Worth Every Penny Superyacht Crew

Everyone wants to know they are getting paid what they are worth. Get less than the average and its only natural that you will want to ask for more. If you are getting what everyone else is, then you are probably happy and if you get more than the other guys, its best to stay stoomph!

Fortunately for those crew who want to check what they are worth in terms of salary there is the YPI CREW salary report and this year’s version has now been published is out.

The report reveals, as it always does how yacht crew salaries have evolved over the last 12 months and details what job is worth chasing.

As a major league player in yacht crew recruitment game, the YPI CREW has released its 2022 Yacht Crew Salary Report, provides interesting reading with in-depth well researched facts coupled with an up-to-date salary analysis.

YPI CREW recruiters have extensive knowledge of the yachting industry and superyacht recruitment. As a member of the shipping giant Schulte Group they are a Lloyd’s Register audited business, they work in accordance with MLC 2006 to ensure that seafarers have access to an efficient and well-regulated recruitment and placement system.

The report utilises 2021 data from YPI CREW’s various crew departments, spanning engineers, yacht deck crew, yacht chefs, and yacht interior crew explaining what position is worth what.

It offers a handy and comprehensive reference point for both yacht crew and employers.

Overall, YPI CREW witnessed a significant increase in the number of job orders across all departments in 2021, with more crew connected with their dream careers.

While the report doesn’t demonstrate any major new trends, it shows a return to stability following two years of Covid 19 disruption and the collapse of the crew recruitment market in April 2020.

The report notes that due to a smaller number of junior-level hospitality, service and galley staff entering the market due to Covid 19 travel restrictions, essentially from the Southern Hemisphere, there has been tension on salaries in these departments throughout 2021.

For example, in the chef’s department, in order to secure and especially retain qualified and experienced crew, salaries and scheduled leave have become an important part of the negotiation process with increased competition for the best all-round package.

Crew salaries in the report depend on qualifications, a crew member’s years of experience and, in some instances, whether a vessel is a private yacht or a charter yacht. Interestingly, the size of a yacht only impacts the earnings of select roles.

The highest-paid deck crew salaries were for captains, reflecting their pivotal role and the large amount of responsibility that they assume. In 2021, captains on a 100-metre plus yacht were paid an average salary of around 18,000 Euros per month, plus a discretionary bonus. At the other end of the spectrum, captain salaries on a yacht below 30-metre were significantly less, worth around 3,500 to 6,000 Euros per month.

It’s important to mention that the salaries across the Deck Department will vary depending on experience and qualifications. For example, entry-level junior deckhands have an expected monthly salary of between 2,700 to 2,800 Euros per month. However, the salaries grow up to 4,000 Euros for specialised and experienced Deckhands.

In the below table, salaries are expressed in Euro €. The numbers shown here are general median salary ranges and the actual salaries may vary depending on numerous other variables such as experience, certificates, type of yacht etc. Brackets that are empty mean that the particular position is generally not applicable for that yacht size.

Shaded brackets indicate the yacht size range where rotational system might be offered.

Deck Crew Salaries

All the Captain and Officer salaries will depend on experience and qualifications
Deckhand specialised positions will englobe a Deckhand Tender Driver, Kite Surfer, Carpenter etc.

Yacht Engineers

When talking about engineering salaries, the ranges very much depend on the certification that the candidate will hold.

Chief engineers on a 100-metre plus yacht typically earnt around 12,000 to 15,000 Euros per month in 2021. Comparatively, a chief engineer on a 30 to 40-metre yacht earnt on average between 4,000 to 6,000 Euros per month.

The lowest-paid salaries were for motorman, who typically could expect to earn between 3,200 to 4,000 Euros on larger sized vessels.

All salaries are expressed in Euro €. The numbers shown here are general median salary ranges and the actual salaries may vary depending on numerous other variables such as experience, certificates, type of yacht etc. Brackets that are empty mean that the particular position is generally not applicable for that yacht size.

Shaded brackets indicate the yacht size range where a rotational system might be offered.

Engineer Salaries

For yachts below 30m the role of an Engineer is covered by the Captain and in some cases by another member of the deck crew
The salaries for the above positions are based on the engineering qualifications

Sole/Chief Engineer:

For 30m – 40m the salary is based on the candidates holding an AEC/Y4
For 40m – 50m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y3
For 50m – 70m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y2
For 70m – 80m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y1
For 80m – 100m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y1/Class 1
For 100m+ the salary is based on the candidates holding a Class 1

Second Engineer:

For 40m – 50m the salary is based on the candidates holding an AEC
For 50m – 70m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y3 and on rotation. If the role is permanent then an EOOW qualification is required and the salary would be worth 5 000 – 6 500
For 70m – 80m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y3
For 80m – 100m the salary is based on the candidates holding a Y2/Class 1
For 100m+ the salary is based on the candidates holding a Class1/Class 2

Third Engineer:

For 70m – 80m the salary is based on the candidates holding a AEC
For 80m – 100m the salary is based on the candidates holding an EOOW
For 100m+ the salary is based on the candidates holding an EOOW

Motorman:

For 80m – 100m the salary is based on the candidates holding a STCW III/4
For 100m+ the salary is based on the candidates holding a STCW III/4

Yacht Chef Salaries

The most experienced yacht chefs working on yachts 100-metres plus earnt a monthly average salary of around 8,000 Euros plus per month in 2021, while a sous chef on the same sized vessel earnt on average 4,000 to 7,000 Euros per month. Third chefs typically are worth around 3,500 Euros per month.

At the other end of the spectrum, on vessels below 30-metres, a head chef earnt between 4,000 to 4,500 Euros. This typically represents a starting salary for chefs without yachting experience, and they would usually run the entire kitchen without any additional support from qualified chefs.

Shaded brackets indicate the yacht size range where rotational system might be offered.

From 50m, where rotation is offered, the ranges in the salary correspond to both rotational and non-rotational positions and need to be examined on case-by-case basis.

All salaries here are expressed in Euro €. The numbers shown here are general median salary ranges and the actual salaries may vary depending on numerous other variables such as experience, certificates, type of yacht etc. Brackets that are empty mean that the particular position is generally not applicable for that yacht size.

Yacht Interior Crew Salaries

The highest-paid roles were for pursers and chief stews working on superyachts 80-metres plus. Average monthly salaries were from 7,000 to 8,000 Euros per month for these positions. Conversely, a chief stew on a yacht below 30-metres was worth on average 3,500 to 4,000 Euros per month in 2021.

Junior stews saw little change in their monthly income between vessel sizes, typically worth between 2,500 to 3,500 Euros, creeping up to 4,000 Euros on vessels sized 70-metres plus.

Nurses, a role that is ordinarily only found on larger superyachts, were worth on average 3,500 to 4,000 Euros plus per month in 2021. Spa therapists, another crew position typically only found on larger yachts, boasted a monthly salary of around 3,000 to 3,500 plus.