Published figures put a 30 m yacht's crew at about €180,000–€250,000 a year (Breeze Yachting, four to five crew, with benefits) or about US$390,000 in base salaries (YachtBuyer, five crew). For 40 m, Ocean Independence gives about $500,000–$600,000 for eight to ten crew. Rotation, flights, training and recruitment fees can come on top.
At a glance
| 30 m yacht | €180,000–€250,000 a year, four to five crew, with benefits (Breeze Yachting) |
| 40 m yacht | $500,000–$600,000 a year, eight to ten crew (Ocean Independence) |
| Captain pay | YPI Crew 2026: €5,000–€23,000 a month, by yacht size |
| On top of pay | Rotation cover, flights, medical cover, training, recruitment fees |
| The one thing to ask | Which crew stay with the yacht, and on what contracts |
Crew cost by yacht size
The number of crew, and so the bill, grows quickly with length. Each source counts differently: some give base salaries only, some include benefits, some a whole first-year budget. The figures below are kept in the currency the source uses.
| Yacht | Crew | Yearly crew cost | What it counts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 m | 4–5 | €180,000–€250,000 | Salaries and benefits, private use | Breeze Yachting |
| 30 m | 5 | about US$390,000 | Base salaries | YachtBuyer |
| 30 m | not stated | US$300,000–$500,000 | First-year budget line | Ocean Independence |
| 40 m | 7–8 | €350,000–€450,000 | Commercial use | Breeze Yachting |
| 40 m | 8–10 | US$500,000–$600,000 | Crew line | Ocean Independence |
| 50 m | 9 | about US$942,000 | Base salaries | YachtBuyer |
| 50–70 m | not stated | €1.5–€2.5 million | Salaries and benefits | Breeze Yachting |
| 80 m | 25 | about US$2.25 million | Base salaries, no relief crew | YachtBuyer |
YachtBuyer gives typical headcounts of two to five crew for 24–30 m, six to ten for 30–40 m, eight to twelve for 40–50 m and fifteen to twenty for 60–70 m.
These totals are not directly comparable: they differ in staffing, use, date and what they include.
What each role earns
YachtBuyer lists annual base salaries in US dollars by role and yacht size. A selection:
| Role | 30 m | 40 m | 60 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | $118,000–$197,000 | $156,000–$246,000 | $235,000–$393,000 |
| Chef | $60,000–$108,000 | $96,000–$132,000 | $120,000–$180,000 |
| Chief engineer | $72,000–$96,000 | $84,000–$120,000 | $132,000–$144,000 |
| Chief stew | $72,000–$96,000 | $84,000–$96,000 | $114,000–$120,000 |
| First officer | $54,000–$84,000 | $72,000–$96,000 | $108,000–$120,000 |
| Deckhand | $42,000–$58,000 | $42,000–$58,000 | $48,000–$70,000 |
YPI Crew's 2026 captain salary guide, in euros a month:
| Yacht size | Captain, per month |
|---|---|
| Below 30 m | €5,000–€6,000 |
| 30–40 m | €6,000–€9,000 |
| 40–50 m | €8,500–€12,500 |
| 50–60 m | €10,000–€16,000 |
| 60–80 m | €14,000–€18,000 |
| 80–100 m | €16,000–€23,000 |
Twelve months at YPI's 40–50 m range is €102,000–€150,000, below YachtBuyer's 40 m figure. Experience, licences, the flag and charter use all move pay, so compare both.
What sits on top of salaries
Base pay is not the whole bill. Costs that may fall to the owner include:
- Rotation. YPI Crew says equal rotation for captains, where time off matches time aboard, is standard from 50 m and appearing at 40–50 m. Where a post is on rotation, two people share it; check whether a budget already includes that.
- Recruitment. YachtBuyer cites one agency charging 10% of first-year salary for a permanent placement: $24,000 for a captain on $240,000.
- Flights, medical insurance, training, certificates and uniforms.
- Payroll administration and employer taxes or social charges, which depend on where the crew are employed.
- Crew food and accommodation while aboard.
Illustration: a 40 m payroll from published salaries
| Post | Base salary a year |
|---|---|
| Captain | $156,000–$246,000 |
| First officer | $72,000–$96,000 |
| Chief engineer | $84,000–$120,000 |
| Chef | $96,000–$132,000 |
| Chief stew | $84,000–$96,000 |
| Two deckhands | $84,000–$116,000 |
| Seven posts | $576,000–$806,000 |
That is above Ocean Independence's $500,000–$600,000 for a 40 m crew, which shows how far the sources spread.
What to ask your broker
- Which crew come with the yacht, on what contracts and pay?
- Who employs them (the owner, a management company or a payroll company), and in which country?
- Which posts are on rotation, and is relief crew already in the budget?
- What is budgeted for flights, medical cover, training and recruitment?
- Does charter use need extra crew, and who pays them?
When this is not the right choice
- You want to run the yacht yourself. Size decides it: Breeze Yachting's 20 m example has no crew line. YachtBuyer notes that yachts above 24 m usually have a professional captain and crew.
- You will be aboard only a few weeks a year. A permanent crew is paid all year. Chartering means the crew comes with the yacht only for the weeks you use.
Talking to a broker
If you are weighing up a purchase, one of our partner yacht sales brokers can go through real listings and real running accounts with you. You can send an enquiry or try the ownership cost calculator first.
Questions people ask
How much does a yacht captain earn?
It depends on yacht size and the survey. YPI Crew's 2026 guide gives €5,000–€6,000 a month below 30 m up to €16,000–€23,000 for 80–100 m. YachtBuyer's figures are higher, for example $156,000–$246,000 a year at 40 m.
How many crew does a superyacht need?
YachtBuyer gives two to five crew for 24–30 m, six to ten for 30–40 m, eight to twelve for 40–50 m and fifteen to twenty for 60–70 m. The flag's manning rules, charter use and how the owner uses the yacht all change the number.
Are crew paid all year when the owner is not aboard?
A permanent crew is normally paid all year, because they look after the yacht between trips. That is why crew is usually the largest yearly line once a yacht needs a professional crew.
What does crew cost beyond salaries?
Owners often pay flights, medical insurance, training, certificates, uniforms and food aboard, plus recruitment fees and relief crew where posts are on rotation. YachtBuyer cites one agency charging 10% of first-year salary to place a permanent crew member.
Sources
- Breeze Yachting, Cost of Owning a Yacht: Example Budgets from 20m to 60m+ (updated 3 September 2026), read 29 Oct 2026
- YachtBuyer, How Much Does a Yacht Crew Cost? (version updated 27 October 2026), read 29 Oct 2026
- Ocean Independence, How Much Does a Superyacht Really Cost? (2026 Guide, published 1 April 2026), read 29 Oct 2026
- Ocean Independence, How Much Does it Cost to Own a Superyacht? (yacht management page), read 29 Oct 2026
- YPI Crew, Superyacht Captain Salary Guide 2026 (updated 25 March 2026), read 29 Oct 2026
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