Superyacht crew, explained
Superyacht crew are the people who live and work aboard privately owned and charter superyachts — running the vessel, maintaining it, and looking after owners and guests. It's a full-time, live-aboard job, not seasonal casual work: crew sign contracts, work long hours during the season, and in return get paid a salary with accommodation, food and often travel covered. This guide covers what superyacht crew actually do, what you need to become one, and roughly what to expect to earn.
The superyacht crew departments
Superyacht crew are organised into departments, each reporting up to the captain. Which one you join shapes almost everything about the job — the skills you need, the qualifications, and the day-to-day work.
Deck
Runs the exterior: maintenance, tenders and water toys, line handling and safety watches, right up through the officer ranks to captain.
Interior
Runs guest service, housekeeping and wellness. Close to hospitality work on land — hotel and cruise-ship experience transfers well.
Galley
Cooks for guests and crew. The smallest department by headcount, and the one where professional culinary training matters most.
Engineering
Electro-technical and AV/IT systems — standard on yachts from around 45m up, usually as a dual role below 90m.
What qualifications does superyacht crew need?
Whatever department you join, two certificates are non-negotiable before any yacht will hire you:
STCW Basic Safety Training
Fire fighting, sea survival, first aid and personal safety — a legal requirement to work on a commercial yacht.
What it covers →ENG1 Medical Certificate
A seafarer's medical confirming you're fit to work at sea, issued by an MCA-approved doctor.
How to get one →What does superyacht crew earn?
Pay depends heavily on department, seniority and yacht size — from entry-level deckhand up to captain:
| Junior Deckhand | €2,300 – €3,500 |
| Chief Stewardess / Purser | €4,500 – €8,000+ |
| Crew Chef / Sous Chef | €3,200 – €5,500 |
| Captain | €9,000 – €20,000+ |
20 roles across all four departments are covered in the full guide, with what's included beyond salary.
How to become superyacht crew
Sort STCW and ENG1, put together a clean one-page CV, then get yourself to a crew hub — Antibes, Palma or Fort Lauderdale — right before the season starts. Our full step-by-step guide walks through it in order.
Frequently asked questions
What is superyacht crew?
Superyacht crew are the professional staff who live and work aboard privately owned or charter superyachts, typically vessels over 24 metres. Crew are split into departments — deck, interior, galley, and on larger yachts, engineering and bridge/command — each responsible for a different part of running and maintaining the yacht and looking after guests.
Do you need experience to become superyacht crew?
No. Most junior deckhands and stewardesses have no previous yachting experience. What you need instead is STCW Basic Safety Training, an ENG1 medical certificate, a clean, focused CV, and to be in a crew hub like Antibes, Palma or Fort Lauderdale when hiring picks up for the season.
What qualifications does superyacht crew need?
Every department requires STCW Basic Safety Training and a valid ENG1 medical certificate as a baseline. Beyond that, requirements are role-specific — a Powerboat Level 2 for deck, service/hospitality training for interior, and culinary training or kitchen experience for galley.
How much does superyacht crew earn?
It varies by department, seniority and yacht size, but junior deck and interior crew typically start in the low-to-mid €2,000s per month, with department heads like bosuns and chief stewardesses earning roughly €4,000–€6,000+. Accommodation, food and often tips are on top of salary.
Where do superyacht crew find work?
Mainly in a small number of marina towns where hiring is concentrated ahead of each season — Antibes and Palma de Mallorca for the Mediterranean season, and Fort Lauderdale for the Caribbean/US season — combined with crew agents and yachting job boards.
Ready to book your certificates?
When you're ready to compare and book STCW, ENG1 and other superyacht crew training, head to our sister site.