at the same time.

They must be able to work quickly and accurately while remaining professional and courteous to the guests and crew.

In addition, they must be able to manage their budget and have a good understanding of nutrition and food safety.

Tips for Gaining Employment as a Superyacht Chef

Becoming a superyacht chef is a great way to earn a high salary while seeing the world. However, securing a position as a superyacht chef requires more than just culinary skill. To be successful, you must be well-versed in the inner workings of the superyacht industry, have a strong work ethic, and be willing to adapt to ever-changing conditions. Here are a few tips for gaining employment as a superyacht chef:

1. Research the industry: Before applying to any superyacht chef positions, be sure to research the industry and familiarize yourself with the different types of yachts, the types of clients, and the different roles of a superyacht chef. Understanding the industry will help you present yourself as a knowledgeable and experienced candidate.

2. Network: Networking is a key component of success in the superyacht industry. Working your connections can help you gain a greater understanding of the industry, gain insight into potential job opportunities, and build relationships with industry professionals who can help you get your foot in the door.

3. Build a portfolio: A portfolio of your work is essential when applying for a superyacht chef position. Be sure to showcase your best work, such as sample menus, pictures of past dishes, and customer reviews.

4. Prepare for an interview: When interviewing for a superyacht chef position, you must be prepared to answer questions about your experience, your culinary abilities, and your interpersonal skills. A successful interview will demonstrate that you are a reliable, hardworking, and knowledgeable chef who is up for the challenge of working on a superyacht.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of securing a position as a superyacht chef.

With the right combination of experience, knowledge, and hard work, you can make your dream of becoming a superyacht chef a reality.

Tips for Maximizing Earnings as a Superyacht Chef

When it comes to maximizing earning potential as a superyacht chef, its important to do your research and understand the salary range and benefits that come with the job. Knowing the range of salaries and benefits associated with the position can help you understand the market and set yourself up for success. Here are a few tips for maximizing your earning potential as a superyacht chef:

1. Research salary ranges in your area. You should be aware of the average salary for superyacht chefs in your area so you can determine if the job youre considering is a good fit for you.

2. Negotiate the salary. Its important to be aware of the salary range for superyacht chefs and to negotiate the best possible salary for yourself. Knowing the range of salaries for similar positions can give you an edge when negotiating your own salary.

3. Take advantage of perks. Superyacht chefs often have the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures, as well as receive free meals and other benefits. Taking advantage of these perks can help you maximize your earning potential.

4. Understand the job requirements. Knowing the expectations of the job can help you understand what is expected of you and how to best serve the guests and crew.

5. Build relationships. Building strong relationships with guests and crew can help you maximize your earning potential by increasing tips and other job-related benefits.

6. Be flexible. Superyacht chefs often have to work long hours and be flexible with their schedule. Being flexible and willing to work can help you maximize your earning potential.

Following these tips can help you maximize your earning potential as a superyacht chef.

Its important to do your research, understand the job requirements, and negotiate the best possible salary.

Additionally, taking advantage of the perks associated with the job, building strong relationships with guests and crew, and being flexible can help you maximize your earning potential.

Tips for Receiving Tips from Guests

Superyacht chefs are in a unique position to receive tips from guests for outstanding service.

However, there are a few tips that can help ensure they maximize their earning potential.

First, it is important to understand the expectations of the guests.

Each yacht and its guests will have different expectations when it comes to cuisine and service.

It is important for the chef to understand and be able to meet these expectations.

Second, it is important to create a welcoming and comfortable environment.

Superyacht chefs should strive to make the dining experience as pleasant as possible for their guests.

This can include things like providing attentive service and offering guests the opportunity to customize their meals.

Third, the chef should be prepared to go above and beyond.

Superyacht chefs should be willing to accommodate special requests and provide additional services such as cooking classes or wine pairings.

Finally, it is important to build relationships with guests.

Superyacht chefs should strive to get to know their guests and make them feel at home.

This can be done by being friendly and engaging with guests during meals.

By following these tips, superyacht chefs can maximize their earning potential and ensure their guests have an exceptional experience.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, superyacht chefs can make a highly competitive salary compared to other chefs.

With salaries ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 per year and benefits such as free travel and accommodation, becoming a superyacht chef can be an incredibly rewarding career choice.

Superyacht chefs are also responsible for creating menus for guests and crew, as well as managing the onboard kitchen.

If you’re looking to maximize your earnings as a superyacht chef, make sure to emphasize your experience and qualifications, as well as utilize the tips and tricks outlined in this article.

Finally, don’t forget to be friendly and accommodating to your guests in order to receive tips for outstanding service.

With the tips in this article, you should be well on your way to having a successful and lucrative career as a superyacht chef.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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Quay Crew Releases Yacht Chef Salary Report

Quay Crew surveyed more than 100 head chefs from various yacht sizes for their first yacht chef salary report to provide insight into head chefs’ real-time compensation. Jasmin Gosling, Quay Crew’s galley consultant, notes that readers should know the galley is a much more fluid department than others, with head chefs able to join yachting later in their career and flit between yachting and shoreside jobs. 

Of the more than 100 head chefs surveyed, 80% were men, 19% were women, and 1% preferred not to say. Private/charter positions comprised 60% of surveyed chefs, solely private accounted for 37%, and solely charter made up 3%. Chefs on board yachts ranging from 39 meters to 100 meters plus were surveyed, with salaries and amount of leave on offer generally rising with vessel size.  

Although this rise is similar to other crew positions, Quay Crew found no strong correlation between professional experience and pay for chefs on yachts.

“This is likely due to the fact that appointing, and retaining, a head chef is a somewhat personal choice — and if the owner/charter guests like you and your food, you will achieve good longevity and a better salary, whether you have Michelin experience or not,” Gosling wrote in the report.  

Surveyed chefs had an average of 9.94 years of land-based experience, while 64% of respondents had five or more years of experience on superyachts. Most respondents had professional culinary training, a Ships’ Cook Certificate, or Michelin experience. Chefs with Michelin experience worked on land for an average of 11.6 years, while chefs with only professional culinary training worked on land for an average of 6.9 years.

Although most chefs received some type of certificate or professional training, only 6% of respondents had worked on their current yacht for seven or more years. A whopping 46% of respondents reported being on their current yacht for less than a year, and 35% reported being on board for one to three years. Gosling attributes the lower longevity back to the personal choice of owners and charter guests.  

“This is another reason that longevity is lower than you can expect from other superyacht roles, with job mobility higher,” Gosling said.  

Quay Crew’s report finds that the average monthly salary for a head chef is €8,879, with the average salary on a private yacht being about €500 more than that on a private/charter yacht. Head chefs on yachts up to 39 meters received an average monthly salary of €6,786, while head chefs on yachts over 100 meters received an average monthly salary of €10,071 — supporting the idea that the bigger the boat, the higher the wages.  

Time for time leave ranked highest among respondents at 54%, while 60 days or less came in second at 27%, some rotation third at 11%, and 8% reported “other” types of leave.  

“Pay and leave packages are where I would expect them to be, and although longevity could be better, this is not surprising due to the personal nature of the role,” Gosling said. “As such, any good head chef can enjoy a successful career in yachting.”  

Visit Quay Crew for the full report and read more salary reports here . 

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How much do yacht chefs make.

A job onboard a superyacht has many appealing features, especially for a budding chef.

If you love to travel and have been working towards a professional career in the food industry, have you ever thought of taking this to the open seas?

Working as a yacht chef could prove to be a very lucrative career, whilst broadening your horizons.

Not only will you be cooking aboard a unique luxury vessel, you may even be earning a tax free salary.

If circumstances are right, your salary could qualify you for the seafarers earnings deduction - yes, that means zero tax on income earned!

With living expenses including food, drink and board all taken care of, this is the ideal career to start putting that money away for future investments.

So there’s many reasons to embark on a catering career on board a yacht sailing the seas.

With that thought in mind, here’s some pertinent information about how you could embark on such an adventurous career, along with other relevant details relating to the job.

How to Become a Yacht Chef

Stcw basic safety training, eng 1 medical certificate, food safety & storage training, sommelier training, silver service qualification, commercial kitchen experience, regional produce, work to budgets, nutrition, diet & allergy knowledge, flexible meal planning, presentation skills, team working, organisational skills, accountancy & computer literacy, typical yacht chef duties, 20-40m vessel, 40-60m vessel, 60m+ vessel, 80m+ vessel, do yacht chefs earn tips.

So how do you bag yourself a dream job as a chef aboard a superyacht?

It’s not such a common vacancy to come across, so there’s bound to be fierce competition for such a unique career opportunity.

It’s best to start off by pointing out that yacht chefs are generally recruited from those already employed as sous chefs or head chefs within the catering industry.

They are commonly plucked from professional kitchens in luxury hotels and high end restaurants.

That said, this does not necessarily mean that if you’ve never worked in such a post then there’s no chance of you becoming a yacht chef.

In most cases, you’ll probably be required to gain experience working as a second chef or a crew chef on a yacht before getting the top job.

In fact, crew chef roles are considered to be an ideal way to break into the industry.

Whilst working in such a post, you’ll have the opportunity to gain experience as well as build relationships with suppliers.

It’s a great way to gain considerable job experience and insight in the industry without having the whole pressure of serving all the guests onboard.

Besides such job experience, it’s also crucial that you have a positive outlook, and are a confident and flexible person.

Culinary experience and a flair to create tasty dishes is indispensable, but you also need to have such personal qualities to do well in such an environment.

And of course, you will need to have all the relevant training and qualifications to back you up.

We’ll be exploring this important point in the next chapter.

Qualifications Required

There’s a number of qualifications you should try to acquire prior to applying for any chef related posts onboard a yacht:

The STCW Basic Safety Training course is a must for anyone working on board a sea vessel.

This certification demonstrates you have the necessary skills to identify any safety hazards while working at sea, and how to respond accordingly in an emergency situation.

In fact, this course includes training in areas such as personal survival, first aid, security awareness, fire prevention and fire fighting.

The ENG1 Medical certificate is also a must-have.

It ensures that you’ve had a medical examination by a registered medical practitioner, and are certified to be fit to work on board a sea vessel.

This is important both for your own safety as well as for those around you.

You’ll be working with food, and so naturally you should have training and knowledge surrounding the proper storage and handling of foods.

The Food Hygiene Level 2 course, for instance, is considered to be a must for such a role.

Sommelier training is seen as an asset if you’re considering applying for a yacht chef role.

This is a rather extensive course which helps you to develop a good understanding of food and wine, including wine sensory analysis and wine production, among others.

Sommelier training places a lot of importance on establishing a good balance between theory, serving and tasting, among other important areas.

It’s recommended that you have a silver service qualification .

This will demonstrate you have the relevant experience of working in a fine dining restaurant or catering establishment where a high level of personalised attention to the diner is considered imperative.

Necessary Experience

Formal training is of great importance, but there’s some things which you will learn from experience.

Some of these include:

Working in a commercial kitchen will offer you great insight into cooking on a large scale.

This will enable you to keep up with high demands and acquire the ability to work under pressure, but still manage to produce great results.

Commercial kitchen experience will allow you to gain the skills needed to remain focused while working in a fast-paced environment, while also being involved in menu planning, for example.

It’s important to have some knowledge about regional produce which is available in the particular cruising ground.

This will need to be acquired for meal preparation whilst you’re moving from port to port.

You’ll be faced with a budget that you will need to stick to.

Hence, whatever you decide to purchase in order to prepare the meals should be well thought out, as working with budgets is not always that easy.

You need to have the confidence that despite the possible financial restrictions, you will still be able to prepare a varied menu to suit diverse guest demands.

When it comes to food preparation, it’s important to be knowledgeable regarding food allergies, as well as different diets.

A chef should also be well aware of nutritional information.

Considering the various guests that will be on board, not to mention crew members who will be dining on board, you will need to be able to plan meals in an efficient and knowledgeable manner.

Flexible menu planning is thus of great importance, especially since there may be times when supplies on board may not be that varied or plentiful.

Food preparation serves very little unless proper presentation is given just as much importance.

As a chef you will need to have great presentation skills as the food should look appetising and tasty at first glance.

Having good team-working skills is also considered to be of great importance for a chef.

You will have kitchen helpers and other staff to work with and to delegate to.

As a yacht chef you will practically be the culinary manager on board.

Hence, you need to have good organisational skills to suitably plan, manage and delegate various tasks to different people working with you.

Other relevant skills which will always come in handy when you have a certain role include accountancy and computer literacy skills.

Whilst menu and meal preparation is generally considered to be the main duties of a yacht chef, it’s worth pointing out that there’s also other matters which such a person will be required to take care of.

Organising the kitchen or galley is another prime role of a yacht chef, and this includes provisioning, food safety and storage, hygiene, inventory and other administrative duties which will come into play for the efficient running of the kitchen.

Yacht chefs will also be focusing on presentation aspects of the meals.

While the nutritional and taste elements are of utmost importance, all chefs know that food presentation is crucial.

As a yacht chef, you’ll be required to create exquisite dishes to please the guests, and whenever possible, surpass their expectations.

This is even more important if you’re working on board a yacht where high net-worth or important individuals are dining, as needless to say, they will be expecting the very best.

Hence, working as a yacht chef is quite challenging.

Moreover, you will often need to be prepared to work rather long hours.

Yacht Chef Salary Ranges

Note: above monthly salary ranges shown as a guide only at the time of publication, and may not reflect actual yacht crew salary received.

Yacht chef salary ranges vary depending on the size of the vessel where they are employed, and whether prepared meals are going to be for all the guests as well as crew members.

In the case of yachts which are smaller than 50 metres, generally there will be just one yacht chef, and so they will need to take care of all meal preparations.

On the other hand, if the yacht is larger, there will be executive chefs and crew chefs working alongside the yacht chefs, with the former cooking for guests and the latter taking care of crew meal preparation.

On very large yachts exceeding 100 metres, there will generally be three or four yacht chefs on board.

It’s also worth noting that in the case of rotation workers, the salary can be a bit higher than that of a yacht chef who is employed on a permanent basis.

However, generally rotational employment is not that common as the majority of yacht chefs are in permanent charter or secure private yacht jobs.

The monthly yacht chef salary on board such a relatively small vessel is generally between $4,750 and $7,000.

Generally the salary on board such a yacht is around $7,500 per month.

For yacht chefs working on board a vessel of this size the salary is around $8,750 monthly.

In the case of such relatively bigger yachts, the salary range for a yacht chef is in the range of $8,750 and $10,500 monthly.

Yes, just like other crew members, yacht chefs also earn tips.

A typical charter tip is around 10% of the charter fee, although this could vary from one yacht to another, and depending on the guests.

But remember, all income on board a yacht is subject to taxation.

However, if you spend a certain number of days at sea, any income earned as a yacht chef could potentially be tax free under HMRC’s seafarers earning deduction rules.

The only surefire way to know this is to take a residency test , which will determine how and where you need to declare your income.

Culinary training and experience are important skills for any budding yacht chef.

But as discussed, there’s also other skills and qualities which will help you secure such a post.

It’s highly recommended that you register with some crew agencies to try to get a placement.

And always try to work on networking, showing a positive and flexible outlook, and demonstrate that you are a creative and proactive person.

These are all important for such a role. Good luck!

If you're curious about a career in yachting, then drop us a line.

Simply get in touch with us today or leave some feedback to our article in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: Any advice in this publication is not intended or written by Marine Accounts to be used by a client or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on any taxpayer or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party matters herein.

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How much do chefs make on yachts?

When it comes to pursuing a culinary career, many aspiring chefs dream of working on luxurious yachts. The allure of exotic destinations, high-end clientele, and the opportunity to showcase their skills in an exclusive setting make it an appealing profession. However, before embarking on this culinary adventure, it’s important to consider the financial aspect. In this article, we will explore the potential earnings of chefs working on yachts and shed light on frequently asked questions related to their compensation.

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The compensation for chefs working on yachts can vary significantly depending on factors such as experience, vessel size, yacht reputation, and the chef’s culinary expertise. **On average, yacht chefs can earn anywhere between $3,500 to $10,000 per month**, with some highly experienced and renowned chefs making upwards of $15,000 per month or even more.

FAQs about chefs’ compensation on yachts:

1. are yacht chefs paid a salary or an hourly wage.

Generally, yacht chefs are paid a monthly salary rather than an hourly wage. This takes into account the long hours and unpredictable working conditions they often face.

2. Is the salary negotiable?

Yacht chef salaries are usually negotiable depending on the chef’s level of experience, skills, and the demands of the job.

3. Do yacht chefs receive additional benefits?

In addition to their salary, yacht chefs typically enjoy benefits such as free accommodation and meals on board, health insurance, and travel opportunities.

4. Are there any specific qualifications or certifications required to become a yacht chef?

While formal culinary education and professional experience are essential, there are no specific certifications mandated to become a yacht chef. However, having qualifications such as a culinary degree or previous experience at high-end restaurants can significantly increase job prospects and earning potential.

5. How does experience affect a yacht chef’s salary?

Experience plays a crucial role in determining a yacht chef’s salary. As chefs gain more experience and hone their skills, they become more attractive to luxury yacht owners and charter companies, which can result in higher compensation.

6. Do yacht chefs have opportunities for bonuses or tip-outs?

Yes, many yacht chefs receive bonuses or a share of the gratuities given by satisfied clients. These incentives can boost their earnings significantly.

7. Are there any differences in compensation for chefs on private yachts versus charter yachts?

Chefs on charter yachts may have the potential to earn more due to the additional revenue generated from charters and potential tips. On the other hand, chefs on private yachts may have more stability and consistent income.

8. Are all meals included in the chef’s responsibilities?

Yacht chefs are primarily responsible for preparing meals for the yacht’s crew and guests. However, the extent of their responsibilities may vary depending on the yacht owner’s preferences and the presence of additional staff.

9. Are there opportunities for career advancement as a yacht chef?

Yes, there are often opportunities for career advancement as yacht chefs. With experience and a proven track record, chefs may progress to higher positions, such as head chef or executive chef, with increased earning potential.

10. Are there any drawbacks to being a yacht chef?

Working as a yacht chef can be demanding and challenging. Long hours, tight spaces, and the constant need to adapt to varying preferences and dietary restrictions can be stressful. However, for those passionate about culinary excellence and adventure, the rewards can outweigh the drawbacks.

11. Can yacht chefs choose their working schedule?

The working schedule of a yacht chef is typically dictated by the yacht owner, captain, and charter guests. Flexibility is essential in this profession, as chefs must be prepared to work irregular hours and be adaptable to different time zones and itineraries.

12. Is it common for yacht chefs to receive time off?

Yes, yacht chefs do receive time off, but the frequency and duration may vary depending on the yacht’s itinerary, charter schedules, and the demands of the owner. Holidays and vacation time need to be negotiated in advance with the yacht’s management.

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Melissa loves nothing more than a good dinner party and spends weeks intricately planning her next 'event.' The food must be delicious, the wine and cocktails must be the perfect match, and the decor has to impress without being over the top. It's a wonder that she gets any time to write about her culinary adventures. She particularly loves all types of fusion cooking, mixing the best of different food cultures to make interesting and unique dishes. Melissa lives in New York with her boyfriend Joe and their poodle, Princess.

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Superyacht Head Chef salary survey 2024 24 June 2024

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Our first Superyacht Head Chef salary survey provides salary and package information for HODs in the galley department, revealing additional data such as the amount of land-based experience and professional training.

More than 100 Head Chefs completed the detailed survey from a range of yacht sizes, with the lowest monthly salary being €5,000 on a sub-39m yacht to €16,000 on a 90-99m.  

Over half of Head Chefs are on time for time rotation, with this exceeding 80% once onboard 80m+ superyachts.

When it comes to pay rise and bonus activity, Head Chefs outperform all other HODs. They are most likely to get an annual pay rise, both contractually and non-contractually, and at least 10% more receive a 13 th or 13 th and 14 th month bonus compared to Captains, Chief Stews, Chief Engineers and Chief Officers.

The amount of professional training and land-based experience that Head Chefs have is significant. On average, a Superyacht Head Chef has 9.94 years of experience in a shoreside role, 90% have received professional culinary training and 63% have Michelin experience.

In almost a quarter of cases, the Head Chefs surveyed got their first onboard role prior to 2010, and some as far back as the 1990s. With a further 32% having first joined yachting between 2011 and 2015, this shows how easy it is to transition back and forth from a land-based position to an onboard role.

While longevity amongst Head Chefs is generally lower than with other HODs, with 46% being on their current yacht for less than a year, this can be expected due to the very personal nature of the role.

Jasmin Gosling, Galley Consultant at Quay Crew, commented:

“Unlike other onboard roles, the galley is a much more fluid department, with Head Chefs able to join yachting later in their career and seamlessly flit between yachting and shoreside jobs.

“Salaries and packages, however, are not necessarily as relative to experience as they are with other superyacht roles. Yes, salaries generally rise with the size of the yacht, as does the amount of leave on offer, but there does not seem to be a strong correlation between professional experience and pay.

“This is likely because appointing, and retaining, a Head Chef is a somewhat personal choice – and if the owner/charter guests like you and your food, you will achieve good longevity and a better salary. Whether you have Michelin experience or not.

“This is another reason that longevity is lower than you can expect from other superyacht roles, with job mobility higher.

“It supports the theory that any good Head Chef can enjoy a successful career in yachting and onboard experience is not always important, nor does it impact the size of boat you could join.

“More and more, yachts are prioritising land-based experience, resulting in many new entries to the industry.

“It all comes down to preferences and whether a chef wants to work alone on a smaller boat, have variety on a busy charter or come to satisfy the tastes of a private owner.”

Caroline Clarke-Jack, Director and Interior Consultant at Quay Crew, added:

“The Chef role on a yacht can be exceptionally precarious. Food, presentation, style and cuisine preferences can vary hugely, even within the same family.

“Sometimes there are multiple different stakeholders with an opinion on what the food should be like. So these factors can mean the galley sees significant turnover.

“On the positive side, anecdotally we are aware of a few Chefs earning much more than their Captains because of the relationship they have with the owner. We are also aware of Chefs who have been looked after in other ways, far more than any other staff or crew member.”

All HOD salary surveys are available on our client portal, which you can request access to here.

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Charlotte Flake

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Yacht crew salary guide

A Yacht Chef is a position integral to ensuring that guests have an amazing yachting experience by creating unique and unforgettable meal experiences. 

Gastronomy and the art of fine dining has become as integral a part of the superyacht experience as the water itself. Superyachts offer the ultimate luxury escape, and that must be reflected in the exquisite food served to guests throughout their time onboard. A Yacht Chef is the mastermind behind creating unique and unforgettable meals. 

A yacht Chef is predominantly in charge of guest and crew meals and managing all aspects of running the galley. Superyacht guests are accustomed to eating at the best restaurants and unsurprisingly because of this, expectations can be very high. Superyacht Chefs are therefore expected to provide a wide range of cuisine, adapt to different dietary requirements, deliver high-quality food prepared upon request and keep the crew well fed.

The galley will run with different chefs depending on the size of the yacht:

• Head Chef — The Head of the galley and as such the chef responsible for all the food that is served. On some yachts this is a Sole Chef role, whilst on others the role will involve managing other Chefs.

• Sous Chef — This role works closely with the Head Chef, assisting them and potentially covering for them in their absence. Every yacht is different, so on some yachts the Sous Chef is also in charge of preparing crew food, while other yachts may have both a Sous Chef and a Crew Chef.

• Crew Chef — This role is primarily focused on cooking for the crew of the yacht. A Crew Chef is a role usually found on larger superyachts where the number of crew is greater, so a separate Chef will be employed to make sure the crew’s needs are met.

• Galley Hand — A Galley Hand is normally found on yachts over 100m in length. Depending on the type, size and itinerary of the yacht, the duties of this role can include meal prep, galley cleaning and assisting with crew food.

• Cook/Stew — This position is more common on smaller yachts and is often split between cooking and Stew duties, or assisting with Stew duties, depending on the size of the yacht. Some vessels hire a Cook/Stew in the winter to cook for the crew and help with interior duties.

What does a yacht Chef do? | Yacht Chef Job Description

The main priority for a yacht Chef is to make sure that everyone on board has an unforgettable meal. A yacht Chef has access to the best quality ingredients available, so it is up to them to use their creativity to produce the most awe-inspiring dining experience. 

A Chef onboard some of the most advanced yachts in the world has the opportunity of experimenting with some of the finest quality ingredients in the world, and often not easily acquirable on land jobs. They may be asked to spontaneously pull out ‘all the stops’ and let their imagination run wild. Or, they might be requested to provide innovative and exciting meals for guests with strict dietary restrictions. 

As a yacht Chef, adaptability is key. Some guests may want simple home cooking; if they ask for a burger, it's up to the Chef to make it the best, tastiest burger that they have ever eaten! If the guests want spaghetti carbonara, they need to make it taste like an Italian grandmother’s spaghetti carbonara! 

While Chefs still have a certain budget to stick to, one difference between working on a yacht and in a restaurant is that they don’t have to worry about trying to make a profit. All they need to do is keep the owners, guests and crew happy. 

As well as creating stand-out meals, Chefs are in charge of budget management,  provisioning, and ensuring that the galley adheres to strict standards of hygiene and cleanliness. It is their responsibility that everything runs smoothly in the galley. A Chef works closely and liaises often with the Chief Stew , to ensure that guests receive a seamless streamlined service from the galley to the table.

The responsibilities of a yacht Chef include:

Meal preparation for both guests and crew

Daily menu planning 

Liaising with the Chief Stew or Head of Service to deliver seamless service

Food provisioning and inventory checks

Organisation of the galley and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene 

Supervision of a team of Chefs (depending on the size of the yacht)

Budgeting and accounting

Soft and hard skills required to be a yacht Chef

Yacht Chefs should show real passion and enthusiasm for what they do: many successful yacht Chefs do stages and additional training during their time off. The ideal candidate demonstrates a diverse repertoire, flexible and adaptable qualities, and the ability to work well under pressure.

The skills of a good yacht Chef include:

A genuine passion for cooking

Diverse knowledge of produce and the ability to provision all over the world

Menu planning knowledge

Ability to skilfully multitask

Ability to handle criticism 

Creativity 

Presentation skills

Excellent communication skills and a positive attitude

Organization and time management skills

Cleanliness and hygiene

Flexibility and adaptability

Ability to work under pressure

Mandatory certificates needed to work on board a yacht 

All crew members regardless of position and seniority need to have a valid STCW Basic Safety Training certificate, along with a recognised Seafarers medical certificate, the most popular being the ENG1 which is issued by an MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) professional medic. 

Without these two certificates, it is not possible for crew to work on board a yacht and a Recruiter will not be able to assist you in finding work onboard a yacht.  For more information about mandatory certificates please visit our Mandatory Certificates Guide .

Are you ready to secure a Chef position on board a yacht?

Become a member of YPI CREW and connect with our recruiters so they can guide you through your job search. 

Each of our recruiters is specialised in crew placement for a particular department and they will do their best to get you an interview on board a yacht. They will also advise you on how to best present your experience and skills and prepare for a yacht job interview.

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Ypi crew recruiters in charge of yacht chef recruitment.

Helen Papamichael

Head of Interior Department

Let’s get started. Call us on +33 (0)4 92 90 46 10 or email us.

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Yacht Crew Salaries: Complete Guide to What Yacht Crew Earn

It’s no secret that the impressive yacht crew salaries attract most people into the exclusive yachting world.

Junior deckhands or stewardesses can earn starting salaries of $3000 per month. With a few years of experience and some courses to back you up, this amount moves up towards $4000-$4500 per month!

In order to compile this superyacht crew salary guideline, I have taken 10 of the top yachting platforms and used all of their data, combined with my personal experience, to reach an average salary expectation for each position.

Table of Contents

How Much do you Make Working on a Yacht?

Yacht Captain Salary

• 20m-30m: $4000-$7500
• 30m-40m: $5500-$9500
• 40m-50m: $8000-$15000
• 50m-70m: $13000-$19000
• 70m+: $16500+

Requirements of a Yacht Captain

• Years of experience needed: 3-5 years of experience as Chief Officer/Mate and more than 5 years of experience as a Captain for larger yachts
• Minimum level of Qualification: 200ton licence which allows you to drive vessels below 200tons

The Captain has the highest level of responsibility onboard the yacht and hence they earn the most out of all the yacht crew salaries.

Captains are accountable for the overall safety of the yacht, crew members and guests.

They also handle daily operations of the yacht, guests, and owner liaison. They deal with management companies, port control, budgets, human resources, and many more tasks and logistics that make the job demanding and stressful.

On top of this, Captains are required to hold high levels of certifications depending on the size of the yacht they are driving.

Yacht Captain salaries can sky rocket with higher levels of qualifications.

If you are looking to become a Yacht Captain one day I recommend looking into the courses required so you can get started with licenses and sea time. It takes time to get there, but when you do it will be worth it.

Chief Officer Yacht Salary

• 30m-40m: $4000-$6000
• 40m-50m: $4500-$7500
• 50m-70m: $5500-$9000
• 70m+: $8000+

Requirements of a Chief Officer

• Years of experience needed: 3-5 Years
• Minimum level of qualification: Officer of the Watch

The Chief Officer is second in command to the Captain and is responsible for carrying out the Captain’s standing orders.

On smaller yachts, the Chief Officer is referred to as the Mate.

The Chief Officer is responsible for carrying out the safety duties onboard and assisting in the bridge with paperwork and navigational planning.

The Chief Officer is also responsible for leading and managing their deck team, ensuring crew are following their duties as well as managing the water sports and guest activities.

The salary of a Chief Officer depends heavily on the license held.

Bosun Yacht Salary

• Years of experience needed: 2-3 years
• Minimum level of qualification: Yacht Master Offshore
• A yacht Bosun salary can vary between $4000 and $6000.

Responsibilities of a Bosun

The Bosun is essentially the Lead Deckhand onboard. A lead deckhand salary on a larger vessel will be similar to that of a bosun salary on a smaller vessel.

This is an opportunity to step up from being a deckhand and gain some experience in a leadership role. This position is in place for larger yachts so that when the Officer is busy with bridge duties, someone is in charge on deck.

Yacht Deckhand Salary

Years of experience needed: 0

• Minimum level of qualification: None needed, however Power Boat Level 2 and Yacht Master offshore will put you at a great advantage
• Entry-level yacht crew salaries start at $3000 and can go as high as $4000/$4500.

Responsibilities of a Deckhand

A Deckhand is an entry-level role on a yacht.

You need to spend a few years (or less) as a Deckhand in order to learn and gain experience so that you can step up in the ranks and obtain your licenses.

This role will be very hands-on in maintaining the exterior of the yacht. Duties will include cleaning, polishing, varnishing, sanding, caulking, and any other maintenance work required.

Chief Steward / Chief Stewardess Salary

• 30m-40m :$4500-$5500
• 40m-50m :$5000-$7000
• 50m-70m- $5500-$8000
• 70m+: $7500+

Responsibilities of a Chief Stewardess/Steward

• Years of experience needed: 3-5 years
• Minimum level of qualification: Depending on the size of the vessel you may need courses such as Food Hygiene and Safety, Silver Service, WSET, or a Purser course

The Chief Stewardess or Steward is responsible for all the interior operations of the yacht .

They are responsible for managing the interior team, and ensuring the interior of the yacht is maintained to the highest standards. Besides cleaning and laundry schedules , this also includes provisioning for crew and guests, budgeting, accounting, and training of junior crew.

Steward or Stewardess Yacht Salary

• Minimum level of qualification: Depending on the size of the vessel you may need courses such as Food Hygiene and Safety and Silver Service
• Salaries start at $3000 and go up to $6000

Responsibilities of a Steward or Stewardess

A Stewardess/Steward is an entry-level position working within the interior of the yacht.

There are rankings within the interior (2nd, 3rd, 4th Steward/Stewardesses). As you spend more time in the industry, you will be promoted to higher ranks, and with that will come a better salary and more responsibility.

This role covers a range of tasks, including but not limited to housekeeping, laundry, bartending, table scaping, floral arrangements, serving, and hosting guests.

Engineer Yacht Salary

• 20m-30m: $4000-$5000
• 30m-40m: $4500-$6500
• 40m-50m: $6000-$8000
• 50m-70m: $7500-$11000
• 70m+: $9000+

Requirements of an Engineer

• Years of experience needed: 2-4 years in an engineering role onboard as Deck/Engineer or relevant land-based experience
• Minimum level of qualification: AEC

The Engineer onboard is responsible for all mechanical functioning and maintenance of the vessel. This is a very technical role that can pay well as you gain experience and obtain your licensing.

Yacht Chef Salary

• 20m-30m: $4000 – $5000
• 40m-50m: $5500 – $75000
• 50m-70m: $6500-$9500

Requirements of a Yacht Chef

• Years of experience needed: 3-5 years depending on previous experience
• Minimum level of qualification: Food Hygiene and Safety Level 2

The Chef is responsible for feeding the crew 2 to 3 healthy and sustainable meals a day. They are of course required to prepare meals for guests when onboard to the highest of standards.

In their day-to-day tasks, they will be responsible for their own provisioning of the galley, maintaining stocks, cleanliness, and hygiene of the galley.

The salary of the Yacht Chef varies depending on qualifications and experience.

Yacht Crew Salaries for Private vs Charter Yachts

There are two types of super yachts that require crew: Private and Charter yachts. The salaries for yacht crew differ slightly between the two.

Private Yacht

A private boat is owned by a single person or family who uses the yacht for their own purposes. They don’t charter it out and you can expect to have the same guests onboard for the duration of your contract.

The benefit of these programs is that you get to know your guests well so you may find it easier to manage their wants and needs.

You may also benefit from traveling to off-the-beaten-track locations as I have!

For yacht crew working on these private boats, you will usually not receive charter tips.

Charter Yacht

A charter boat is one that gets chartered out by guests. This operates as a business and also means you will have different guests for every trip. 

If you work on a charter boat you can expect to receive charter tips at the end of each charter. These are usually 10%-20% of the charter fee!

Considering these tips can be anywhere from $2000-$5000 per week depending on the size of the yacht, charter boats offer great earning potential and can skyrocket your salary as a yachtie.

Hi, my name is Lisa, a Chief Stewardess in the yachting industry with 10 years of experience, as well as 8 years of hospitality experience prior to that. Being in the yachting industry has been a whirlwind of adventure, growth, challenges and some of the best experiences of my life, and I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with all of you.

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Yacht crew positions : Hierarchy, Missions & Salaries explained

Like any well-run hotel, restaurant, or other luxury service, a crewed yacht needs organized structure and good management. Whether you’re staffing your own luxury vessel or looking for an exciting career working and traveling the world, you need to know how this structure works, and what you can expect to pay or earn and do in the various roles on board.

Every yacht is a little different, and organization may reflect the style of the captain or the demands of the owner. But the same jobs need to be done on almost every boat. Organized with ranks, heads of each division report to the Captain. It’s not a military-style organization, but there are parallels with merchant marine grades and structures.

Smaller yachts need fewer crew, and staff may wear multiple hats that cross more traditional divisions and may combine some jobs with others. Large yachts have more distinct divisions or subdivisions, with more specialization to divide tasks and manage staffing. The core skills are the same, but finding staff with the right blends to do the jobs is key. Crew with broader skills are highly sought after.

As a yacht owner, you shouldn’t have to worry about day-to-day management decisions or organizing all this. That’s why you have a captain, and it’s better to leave staffing decisions entirely up to him or her. But it’s still important to know what it is people you’re hiring do, why they’re there, and how many you need. You don’t want too many crew, or to be short-handed. An understanding of what your yacht needs helps you talk to the captain to keep your yacht running how you want it.

For those looking to break into yacht crew work, consider your skills and strengths, and what jobs appeal to you. You’ll need training before you work, and you can direct your job path through the training you seek. Your goal is a suitable position on a well-run yacht, so make yourself the most attractive candidate possible.

Yacht Work Life

Working on a yacht is also living on the yacht. Crew must have a space to sleep, food, and all the basics that any employee needs. Large yachts have space reserved for crew, and owners looking for quality crew should provide good working and living conditions. Your crew takes care of you, and you should take care of them.

Depending on where a yacht operates or what flag she flies, a variety of labor laws or rules may be in effect. These requirements may be for work visas, contracts and written agreements, and compliance with merchant and ship crew treaties and laws. Be prepared to have work and non-disclosure agreements between yacht and crew, though a few yachts skip this.

Seasonal Jobs

Many yacht positions are seasonal. Year-round employment is more likely for senior crew like the captain and department heads, but not all yachts see year-round use. And some yachts may use different crew in different locales between seasonal moves.

Any job listing should give seasonal information, with geographic information, the length of the season, and the prospects for year-round positions and repeat employment.

Hours, Salaries, and Expectations

Yacht crew is a service job at its core, and every yacht owner is looking for service-oriented people who understand how to deliver a hotel-quality living and restaurant-quality fine dining. Work experience in luxury hotels and restaurants is a big plus for some jobs, and makes breaking into yacht work easier.

Yacht work can be very demanding, with periods of intense work when the owner and guests or a charter party is on board. Long days aren’t uncommon, but often balance with slack time when the boat is empty of passengers. There is always work to be done, but there’s usually a chance for time off.

Most salaries are monthly, since many positions are seasonal. Pay ranges are commensurate with experience, rank, and responsibility. Private vessels usually offer higher base pay, as charter crew can earn tips on top of their base salary. Because of the demands of the lifestyle, compensation is good and you have minimal living expenses on board.

Benefits and Time Off

Because so many jobs are seasonal and may occur in different countries and locations, benefits offered to yacht crew vary widely. But it is not uncommon for crew to be offered health and accident insurance and a flight to the vessel. Living on board, you’ll get food, rooming (usually shared), basic toiletries, uniforms, and laundry. Yachts with a longer view may offer additional training to long-term prospects.

Time off is usually linked to boat use, and may be sporadic in-season or when the boat has the owner and guests on board. There will always be some time off, but it may be between very intense work periods.

Most crew jobs have an employment contract that meets the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). This should spell out the contract period and duration, as well as salary, leave and time off, probationary periods, repatriation policies, and any other crucial details to meet the minimum international standards of crew welfare.

This contract should also contain shipboard policies on confidentiality and non-disclosures, drug and alcohol use on board, personal hygiene expectations, interpersonal relationships, and dispute resolution. Job expectations and requirements can also be included, with specific language about roles, tasks, and cooperation between divisions.

Note that all crew agreements will explicitly prohibit drug use on board, most limit alcohol consumption and ban hard liquor on board, and many boats have policies prohibiting intimate personal crew relationships. Because the crew is living on board full time and in close quarters, rules to maintain decorum and crew harmony may be in writing.

Training & Certificates

Two key certifications are required for yacht crew. Employers look for the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers) and the ENG1 (Seafarer Medical Certificate). Insurers generally require crew to have these two certifications or the equivalent.

The ENG1 isn’t a class. It’s a medical exam to ensure that the crew is physically fit to serve at sea and has no underlying conditions that may arise far from help. It’s best for prospective crew to secure the ENG1 before investing more time and money training.

STCW is a week-long class on the basics of onboard safety. This includes hands-on modules covering personal survival, fire safety, first aid and CPR, accident prevention, and security awareness. It needs to be refreshed every five years.

Shared, Hybrid, and Crossover Jobs

Larger vessels will have more defined duties and specific areas of responsibility. But smaller yachts may want the crew to have different roles in different situations. For example, a hybrid job description may read “3rd Engineer/Steward” and describe a role in engineering when the boat is empty but on inside crew when passengers are on board.

When hiring or seeking jobs be prepared to look for creative crossover skill sets to meet the needs of the vessel.

Extra Skills and Duties

Any extra skills outside the regular duties makes crew more attractive. From stewards who can teach yoga, give massages or play cocktail piano to deck crew who know how to water ski, SCUBA dive, or fish, anything that crew can bring to enhance the passenger experience adds value to the employee.

If you’re looking for a position, list the skills you’d be comfortable using. If a vessel owner is looking for something specific, spell it out and figure out how that special duty fits into the employee work day.

The Four Main Divisions

Most yacht crews break into four primary divisions which group related tasks and responsibilities together. While the grouping sounds like it’s by section of the boat, they’re really more functional. For example, stewards (Interior) will definitely serve meals, whether they’re in the main dining room or out on deck. Deckhands (deck) are going to be involved in painting, sanding, and varnish jobs anywhere on the boat.

The deck crew handles most of the exterior operations of the yacht, and runs it. Deck hands and crew keep the boat looking clean and shiny, and handling most vessel operations. This includes driving and operating the yacht, navigation, running all launches and ship’s craft, handling lines, and all maintenance and painting, washing, and shining.

2-Interior (or Inside)

Inside crew are primarily the stewards and housekeepers. Larger vessels will have a dedicated housekeeping staff separate from the stewards, but smaller vessels may not.

Stewards keep the interior clean, do all housekeeping, laundry, food and beverage service, cabin preparation, and anything else needed for the comfort of the passengers.

3-Engineering

Below decks, the engineering department ensures the safe and smooth running of all the ship’s machinery and electronics. Engineers are engine and systems specialists, and there will usually be a dedicated electronics expert. Most engineer jobs require professional training and certification.

Fine dining is a hallmark of the yachting experience, and a full-time galley crew prepares all meals for passengers and crew. The head chef plans the menus and provisions the boat, while junior chefs assist the head chef with meal preparation and keeping the galley spotless.

Yacht Job and Department Details

Departments are all organized in a hierarchy, with a department head reporting to the Captain. The clear chain of command makes for smooth operations, with all communications going up and down ranks. Junior staff will occasionally take instructions from other divisions as all crew is expected to help as needed. A captain or department head may organize staff differently, so reporting structures listed are guidelines only.

All salary ranges are monthly figures and are ranges based on yacht size and crew experience. Senior jobs on larger yachts have more responsibility than the same job title on yachts with smaller crews. Experienced crew are very desirable and can expect more pay for their positions.

Listed responsibilities are not exhaustive, and different yachts may allocate some jobs to different positions.

Read also: The yacht charter experience ladder

The Captain

The captain of the vessel is the overall decision maker for the yacht in all situations, including the safety of the vessel. The owner should leave the Captain responsible for operational decisions about hiring and staff and operating the ship. To become a captain requires years of experience and training, and a broad set of skills including yacht operations, personnel management, budgeting and finance. The captain works directly with the owner and owner’s representative, if the captain is not also acting as the representative.

On an organization chart, the Captain is usually placed in the deck division, but the Captain is always the senior-most crew on the yacht and all division heads report to the Captain.

Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for all navigation and running the yacht.
• Senior decision maker on all crew hiring.
• Manage repairs, refits, and yard work.
• Manage budgets and accounting. On larger yachts, this task ends more on the Purser, but the captain is always responsible.
• Ensure all paperwork, clearances, and legal requirements are completed.
• Primary contact with the owner or charter parties.

Reports to: The yacht owner

Salary Range: $6,000 to $22,000

The deckhands handle all the outside responsibilities of the ship, including cleaning and maintenance of the yacht and all the ship’s vessels and toys on board. Deck crew will have significant contact with passengers in this role, operating launches and delivering guests to and from shore and handling the toys.

All deck crew have watch responsibilities on passage, and daily responsibilities keeping the yacht pristine and clean. They will also do line handling and secure the yacht.

Deck department : Chief Mate/First Officer

The Chief Mate or First Officer is the second in command of the vessel, and left in charge when the Captain is not on board. The first mate has the requisite skills to stand in for the captain and run the yacht if needed and usually acts as the division head of the deck team.

The seamanship skills needed are similar to the Captain’s position.

• Primary safety officer for the yacht and all passengers and crew.
• Supervise and manage all operations on deck.
• Bridge watches on passage.
• Passage planning and navigation.

There may be additional mates on larger vessels, these 2nd, 3rd, etc. mates have similar responsibilities on rotation. But the first mate is senior and always second in command.

Reports to: Captain

Salary Range: $4,000 to $9,500 (First mate)

Second and more junior mates may earn $2,000 to $4,000

Deck department : Bosun

The Bosun is the senior deckhand and manages the junior hands on board. This will usually be the most experienced hand on board.

• Organizing all operations on deck.
• Coordinating the use, storing and launching of the ship’s boats, toys, and equipment.
• Managing the passerelle, watching passenger safety.
• Contact point for guest service on boats, toys, and trips to shore.

Reports to: First mate

Salary Range: $3,000 to $5,000

Deck department : Deckhands

Deckhands are constantly busy with maintenance, cleaning, polishing, and assisting guests as needed. They will assist other departments as needed or given special duties.

• Daily cleaning of the yacht’s exterior.
• Painting, varnishing, polishing.
• Line handling.
• Launching and operating dinghies and tenders.
• Repairs and carpentry.
• Helping guests as needed – everything from handling baggage and gear to embarking and disembarking.

Reports to: Bosun

Salary range: $1,300 to $3,000

Though every position on a yacht is service-oriented, the interior or inside crew provides the primary customer service. They will interact the most with the passengers daily, and they’re directly responsible for the quality of their experience on board.

Interior department : the Purser

The purser is the chief financial officer of the yacht and handles all the financial operations on board. Accounting, purchasing, payroll and hiring, and all money matters end up with the Purser. This is a senior staff position, and may be the interior department head. Smaller yachts may eliminate the purser’s job and add it to the captain’s and other senior staff duties.

Responsibilities Include:

• Accounting and bookkeeping for all financial transactions.
• Human resources and payroll.
• Handling logistics for all departments related to purchasing.
• Managing contracts.
• Event coordination, including off yacht bookings and payments.
• Primary administration of the boat’s business paperwork.
• Inventory and supply management.

Salary Range: $4,000 to $8,000

Interior department : The Chief Steward/ess

The chief steward or stewardess has primary responsibility for all service roles inside. Food and drink service, cabin preparation, and anything to do with helping the passengers be more comfortable and enjoy their stay. The chief steward will be inside crew with several years of experience.

The chief steward manages the interior staff, setting and enforcing vessel service standards. The chief steward ensures the crew delivers a five-star hospitality experience.

Chief Steward Responsibilities:

• Scheduling and training junior crew for meal and drink service and cabin preparation.
• Primary contact with guests for meals and drinks.
• Sommelier and wine service.
• Coordinate with the galley for meals and presentation.
• Decorate the interior, from flower arrangement to table settings.
• Arrange onshore activities and outings.

Reports to: Captain or Purser, depending on the yacht

Salary Range: $4,000 to $8,500

Stewards/Stewardesses

The stewards and stewardesses are the primary guest service staff. They will work closely with guests and passengers, and have daily contact with them as they meet most of their needs while on board.

Steward Responsibilities:

• Food and drink service.
• Room preparation and turndown service.
• Cleaning, polishing, housekeeping, and inside maintenance.
• Cabin detailing.
• Laundry, pressing, and folding.
• Help with outings, trips, debarkations.

Reports to: Chief Steward

Salary Range: $1,500 to $4,500

Housekeeping

Larger yachts may have a dedicated housekeeping and laundry staff. This will be part of the inside crew, under either the purser or the head steward. There may be a senior housekeeper, if there are more than one housekeeping crew on board.

Responsibilities are the cleaning and laundry portions of the steward’s job, and a laundry steward may spend most of her time inside the ship’s laundry.

An experienced Head of Housekeeping may earn from $4,500 to $7,000, while a Laundry Steward typically earns from $2,500 to $3,500.

Read also: CAN OWNING A YACHT TO CHARTER (REALLY) BE PROFITABLE?

Food service requirements on any yacht are high. Whether it’s a privately owned vessel or a charter, the expectations are always for top tier food service, with a variety of meals planned for the requirements of every passenger. Chefs and cooks prepare all meals on board for passengers and crew, but sometimes other interior crew may help with prep work or cleanup.

Smaller yachts have smaller galley crews, but the largest vessels may have an executive chef and several sous chefs. All chef positions require formal culinary training and experience, but cook positions are often entry level. Promotion from cook to chef is unusual without additional training.

Galley department : the Head / Executive Chef

On larger yachts, an Executive Chef will run the entire galley with the help of sous chefs and cooks. With an Executive Chef, there’s an expectation that the food and menus will be on a level with Michelin star-rated restaurants.

The executive chef brings a thorough understanding of food preparation and presentation, and moves food preparation past creative up to artistic. Job responsibilities are similar to a chef, but the job demands and the required experience and education are much higher.

Salary range: $7,000 to $11,000

The chef has overall responsibility for all meals on the yacht, from provisioning in remote places to hygiene and good safety. If there’s only one chef, she’s the head of the galley crew. Finding the best provisions in far away locations and making the best of local food availability is a major part of the job.

• Planning a delicious and varied menu for passengers.
• Sourcing all food and arranging transport to the yacht.
• Maintaining and operating within the galley budget.
• Preparing passenger meals with professional presentation and style.
• Cleaning and maintaining galley and galley equipment.
• Deliver menus and meals on time, while running an organized and spotless galley.

Galley department : Sous Chef

The sous chefs assist the chef in all aspects of running the galley, and may have independent assignments to plan and guest and crew meals. While not primarily responsible for provisioning, the sous chef will help with food selection, menu preparation, and planning. A sous chef must have formal culinary training.

Reports to: Head chef

Salary Range: $3,500 – $6,000.

Galley department : The Cook

Cooks may be entry-level positions or experienced, but do not require formal gastronomy education. They will assist the chef and sous chefs, cooking meals and dishes for guests and crew, helping with provisioning, and keeping the galley neat.

• Assist with provisioning and buying high-quality food from local sources.
• Follow all food handling and safety guidelines.
• Assist the head chef as needed, taking direction and guidance.
• Prepare guest and crew meals as required.
• Staying on top of galley inventories and supplies.

Salary Range: $2,500 to $3,500

Engineering

The engineering department keeps the yacht and all its systems working. Whether it’s the engines, electronics, air conditioning, or the plumbing – it’s up to engineering to keep it running.

There is considerable overlap with commercial shipping in the engineering field, as many of the same skills apply. And there is a broader range of qualifications and grades based on the size and power of the vessel. Job ratings may be set by required experience based on tonnage of ship or power of engines, with corresponding levels of pay and responsibility.

Unlike commercial shipping, engineers may get involved in other aspects of running the yacht, like helping with docking and water sports with mechanical toys.

Engineering certifications, training, ratings, experience and licensing are critical to hiring competent engineers, and for engineering crew it’s an important facet of career advancement. This is important for Chief and 2nd Engineers, which are often broken out by MCA (U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency) rating or other international equivalent.

MCA ratings for engineers Commercial and Private Yachts over 24m are:

Y4: Less than 200 Gross Tons and less than 1,500 kW engine power Y3: Less than 500 GT and 3,000 kW Y2: Less than 3,000 GT and 3,000 kW Y1: Less than 3,000 GT and 9,000 kW

There is also an unlimited rating for merchant vessels larger than the Y1 category. For discussing salary and responsibilities, we will include all ratings in one position description, but pay scales with the size of the yacht and any required higher ratings.

Chief Engineer

The chief engineer manages all aspects of keeping the yacht and its systems running. The chief engineer manages all the engineering staff, and directs all maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting and upgrades. This is a management position, but requires extensive hands-on technical experience and knowledge. Chief engineers on large yachts hold an MCA Y1 or Y2, smaller boats will have a lower rated chief and a smaller staff. Check  Jooble.org  to find abroad marine engineer vacancies.

• Provisioning, shopping, and stocking.
• Preparing passenger and crew meals.
• Following instructions and cooking under the direction of others.
• Galley cleaning.
• Follow food safety and storage procedures.
• Food pre-preparation.

Salary Range: $6,000 to $15,000

2nd Engineer

The second engineer is also a highly skilled position requiring a rating or license and several years of experience. This senior level engineer also needs knowledge of how to troubleshoot and maintain all yacht systems.

• Maintain and manage all engineering operations.
• Hire, train and supervise all engineers.
• Project manage all upgrades and retrofits, including managing budgets, contracts, and suppliers.
• Coordinate maintenance schedule for the entire yacht around the usage and seasonal schedules.
• Maintain costs and accounting for engineering operations.
• Design and handle all safety operations.
• Set and maintain standards for operations and cleanliness in the engine room.

Reports to: Chief engineer

Salary Range: $5,500 – $10,000

OOW (Officer of the Watch) Engineer

The OOW is a junior engineering position, but still licensed. There are two categories of OOW – MEOL (Marine Engine Operator License) and the more junior AEC (Assistant Engine Course). The overall responsibilities are similar, working to support the senior engineers and handle independent assignments. The AEC rating is entry level for licensed crew, but has training and certification.

• Support the chief in all projects.
• Maintain a clean, safe engine room.
• Perform all maintenance, troubleshooting and repair tasks as needed.
• Support motorized water sports.
• Occasionally assist with other vessel operations, like line handling.

Reports to: Chief Engineer

Salary Range, MEOL: $4,500 to $6,000 Salary Range, AEC: $2,500 to $3,500

Electronics/Technology Officer (ETO)

The ETO takes responsibility for all audio-visual and information technology on board. Ensuring passengers have access to the internet, movies, television, and music is a primary responsibility. This position carries a fair amount of passenger interaction, and an ETO needs good troubleshooting skills to go with customer service skills.

• Ensure all audio/visual and entertainment systems are always available for passengers.
• Assist passengers with personal technology and ship systems as needed.
• Conduct regular maintenance and upgrades of the network, information, and A/V systems around passenger schedules.
• Assist other engineers as needed, especially with electronic systems.
• Contribute as needed with other departments for boat and passenger operations.

Salary Range: $4,000 to $9,000

Junior Engineer

This is a lower or entry level position for someone with engineering skills but without formal licensing or certification. The junior engineer will help with safety and cleanliness, and assist in any engineering tasks as needed. The ability to solve problems and fix things opens this spot for anyone capable and willing to do the job.

• Help with cleaning, maintenance, and safety functions.
• Help anywhere needed on the yacht.
• Assist senior engineers as needed, taking direction and following instructions exactly.
• Constantly develop skills.

Read also: IS BUYING A BOAT A BAD IDEA?

Whether you are a yacht owner or considering entering this dynamic industry with an established and reliable crew, it is essential to have an understanding of the yacht’s hierarchical structure, mission priorities, and salary expectations. By doing your research on the complexity of yachting before hiring your team, you can confidently select the right group of experienced and qualified professionals for your needs. Staying up-to-date on top industry trends and knowing the capabilities of each type of yacht crew position will enable you to make sound decisions that support a safe and cost-effective journey. With quality personnel at your helm, you can cruise unhindered in luxury and explore new destinations with peace of mind.

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2023/2024 Superyacht Crew Salary Guide

Whether you’re continuing a long-standing career, climbing the career ladder, or getting your feet wet for the first time, Dockwalk ’s Salary Guide provides the full picture when it comes to crew compensation. 

Salary is generally one of the top motivators for those looking for jobs in yachting, but it remains a closely guarded secret. Each year, the Dockwalk Salary Survey goes out to thousands of crewmembers and crew agencies across the world, gathering real-time salary feedback with the aim of creating greater transparency and understanding across the industry.

The 2024 Salary Survey is now closed. Check out the results in the September 2024 issue.

The Results of the 2023 Salary Survey

Our annual salary survey provided some unprecedented insights to what captains and crew earned in 2023.

The yachting industry is slowly returning to normal in the wake of the pandemic. Yachts are back to work around the world and many new ones are in the pipeline thanks to the surge in popularity the "social distant" yachting lifestyle has enjoyed. But, while this return to normalcy has opened up new crew jobs this year, crew themselves have been returning to the workplace in large numbers and competition has been fierce.

Many of the crew agents reported that crew wages largely are flat this year compared to last. Salaries went up in 2021 and 2022 when crew were in short supply, but now more crew are available than previously. While crew are demanding higher pay this year, they’re not necessarily receiving it, but some agents have seen salaries continue to rise since Covid. There are many factors that can affect the salary crew can expect, including where a yacht is based and the season.

The tables below show the “agency range,” which gives the average lows and highs of all ranges provided by the agencies, the “poll range,” where results from individual working captains and crew are tallied to show the lowest and highest of all the responses, and the “poll average” calculated from all the responses. Note that our figures do not account for longevity and experience, crew benefit packages, tips, or similar extra remuneration.

Not all positions with corresponding boat sizes had enough poll responses to be considered significant; those categories are marked with an asterisk to indicate if fewer than five crew responded in that size range for that position. Several categories had no or only one response, which is also noted.

To view the full table:

Dockwalk Salary Survey 2023 in USD and Euros

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YACHT CHEF JOBS

What is a galley without its chef? A vital and rewarding role onboard any yacht, a yacht chef keeps all its crew, guests and owners well-fed and happy. Similar to any head chef in a restaurant, a yacht chef has to be even more creative with their talents, as they must perform their tasks on board of a moving vessel – with occasionally limited, or hard to come-by supplies. Part entertainer, full-time cook, a yacht chef will have to be aware of all dietary needs, allergies and food requirements of those on board while being able to work hard under pressure. Most yacht chefs will have likely started their career in a restaurant or hotel before making the switch to the yachting industry.

If you have excellent cooking, cleaning and management skills, together with a charismatic and solid personality, then why not apply for a position as a yacht chef? It’s recommended to start a yachting career as a crew chef, or sous chef for a few seasons before applying for a head Chef role. Browse through our full yacht chef job listings today.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A yacht chef’s responsibilities include preparing and cooking three meals a day. Yacht chefs must also manage their food budget and deal with the galley accounts, overseeing the safe food storage and stock control. As most guests aboard any yacht are accustomed to dining at the finest restaurants around the world, a skilled yacht chef must be flexible, very skilled and be able to prepare a broad repertoire of foods from around the world. Maintaining high levels of food and personal hygiene are also key aspects of a yacht chef’s role.

YACHT CHEF SALARIES

acht chef salaries tend to vary, depending on the level of experience as well as the size and type of yacht they are working on. Head chefs’ salaries can range from €3,500 to €10,000 a month, depending on the size of the vessel. Sous chefs average pay scale varies from €3,000 to €6,000 per month. Yachts between 81m and 100m offer the highest average monthly pay for both roles.

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• Galley Department

Executive Chef

About the executive chef.

The executive chef onboard a luxury superyacht is a culinary trained professional responsible for the overall management of the galley department on larger yachts, including guest and crew meals, provisioning, food safety, maintaining strict hygiene standards and financial/budgetary administration. A successful candidate for this position will have excellent references, experience provisioning in various regions of the world and a good understanding of maintaining a budget effectively. This role requires strong communication/presentation skills, the ability to thoroughly understand guest preferences, extensive food and nutrition knowledge, creative menu planning, an artistic flair and at least five years in the capacity of head chef.

Job Responsibilities

• Provisioning of all food items
• Guest and crew meals and nutrition
• Food safety and storage standards
• Adhering to budget
• Galley and food inventory
• Galley safety and sanitary standards
• Management of other galley staff

Required Skills

• Vast knowledge of produce and ability to provision in obscure parts of the world
• Ability to provision to a budget
• Knowledge of nutrition, diets and allergies, food safety and storage
• Menu planning, varied repertoire and wine knowledge
• Excellent creativity and presentation skills
• Organized, time management and adaptability
• Accounting and computer skills
• Ability to overcome seasickness

Salary Modifiers

• Specialty cuisine experience/certification (i.e. vegan, macrobiotic)
• Experience provisioning in designated cruising area
• Resume “wow” factors (i.e. culinary competition winner, Michelin star head chef position)
• Limited computer skills

Position Statistics

Career path.

Yacht Crew Positions and Salaries

The organisational structure onboard a superyacht follows a strong hierarchy based upon a military model. Exact job duties and lines of authority are set and strictly adhered to. This hierarchy is followed on the vast majority of yachts; however, responsibilities of the crew on smaller yachts are often merged.

There are four departments on yachts with clear organisational structure:

• Deck (including Bridge) – Safety, passage delivery, maintenance of the yacht's exterior, guest outdoor activities
• Engineering – Safety and smooth operational running of the yacht
• Interior – Housekeeping, guest wellbeing, activities, accounting
• Galley – Food preparation, stock control, hygiene, galley maintenance

The top of the hierarchy on each yacht is the Captain , who reports to the yacht owner either directly, or through a representative or a yacht management company.

Salaries vary and depend on the yacht size, use, type and location, as well as the experience and qualification of the crew member. We included typical salaries of crew based on the data available from reputable industry sources, as well as our research of over 60,000 crew registered with us.

Deck Positions

The primary duty of the Captain is the overall safe manning and operation of the yacht. Yacht Captain is responsible for the vessel, yacht crew, owner and guests, including personnel management, shipyard/project management, legal and regulatory compliance, accounting, achieving owners' objectives, and answers to the owner regarding all decisions.

First Mate / Chief Officer

The First Mate or Chief Officer is the right hand of the Captain. Takes command of the yacht from Captain when required. Shares Captain's responsibilities as required.

Bosun / Lead Deckhand

Bosuns are usually experienced Deckhands with additional responsibilities. They are in charge of Deckhands onboard the yacht and often spend a lot of time with guests during outdoor activities. The Bosun is normally the main tender driver.

Responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the yacht and keeping it in pristine condition at all times. Deckhands also assist in maintaining, cleaning and operating yacht's tenders.

Engineering Positions

Chief engineer.

Responsible for the Engineering Department and for all technical aspects of the boat and its equipment. The Chief Engineer's duties include overseeing all mechanical and electrical operations, ensuring all planned maintenance takes place and liaising with subcontractors.

Second / Third Engineer

The Second and Third Engineers report directly to the Chief Engineer. They assist in maintaining all mechanical and electrical operations of the yacht.

ETO / AV/IT Officer

Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) and AV/IT Officer are in charge of daily maintenance of all electronic, computer, audio/visual and communications equipment and their efficient operation. This includes the radio, radar, telephones, satellite communications, navigation systems, computers, Internet connection, interior equipment (TVs, sound systems), etc.

Electrician

The Electrician is responsible for maintenance of all electrical circuits onboard the vessel, circuit breakers, switches, lighting, batteries, etc.

This is an administrative position on large yachts. The Purser is responsible for all operations in the interior department, including inventory, purchasing, provisioning, accounting, organising guest activities, and assisting the Captain with the yachts paperwork.

Chief Steward(ess)

Duties are similar to those of other Steward(ess)es onboard the boat, but on a more senior level, including managing the interior department and training. Small yachts with less crew do not have a Purser. The Chief Steward(ess) is in charge of all the responsibilities normally carried out by the Purser on large yachts.

Steward(ess)

Steward's or Stewardess's main responsibility is to maintain the interior of the yacht and provide the highest standard of care to the owner and guests. They serve food and drinks, prepare guest activities, pack and unpack luggage and are on call for anything that the guests want anytime day or night. On some yachts, they help the deck crew moor the yacht.

The Head/Executive Chef onboard a luxury superyacht is a culinary trained professional responsible for the overall management of the galley department on larger yachts, including guest and crew meals, provisioning, food safety, maintaining strict hygiene standards and financial/budgetary administration.

Assists the Head Chef in all aspects of galley duties. The Sous Chef may be required to independently provide crew meals or guest meals at the direction of the Head Chef.

Crew Chef / Cook

Large yachts employ a separate crew and guest chef. The Crew chef provides meals for the crew.

Other Positions

Many yachts, especially the large ones, have several additional positions. These are often combined with primary roles, e.g. Stewardess / Masseuse or Deckhand / Dive Instructor . The most common are:

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Yacht chef salary in the united states.

How much does a Yacht Chef make in the United States? The salary range for a Yacht Chef job is from $36,407 to $53,553 per year in the United States. Click on the filter to check out Yacht Chef job salaries by hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, and yearly.

• Per semimonth
• Connecticut
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• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
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• Pennsylvania
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• South Carolina
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• West Virginia
• San Francisco, CA
• Washington, DC
• Chicago, IL
• New York, NY

HOW SHOULD YOU USE THIS DATA?

Employees: Use this as a guide for salary expectations, but be aware that responsibilities can change across companies for the same job title, so there may be differences between this data, other free site and our subscription products bought by employers.

Employers: This data could be used as reference point in your market pricing, but not the only source, due to differences across jobs locations, and sizes of companies.Consider additional sources like our Employer reported data.

Our consulting team crafts efficient, data-driven solutions using the power of CompAnalyst ® , ensuring your challenges are met head-on.

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What Should I Pay?

Highest Paying Cities for Yacht Chef in the United States

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How much do similar professions get paid in the united states, how much should you be earning, what does a yacht chef do.

If you have worked as a chef before then it is much easier to get a chef job onboard a yacht, they are always looking for chefs with experience.

When you go on to work on bigger yachts of 100 + meters, most chefs work 2 months on and have 2 months off.

So, just how real is this account of luxury on the open ocean? "Poor management, poor behavior, bad seamanship," says David Skolnick, an accomplished yacht chef.

"The world is my home, and super yachts are just part of my commute." Cunningham dabbled in a lot of industries before settling into the yacht life—travel agent, tech journalist, website developer—but never thought about pursuing a culinary degree before becoming a yacht chef.

Whether you are looking for a yacht crew vacancy as a deckhand, engineer, onboard masseuse, yacht stewardess, experienced yacht chef, chief stewardess, purser, first officer or yacht captain, manage your yacht career by registering with Club Bluewater.

View Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles, 18 Industries, and 26 Job Families.

Most Common Benefits for Yacht Chef

Related companies for yacht chef in the united states, frequently asked questions, do i receive fair pay as a yacht chef currently, what are the responsibilities of a yacht chef, how much do similar jobs to yacht chef make.

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Screen Rant

The below deck crew's salary & how much they make on the show.

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20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now

The bachelor producers scramble to fix the mistakes they made with jenn tran’s bachelorette season (they proved they never cared about the lead), below deck down under season 3 fate revealed as captain jason chambers lashes out at bravo.

• Crew members on Below Deck not only get paid for their job on the superyacht but also receive a fee for appearing on the reality series.
• The cast members of Below Deck make impressive salaries for working just four months out of the year.
• In addition to their salaries, the crew members also receive tips from the guests on the yacht, which can be substantial.

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 eager to make a name for themselves in the yachting industry. Those who join Below Deck use the platform to help advance their careers by appearing on TV. While the work on a superyacht might seem hard, the cast's compensation makes it all worth it.

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 the binge-worthy series Below Deck as one of the highest-rated shows on Bravo. After being on for so many years, there are questions regarding 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 creates an impressive salary that would have anyone convinced yachting is a good career choice.

Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

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. For example, on a yacht the size of the My Seanna from Below Deck , a second and third steward makes about $5,000 monthly, while a chief steward brings in around $5,500 to $6,000 monthly. The chef makes 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 more at approximately $5,000 monthly.

The Below Deck Crew Also Brings In Tips

The crew even receives tips from the guests on top of their salaries. On Below Deck , they usually bring in around $15,000 per person in tips for about six weeks of work. Plus, the team does not work a whole yacht season, so they likely make more as they move from boat to boat. The Captain usually makes between $150,000 to $210,000 a year working on a 185-foot superyacht , assuming the Captain is working full-time. Additionally, the Captain can make up to $100,000 on top of the salary they are getting if they charter their yacht for the entire year.

On top of the money they make on the yacht, the crew also gets a small fee for appearing on Below Deck . According to Page Six , the crew makes about $5,000-$6,000 per month. Ashley Marti from Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3 confirmed this and believes the Bravo pay discrepancy with Below Deck is unfair. The Real Housewives makes upwards of $1 million per season, while the Southern Charm cast makes around $25,000 an episode.

Since Bravo has created such a cult following in the past few years, many doors open for the cast members they hire. Now, crew 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.

Below Deck airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Sources: Refinery29 , Page Six

Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client's needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.

Yacht & Superyacht Chef Jobs

Find the latest chef jobs posted by superyacht crew agencies from around the world:.

Use the keywords Head , Sous , Cook or Crew Chef to refine your search or view all yacht chefs below.

F i nd the latest chef jobs posted by superyacht crew agencies from around the world.

2nd Chef 60m+ Private/Charter Motor Yacht

Wilsonhalliganare looking for a 2nd Chef to join a60m+ private/charter motor yacht. Ideally, the successful candidate will have at least 1-2 years yachtingexperience along with somestrong restaurant back ground. The opportunity offers the chance to work on a vessel with exciting itinerary plans,with a good team and established yacht owners. Requirements: STCW ENG1 Level 2 F&H Package: Leave: 2:2 rotation Salary: 4,500 Start: Early September

55m Private and Charter Looking for a temporary chef from August 16th through September 8th but potentially could be longer, or even full time. Can be male or female. Italy cruising Must have ships cook certificate Salary DOE

Point of contact [email protected]

Sole Chef-Private, 53m

We are looking for an experienced, organized Culinary trained Sole Chef for a private, FF, 53m M/Y. This a well run professional program with a fantastic crew of 12 that rotate out. Ideal candidate will be flexible, easy going and a team player. Drama free only please. We are looking for someone that is adaptable to what the older owners enjoy. Excellent references and longevity in prior positions is a must. Caribbean, Florida, New England. Down times are usually always spent in South Florida. 2/1 rotation however, the candidate needs to have a bit of flexibly on this. B1/B2 visa is needed.

Start ~mid October in South Florida- Salary~ to be discussed with candidate. Full medical, flights and benefits package.

Point of contact is [email protected]

Chef- US flagged 40m

Seeking a personable, experienced, organized US Chef for a US FLAGGED 40m M/Y. Vessel is based out of Fort Lauderdale with trips to the Bahamas.

Non liveaboard.

Great Captain, lovely owners. Start- August 7th Salary- TBD

DC4001 – GENERAL APPLICATION GALLEY

We are always looking for Chefs so please feel free to send us your CV along with the required documentation from our check list and we will keep you on file for any suitable future opportunities. In the meantime please follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to see our job posts.

DC4043 – ROTATIONAL OWNERS HEAD CHEF REQUIRED FOR THIS 100M+ PRIVATE MOTOR YACHT

Start date: POSITION FILLED Itinerary: Mediterranean Experienced Head Chef required for a 100m+ MY. You must have experience from an 70m+ MY in a similar role. More info to follow at interview stage. REQUIREMENTS Previous experience from 70m+ MY STCW95 ENG1 PACKAGE Salary: 9000 EUR 10:10 rotation Flights Medical cover

DC4044 – CHEF REQUIRED FOR A 30M+ PRIVATE/CHARTER NEW BUILD MOTOR YACHT

*This position can be a couples position with a chief officer/OOW or a strong 2nd stewardess. Start date: POSITION FILLED Itinerary: Mediterranean Sea until February 2025 where it will head to Seychelles, Indonesia, Australia and lots of other incredible places We are looking for an experienced Chef for this yacht, which just launched summer 2024. Very nice owners who enjoys a healthy lifestyle, fishing and diving. Their preferred cooking style is also healthy and a good variety. More details to follow at interview stage. REQUIREMENTS STCW95 ENG1 Able to commit for at least 1 year 3-4 yrs experience in yachting Must be available to do a few days trial in Spain PACKAGE Salary: 5500-6000 EUR DOE 38 days Flights Medical cover

Looking for a DYNAMIC Chef to join a 48m Power Cat. The program is a PRIVATE, US FLAGGED, World Traveler currently exploring the South Pacific. The vessel stays off the grid and travels to remote areas. ZERO DRAMA crew who are very active in water sports. MUST be able to cook a wide variety of cuisines including vegan and able to work with local produce and provisions. Rotating vacation schedule for all crew, determinate on location of vessel. This requires an off-the-grid thinker and self-starter.Ideally someone that can TRULY be away from friends and family for months at a time without issue. The boat will travel to the US by years end and then on to South American waters.

Salary is DOE, very little crew turnover, Chef is retiring to Owners villa after 30 yrs. Female or Male candidates welcomeUS CREW / Green Card holders only. MUST have valid US Passport with plenty of time/pages remaining. 5 crew total.

How to get a job as a yacht chef:

Are you new to the superyachting industry? Find out all you need to know about how to find a deckhand job on a yacht or superyacht.

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Who Was on the Sunken Yacht? Tech Mogul Mike Lynch, His Family and Friends.

Mr. Lynch, the former chief executive of the software firm Autonomy, who was acquitted on fraud charges in June, was with friends and family when the yacht went down in a severe storm.

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By Michael J. de la Merced

Michael de la Merced reported on Mike Lynch’s career and legal battles over the course of 13 years across two continents.

A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea aboard a superyacht was supposed to be a celebratory event for the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , who was acquitted in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

Instead, it turned into a disaster after the yacht, a 180-foot boat called the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily in a violent storm. Of the 22 people aboard, 15 were rescued and seven others died . Search operations ended on Friday after the final body was recovered from the site of the sunken yacht .

Here’s what we know about the passengers.

Mike Lynch and his family

Mr. Lynch, 59, is a British software entrepreneur who had once been described as his country’s Bill Gates. He founded the software firm Autonomy, which analyzed clients’ unorganized data, and turned it into one of the most prominent British technology companies of its time. He became a widely known corporate leader, who advised David Cameron, the British prime minister at the time, and joined the board of the BBC.

In 2011, Mr. Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion, which was far above its market value, earning him hundreds of millions. But HP investors almost immediately soured on the transaction, and the American tech giant quickly fired its chief executive — and then Mr. Lynch.

HP later accused Mr. Lynch of misleading it about the state of Autonomy’s business, setting off a decade-long legal ordeal for the British executive, who denied the accusations. U.S. prosecutors charged him and other executives with fraud, and Autonomy’s chief financial officer was convicted in 2018.

Despite appeals to the British government, Mr. Lynch was extradited to the United States last year and was confined to a townhouse in San Francisco ahead of his criminal trial, which began in March. Facing the possibility of decades in prison if convicted, Mr. Lynch and another colleague were instead acquitted of all charges.

An official in Palermo, Sicily’s capital, said on Thursday that Mr. Lynch’s body had been recovered. His wife, Angela Bacares, 57, accompanied him on the yacht, and she was rescued on Monday when it sank. She was a consistent presence at his trial in the United States. Records show that she controlled Revtom, the company listed as the owner of the Bayesian.

The body of Hannah Lynch , Mr. Lynch and Ms. Bacares’s 18-year-old daughter, was thought to be recovered on Friday.

The other guests

Jonathan Bloomer, 70, chair of Morgan Stanley’s international arm and the chairman of Hiscox, an insurance provider that trades on the London Stock Exchange, was on the yacht when it sank, along with his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71. Their bodies are thought to be among those recovered, but Italian authorities have not identified them.

Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a New York-based partner at the international law firm Clifford Chance, was also on the yacht. A former federal prosecutor who comes from a family of prominent lawyers, Mr. Morvillo represented Mr. Lynch during his criminal trial in San Francisco. His wife, Neda, 57, was with him on the yacht. Their bodies are also assumed to be among those recovered.

“We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” a representative of Clifford Chance said in a statement.

Surviving passengers rescued from the yacht include Charlotte Golunski, a partner at Mr. Lynch’s venture firm, Invoke Capital; Ms. Golunski’s husband, James Emslie; and their one-year-old daughter Sophie. Also rescued were Ayla Ronald, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and her partner, Matthew Fletcher.

The yacht had a crew of 10, and nine were rescued. The body of the chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered from the water, the Sicilian Civil Protection Department said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting, and Kitty Bennett and Susan Campbell Beachy contributed research.

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

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Update: Divers Retrieve 5th Body From Mike Lynch Yacht Sunk Off Sicily

Italian search and rescue teams have retrieved a fifth body from a sunken yacht off Sicily, where British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer are among those feared to have died.

The body was recovered Thursday morning as search on the wreck resumed for a fourth day, according to an Italian official briefed on the operations who asked not to named. No statements identifying any of the bodies have so far been issued officially.

A total of six people likely were trapped and died inside the Bayesian when it was hit by a tornado near Porticello, Sicily, on Monday, according to authorities. Adding to the complexity of the search mission is the “narrowness of the spaces” inside the sunken yacht and “the presence of many objects,” the coast guard said.

Overall, of the 22 passengers in the boat, 15 were rescued on Monday and one victim was formally identified.

Yacht Insurer OMAC Is Hull Carrier for Sunken Yacht in Sicily, Sources Say

Authorities are meanwhile investigating exactly how the luxury yacht sank — and why it sank so quickly — in the early hours of Monday morning, with the captain and other survivors answering questions from the local prosecutor’s office, according to local media.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it’s also probing the incident, with questions surfacing around the expansiveness of the yacht’s mast and the state of the hull.

“Right now there is no evidence that the mast has been snapped,” coast guard spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola told Bloomberg News. “We can also say that, so far, there is no evidence that the hull has been broken. But we don’t have a clear idea yet of the full damage.”

Crews aided by military ships, remote controlled underwater vehicles and helicopters have been searching for missing passengers since Monday. Six guests, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, and nine crew have been rescued. The body of Recaldo Thomas, the ship’s chef, was found soon after the Bayesian sank.

Lynch and his daughter Hannah, Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Clifford Chance partner Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda were identified as the missing passengers on Tuesday by authorities in Sicily.

Lynch, 59, and his family were celebrating his recent acquittal from fraud charges with a small group of advisers when the violent storm struck. The charges stemmed from Lynch’s sale of his software firm Autonomy Corp. to Hewlett Packard Co. in 2011. The Silicon Valley giant went on to accuse Lynch of accounting failures. He’d spent years working to clear his name in court and restore his reputation as one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs.

A little over two months before the yacht accident, a San Francisco jury found Lynch not guilty of criminal charges that he duped HP into overpaying for his company. He was still fighting HP in a civil case in London, where a British judge held him responsible for creating the illusion of a company much larger and more successful than it really was.

Rescue workers have had difficulties gaining access to the yacht 48 meters below the surface, citing the depth and position of the vessel’s hull.

“The search will go on as long as necessary,” Zagarola told Bloomberg. “For sure the whole hull will need to be inspected meter by meter.”

Top photograph: An Italian Coast Guard rescue boat during the search for survivors following the sinking of the Bayesian yacht, in Porticello near Palermo, on Aug. 20, 2024. Photo credit: Alerto Pozzoli/AFP/Getty Images

• Morgan Stanley’s and Hiscox’s Bloomer Among Those Missing After Yacht Sinks

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• Categories: International & Reinsurance News Topics: Clifford Chance , Hiscox , Jonathan Bloomer , key man insurance , Morgan Stanley , people , superyacht insurance , yacht insurance
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Body of British Tech Magnate Mike Lynch Is Among Those Recovered From Yacht Wreckage, Officials Say

The Italian coast guard says the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable

Salvatore Cavalli

Italian firefighter divers bring ashore in a plastic bag the body of one of the victims of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, southern Italy, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Divers searching the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily on Monday recovered a fifth body on Thursday and continued to search for one more as investigators sought to learn why the vessel sank so quickly. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

PORTICELLO, Sicily (AP) — The Italian coast guard said Thursday the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable.

One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, is reportedly unaccounted for . The family had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who defended him at trial in the United States.

Five others were recovered by rescue crews following Monday's tragedy.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (half a mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believe the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout , and sank quickly.

Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office investigators were collecting evidence for a criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy despite no formal suspects having been publicly identified.

The chief executive of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the Bayesian's manufacturer, told the AP in an interview on Thursday that superyachts like these are “designed to be unsinkable."

“And it is unsinkable not only because it is designed in this way, but also because it is a sailing ship and sailing ships are the safest ever,” CEO Giovanni Costantino said.

Costantino added that “obviously they must not hit the rocks violently, discarding the hull, and they must not take in water,” suggesting the second possibility was the most likely in this case.

Costantino also noted that sailing ships require “a greater competence” to be guided compared with motor boats.

Investigators are now looking at why the Bayesian, built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed . Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived by escaping in a lifeboat, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her. They were rescued by the sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell.

The sailboat's captain, Karsten Borner, said his craft sustained minimal damage — the frame of a sun awning broke — even with winds that he estimated had reached 12 on the Beaufort wind scale, the highest hurricane-strength force on the scale.

He said he had remained anchored with his engines running to try to maintain the ship’s position as the forecast storm rolled in.

“Another possibility is to heave anchor before the storm and to run downwind at open sea,” Borner said in a text message. But he said that might not have been possible for the Bayesian, given its 75-meter (246-foot) tall mast.

“If there was a stability problem, caused by the extremely tall mast, it would not have been better at open sea,” he said.

Yachts like the Bayesian are required to have watertight compartments that are specifically designed to prevent a rapid, catastrophic sinking even when some parts fill with water.

Lynch is the only person confirmed dead; the other bodies have not been formally identified by the Italian coast guard.

Besides Hannah Lynch, those missing are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, and his wife, Neda; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley’s London-based investment banking subsidiary, and his wife, Judy.

The body of chef Recaldo Thomas was the first to be recovered , on Monday. His death was confirmed by his family.

Friends of Thomas, best known as “Rick,” paid tribute to him on Thursday at a favorite bar in the Caribbean Island of Antigua. Cooking for Lynch was supposed to be one of Thomas' last jobs before retiring, his cousin, David Isaac, told the AP.

Divers have struggled to find the bodies in the yacht’s hull on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) underwater.

“We would need a crystal ball to know when we'll be able to find the next body," said Luca Cari, spokesperson for the fire rescue service.

“It's very difficult to move inside the wreckage. Moving just one meter can take up to 24 hours,” Cari said.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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UTC time zone +7, MSC +4 City telephone code for local calls 383 Currency: Ruble Average winter temperature: -18…-22 C Average summer temperature: +20…+22C The main landmarks, parks, theaters and the main streets of the city are on the right bank of the Ob. The main streets of Novosibirsk are Lenina st., Vokzalnaya st., Sovetskaya st. and Krasnyy Prospekt.