Chief Officer Salary 2026: €3,500 to €10,000 and above a Month
Yacht chief officer pay in 2026 by yacht length, with the source for every figure.
How much does a yacht chief officer earn?
A yacht chief officer earns €3,500 to €10,000 and above a month depending on yacht length, according to 2026 published guides. Figures are monthly base salaries in euros.
Key Facts
- Lighthouse Careers placements: median €7,000 a month (5 placements)
Chief Officer Salary 2026: €3,500 to €10,000 and above a Month
A yacht chief officer earns €3,500 to €10,000 and above a month depending on the length of the yacht, according to published 2026 guides. The figures are monthly base salaries in euros, before tips, bonuses and rotation uplifts.
Chief Officer salary by yacht length
| Yacht length | Chief Officer / First Mate |
|---|---|
| Under 30m | €3,500 to €4,500 |
| 30 to 40m | €3,500 to €4,500 |
| 40 to 50m | €5,500 to €7,000 |
| 50 to 60m | €7,000 to €8,000 |
| 60 to 80m | €7,000 to €9,000 |
| 80 to 100m | €8,000 to €10,000 |
| 100m+ | €9,500 and above |
Source: a published 2026 yacht crew salary guide, which says it is based on live recruitment data and real placements. “No data” means the guide does not list the role at that yacht length.
What affects chief officer pay
- Yacht length and the size of the deck team
- Whether the yacht is under or over 100m, where the roles split into first officer and chief officer
- Rotation and leave
- Certificates and management experience
Looking for chief officer work?
See our open chief officer jobs and register free to be matched to new roles. Pay by role is set out in our 2026 salary report.
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Other yacht salary guides
- Captain salary
- First Officer salary
- Second Officer salary
- Bosun salary
- Deckhand salary
- Chief Engineer salary
- Second Engineer salary
- ETO salary
- Purser salary
- Chief Stewardess salary
- Second Stewardess salary
- Stewardess salary
- Yacht Chef salary
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yacht chief officer earn? €3,500 to €10,000 and above a month, depending on yacht length, according to published 2026 guides.
Does the salary include tips? No. These are base salaries. Tips on charter yachts are separate.
Does pay rise with yacht size? Yes. Larger yachts pay more because of the greater responsibility, guest expectations and crew numbers.