Money
How Much Do You Actually Earn on a Superyacht? (2026 Guide)
In short
Entry-level crew on superyachts earn well above NZ minimum wage from day one, tax-free in most cases, with tips, food, travel and accommodation covered on top. Here's what deckhands, stewardesses and chefs really take home.
A junior deckhand on a superyacht earns roughly EUR 2,800 to 3,200 a month before tips (about USD 3,200 to 3,650), according to the YPI CREW and Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (checked 9 October 2026). Foreland adds that on a busy charter yacht “tips can add 20-50 percent to a crew member's annual income.”
Why does superyacht pay surprise people?
Most school leavers assume "entry level" means minimum wage. On a superyacht it doesn't. A first-season deckhand or steward/ess typically starts on USD $3,000 to $4,000 a month, before tips. There's no rent, no food bill, and often no tax, because you're paid in a flag state that doesn't touch your income.
How much does a deckhand make on a yacht?
A junior deckhand makes roughly EUR 2,800 to 3,200 a month to start (about USD 3,200 to 3,650, NZD 5,650 to 6,450), before tips, rising quickly with experience, tickets and boat size. Our full guide to becoming a superyacht deckhand from NZ covers exactly how to get there.
| Level | EUR / month | USD / month | NZD / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior deckhand (0-1 yr) | 2,800-3,200 | 3,200-3,650 | 5,650-6,450 |
| Deckhand (1-3 yrs) | 3,000-4,000 | 3,400-4,550 | 6,050-8,050 |
| Bosun / lead deckhand | 3,750-6,500 | 4,300-7,400 | 7,550-13,050 |
Source: YPI CREW / Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (EUR). USD and NZD converted at 1 EUR = 1.14 USD / 2.01 NZD on 28 September 2026.
How much do stewards and stewardesses make on a yacht?
A junior steward or stewardess makes around EUR 3,000 to 3,500 a month to start (about USD 3,400 to 4,000, NZD 6,050 to 7,050), before tips, rising toward chief stewardess or purser on a larger yacht. See our complete guide to superyacht stewardess jobs for the full path in.
| Level | EUR / month | USD / month | NZD / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior steward/ess (0-1 yr) | 3,000-3,500 | 3,400-4,000 | 6,050-7,050 |
| 2nd / experienced steward/ess (1-3 yrs) | 3,300-5,000 | 3,750-5,700 | 6,650-10,050 |
| Chief steward/ess / purser | 4,000-8,500 | 4,550-9,700 | 8,050-17,100 |
Source: YPI CREW / Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (EUR). USD and NZD converted at 1 EUR = 1.14 USD / 2.01 NZD on 28 September 2026.
How much does a yacht chef make?
Yacht chefs are among the highest-paid crew after captain and chief engineer: a junior or sole chef on a smaller yacht makes around EUR 4,000 to 6,000 a month (about USD 4,550 to 6,850, NZD 8,050 to 12,050), rising to EUR 9,000 to 12,000 or more for a head chef running the galley on a larger yacht.
| Level | EUR / month | USD / month | NZD / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / sole chef (new to yachting) | 4,000-6,000 | 4,550-6,850 | 8,050-12,050 |
| Sous chef / head chef (mid-size yacht) | 5,000-9,000 | 5,700-10,250 | 10,050-18,100 |
| Head chef (large yacht, senior) | 9,000-12,000+ | 10,250-13,700+ | 18,100-24,100+ |
Source: YPI CREW / Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (EUR). USD and NZD converted at 1 EUR = 1.14 USD / 2.01 NZD on 28 September 2026.
How much does an engineer make on a yacht?
A junior or third engineer makes roughly EUR 3,500 to 5,000 a month (about USD 4,000 to 5,700, NZD 7,050 to 10,050), climbing steeply with tickets and seniority - a chief engineer on a large yacht is one of the best-paid crew roles on board, alongside the captain.
| Level | EUR / month | USD / month | NZD / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior / 3rd engineer | 3,500-5,000 | 4,000-5,700 | 7,050-10,050 |
| 2nd engineer | 4,500-8,500 | 5,150-9,700 | 9,050-17,100 |
| Chief engineer (senior) | 6,000-15,000+ | 6,850-17,100+ | 12,050-30,150+ |
Source: YPI CREW / Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (EUR). USD and NZD converted at 1 EUR = 1.14 USD / 2.01 NZD on 28 September 2026.
How much does a bosun make on a yacht?
A bosun - the senior deckhand who runs the deck team day to day - makes roughly EUR 3,500 to 6,500 a month (about USD 4,000 to 7,400, NZD 7,050 to 13,050), climbing with the size of the yacht.
| Yacht size | EUR / month | USD / month | NZD / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-50m | 3,500-4,500 | 4,000-5,150 | 7,050-9,050 |
| 50-80m | 4,000-5,500 | 4,550-6,250 | 8,050-11,050 |
| 80m+ | 4,500-6,500 | 5,150-7,400 | 9,050-13,050 |
Source: YPI CREW / Foreland Marine 2026 salary guides (EUR). USD and NZD converted at 1 EUR = 1.14 USD / 2.01 NZD on 28 September 2026.
How does pay change with yacht size?
Pay rises with yacht size, and the senior roles climb a long way. Foreland Marine notes that captain pay varies “enormously based on vessel size,” and the table below shows annual EUR bands for each role by yacht length. For a monthly view, crew recruiter Quay Group says junior crew can expect “€2,500 per month upwards” and captains “around €10,000 per month to over €25,000.”
| Role (EUR per year) | 24-40m yacht | 40-60m yacht | 60m+ yacht |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deckhand | 30,000-36,000 | 33,000-39,000 | 36,000-42,000 |
| Stewardess | 30,000-36,000 | 33,000-39,000 | 36,000-42,000 |
| Bosun (30-40m, 40-60m, 60m+) | 42,000-48,000 | 48,000-54,000 | 54,000-60,000 |
| Chief stewardess | 54,000-66,000 | 66,000-78,000 | 72,000-84,000 |
| Chief engineer | 72,000-96,000 | 96,000-120,000 | 120,000-144,000 |
| Captain | 84,000-120,000 | 108,000-156,000 | 144,000-180,000+ |
Source: Foreland Marine, Superyacht Crew Salaries 2026 (published 11 April 2026) and Quay Group crew resources, both checked 9 October 2026. Foreland's deckhand and stewardess bands work out at roughly EUR 2,500 to 3,500 a month across yacht sizes, a little below the junior ranges earlier on this page, so read every figure as a range that depends on the yacht.
How much do tips add?
Charter tips are the real difference-maker. Foreland Marine says industry convention is a tip of 5-15 percent of the charter fee, divided among the crew, and that on a busy charter yacht “tips can add 20-50 percent to a crew member's annual income.” On private yachts, it adds, some owners pay bonuses but there is no standard convention.
What does it cost to live on board?
Almost nothing. Food, cabin, uniform, and often flights to join are covered. Most first-year crew save more in 12 months than they would in three years at a standard NZ entry job.
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“It never felt like a course or a programme — it felt like having someone in your corner who genuinely cared about where you ended up. Nick showed me I already had more to offer than I thought. Six months later I was a deckhand. I’ve sailed to Fiji. I’m 19.” — Freddie MHospitality → Deckhand · sailed to Fiji · age 19
How do tipping norms work?
On charter, the convention is a tip of 5 to 15 percent of the charter fee, divided among the crew (Foreland Marine, checked 9 October 2026). On a yacht chartering for EUR 150,000 a week with 9 crew, that is EUR 7,500 to 22,500 for the week, or roughly EUR 830 to 2,500 each if it is split equally. A busy Mediterranean season runs 8 to 12 charter weeks. Do that maths and you'll see why deckhands talk about tips more than salary.
What could I save in a first season?
Say you land a deckhand role on a 45m charter yacht in May at USD $3,200 a month. Over a 6-month season: about $19,200 in salary, plus 8 charter weeks averaging $1,500 in tips each, so $12,000 more. Total: roughly USD $31,000 in six months, with living costs near zero. Even spending freely on days off, saving USD $20,000+ in your first season is common. Compare that with a first-year NZ student loan balance and the appeal is obvious - we've laid that comparison out in the real cost of a gap year vs a degree.
What eats into the savings?
Be honest about the costs: your STCW and ENG1 upfront (see what they cost), flights to your starting port, and 2 to 6 weeks of crew-house rent while you job hunt, typically EUR 25 to 45 a night. Budget NZD $6,000 to $8,000 all-in to launch. Most crew earn it back within their first two months on board.
Does the pay grow?
Quickly. A deckhand with two seasons and a Yachtmaster ticket moves toward USD $4,500 to $5,500; lead deckhands and bosuns clear $5,000 to $6,500; chief stewardesses and officers go well beyond that. The industry rewards sticking around - and the skills transfer if you decide one adventure season is enough. Our programme is built to get you to that first pay cheque as fast as honestly possible.
Superyacht salary FAQs
How much does a deckhand make on a yacht?
A junior deckhand typically starts around EUR 2,800 to 3,200 a month (about USD 3,200 to 3,650, NZD 5,650 to 6,450), before tips. With one to three years' experience that rises to roughly EUR 3,000 to 4,000, and a bosun or lead deckhand on a larger yacht can earn EUR 3,750 to 6,500 a month. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
Superyacht deckhand salary
Superyacht deckhand salaries start around EUR 2,800 to 3,200 a month for a junior deckhand (about USD 3,200 to 3,650, NZD 5,650 to 6,450), rising to EUR 3,000 to 4,000 with experience and EUR 3,750 to 6,500 for a bosun, before tips. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
Yacht chef salary
Yacht chef salaries start around EUR 4,000 to 6,000 a month on smaller yachts (about USD 4,550 to 6,850, NZD 8,050 to 12,050), rising to EUR 5,000 to 9,000 on mid-size yachts and EUR 9,000 to 12,000+ for a head chef on a large yacht. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
How much do chefs make on yachts?
Yacht chefs earn from around EUR 4,000 to 6,000 a month starting out (about USD 4,550 to 6,850, NZD 8,050 to 12,050), rising to EUR 9,000 to 12,000 or more for a head chef on a large yacht - one of the highest-paid crew roles after captain and chief engineer. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
Yacht steward salary
A junior steward or stewardess earns around EUR 3,000 to 3,500 a month to start (about USD 3,400 to 4,000, NZD 6,050 to 7,050), rising to EUR 3,300 to 5,000 with experience and EUR 4,000 to 8,500 for a chief steward/ess or purser on a larger yacht. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
Yacht stewardess salary
A junior stewardess earns around EUR 3,000 to 3,500 a month to start (about USD 3,400 to 4,000, NZD 6,050 to 7,050), rising to EUR 3,300 to 5,000 with one to three years' experience and EUR 4,000 to 8,500 for a chief stewardess or purser on a larger yacht. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
Yacht crew salary guide
Entry-level yacht crew (deckhand, steward/ess) typically start around EUR 2,800 to 3,500 a month before tips, junior engineers and chefs start higher at EUR 3,500 to 6,000, and pay rises quickly with experience and yacht size - senior roles like chief engineer or head chef can exceed EUR 10,000 to 15,000 a month. Figures from the YPI CREW 2026 Salary Guide and Foreland Marine 2026 Crew Salary Guide, checked 28 September 2026.
How much does a superyacht captain make?
Foreland Marine's 2026 guide puts captains at EUR 84,000 to 120,000 a year on yachts of 24 to 40 metres, EUR 108,000 to 156,000 on 40 to 60 metres and EUR 144,000 to 180,000 or more above 60 metres. Quay Group says captains earn from around EUR 10,000 a month to over EUR 25,000. Checked 9 October 2026.
How much does a chief stewardess make?
Foreland Marine's 2026 guide puts a chief stewardess at EUR 54,000 to 66,000 a year on yachts of 24 to 40 metres, EUR 66,000 to 78,000 on 40 to 60 metres and EUR 72,000 to 84,000 above 60 metres. Quay Group says EUR 5,000 or more a month for a chief officer or chief stew. Checked 9 October 2026.
How much do yacht crew make?
Quay Group says junior crew can expect about EUR 2,500 a month upwards, a bosun EUR 4,000 to 5,000, a chief officer or chief stew EUR 5,000 or more and a chief engineer EUR 7,000 or more, before tips. Foreland Marine puts a deckhand at EUR 30,000 to 36,000 a year on a 24 to 40 metre yacht. Checked 9 October 2026.
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“He wanted to make the most of his gap year — not the ordinary version of it. Three months later he’s working on multi-million dollar yachts in the Med, watching the sun set over the Balearic Sea, living a life most people only dream about.” — Antoni MHigh school → full-time in Palma · age 19
Nick studied at university in Dunedin before finding his way onto superyachts with zero prior experience and sailing around the world. He's worked in recruitment and education, watched good candidates get overlooked for doing the wrong training in the wrong ports, and now coaches young Kiwis through the same journey: honest, one-on-one and industry-backed.