Yacht Crew Pay in 2025: What’s Changing, What’s Not, and What You Should Know

Let’s talk money—because yacht crew aren’t exactly working 14-hour days for the love of dishwashing and diesel fumes. If you're wondering what yacht salaries look like in 2025, what’s going on with job turnover, or whether rotations are finally becoming the norm—this is for you. We scoured the latest reports (yes, we read the charts and the fine print) to break down where things stand in this year’s hiring landscape.

So, Are Yacht Crew Salaries Going Up in 2025? Short answer: mostly, no. But not in a doom-and-gloom way. After some generous pay bumps between 2021 and 2023—largely thanks to a post-COVID crew shortage—the salary growth has slowed. According to Quay Crew's latest salary surveys, most positions have plateaued, and in some cases, even dipped slightly due to a more balanced supply of experienced crew. For example, deckhands on 50m yachts are earning roughly €2,800–€3,200/month—similar to late 2023. Chief Stews are averaging €5,000–€6,500/month, depending on rotation. Captains on 60m+ vessels are still commanding €10,000–€15,000/month—steady from last year.

Salary Trend Snapshot (Past 5 Years):
2019–2021: Slow climb
2021–2023: Big spike (blame crew shortages)
2024–2025: Leveling off, with increased competition

What’s Holding Back Higher Pay? The short version: there’s more crew, and yachts are getting savvier with their hiring. Experienced professionals are back in the job market, and junior crew continue to flood in. Yachts are also facing increased operational costs—fuel, insurance, maintenance—and are being cautious about payroll. Finally, digital hiring platforms like Meridian mean owners and captains can find qualified crew quickly and more efficiently, without throwing money at the problem.

Is the Industry Losing Experienced Crew? Yes—and no. There’s definitely a talent squeeze in senior roles like Chief Officer and Chief Stew. Many are leaving due to burnout, mental health, or simply wanting a life off the water. That’s why rotations are on the rise. More yachts—especially over 50m—are offering structured time off. In 2025, over 60% of Chief Stews on yachts 60m+ now have some form of rotation, up from around 40% just two years ago. Captains and senior deck crew are also pushing for it, and not just for the time off—rotations help with retention, performance, and overall sanity.

Rotations vs. Full-Time: Who’s Winning? Offering rotation is no longer optional if you want to hire top-tier crew. It’s become a key decision factor for candidates, especially those with experience. Time-for-time and 3:1 or 5:1 schedules are increasingly common. Interestingly, while rotations make the role more appealing, they sometimes come with a slight pay cut—yet many crew are happy to trade a little salary for predictability and rest.

What Matters Most to Crew in 2025? Beyond pay and rotation, today’s crew are prioritizing mental health support, professional development, respectful leadership, and stability. Roles that offer growth opportunities and a healthy culture are filling faster, even when the salary isn’t the highest. Employers who promote those things in job listings are seeing better results.

Final Word: Don’t Chase the Highest Salary—Chase the Best Fit Sure, pay matters. But in 2025, crew are chasing lifestyle, not just a paycheck. And employers are hiring for fit, not just CVs. The balance is shifting—and smarter platforms like Meridian are helping both sides meet in the middle. If you're crew, it means you can stop spamming Facebook groups and start applying to real jobs with filters that actually match your skills. If you're hiring, it means no more inbox overload from unqualified applicants—just fast access to verified, available crew. In a world where time is tight and expectations are high, the best opportunities are going to the people (and yachts) that are set up to move fast and hire smart. That’s where Meridian comes in. Visit www.MeridianGo.com to start your search—or post a job—and make your next hire (or career move) one worth staying for.

Citations & Sources

Quay Crew – Chief Stew Salary Survey 2023
https://quaycrew.com/blog/chief-stew-salary-survey-2023

Dockwalk – Salary Guide: Yacht Crew Jobs & Pay
https://www.dockwalk.com/jobs/salary-guide

Northrop & Johnson – Yacht Crew Salaries: The Current State
https://www.northropandjohnson.com/crew-placement/yacht-crew-news/yacht-crew-salaries-the-current-state

Praxis Group – Why Crew and Safety Management Matter
https://www.praxisgroup.com/news-insights/insights/a-safe-and-stable-yacht-why-crew-and-safety-management-are-so-important

Crewfinders – Yacht Crew Salary Guidelines
https://www.crewfinders.com/yachtcrewsalaries.shtml