Key findings
- Yacht deckhands earn €2,000 to €4,500 and above a month, according to published 2026 guides.
- Chief stewardesses earn €3,000 to €10,000 and above a month, according to published 2026 guides.
- Captains earn €4,000 to €23,000 and above a month, rising with yacht size.
- Butlers earn $90,000 to $200,000 a year in the United States and £50,000 to £105,000 in the United Kingdom, according to published 2026 guides.
- Estate managers earn $145,000 to $425,000 and above a year in the United States and £75,000 to £220,000 and above in the United Kingdom, depending on the size of the estate.
- Private nannies earn $60,000 to $170,000 a year in the United States and £50,000 to £95,000 in the United Kingdom. Senior, Norland-trained UK nannies are reported above that.
Yacht crew
Euros per month. The published range covers all yacht sizes, from small superyachts to 100m and above, so the top of each range is a large yacht.
| Role | Published 2026 guides |
|---|---|
| Captain | €4,000 to €23,000 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Chief Officer / First Officer | €3,000 to €10,000 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Bosun | €3,200 to €6,000Range across 2 published guides |
| Deckhand | €2,000 to €4,500 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Chief Engineer | €5,000 to €15,000 and aboveOne published guide |
| Second Engineer | €4,500 to €9,000One published guide |
| ETO / AV-IT | €7,000 to €10,000 and aboveOne published guide |
| Purser | €7,000 to €10,000 and aboveOne published guide |
| Chief Stewardess | €3,000 to €10,000 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Second Stewardess | €3,500 to €6,500 and aboveOne published guide |
| Experienced Stewardess | €2,800 to €4,500 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Junior Stewardess | €2,000 to €3,500Range across 2 published guides |
| Head Chef | €3,000 to €10,000 and aboveRange across 2 published guides |
| Sous Chef | €4,000 to €6,000 and aboveOne published guide |
Private household staff
Gross annual salary. Each range runs from the lowest minimum to the highest maximum reported by the named guides, so it spans smaller households to larger ones. UK figures are in pounds and US figures in dollars. Do not compare them directly.
| Role | United Kingdom | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Butler | £50,000 to £105,000Range across 2 published guides | $90,000 to $200,000Range across 3 published guides |
| House Manager | £70,000 to £120,000Range across 2 published guides | $85,000 to $180,000Range across 2 published guides |
| Estate ManagerMulti-property estates sit at the top of the range. | £75,000 to £220,000 and aboveRange across 2 published guides | $145,000 to $425,000 and aboveRange across 3 published guides |
| Personal AssistantUK figure is from one source. | £60,000 to £135,000One published guide | $80,000 to $250,000Range across 2 published guides |
| NannyOne guide reports senior, Norland-trained UK nannies at £95,000 to £140,000 and above. | £50,000 to £95,000Range across 2 published guides | $60,000 to $170,000Range across 3 published guides |
| Housekeeper | £42,000 to £80,000Range across 2 published guides | $75,000 to $160,000Range across 3 published guides |
| Private ChefTravelling chefs are paid more than resident chefs. | £65,000 to £200,000Range across 2 published guides | $100,000 to $310,000 and aboveRange across 3 published guides |
| Chauffeur | £50,000 to £90,000Range across 2 published guides | $80,000 to $140,000Range across 2 published guides |
How this was put together
- Every range is taken from published 2026 salary guides. A range runs from the lowest minimum to the highest maximum the guides report, so it is a benchmark, not a promise of what any role pays.
- The guides use different methods, and one of the yacht guides presents its table as a guide only. Where a single guide covers a role, the row says so. Actual pay depends on location, experience, responsibilities and package, and some roles include accommodation.
Published guides
- Yacht crew: two published 2026 guides.One from a yacht crew agency, based on its live recruitment data and placements. One from a yachting publication, presented as a guide only. Both in euros per month.
- Private household staff: three published 2026 guides.Three household staffing agencies. Two cover the UK and US, and one covers the US only, shown here as the 25th to 75th percentile. Annual pay in pounds and dollars.
How to cite
Lighthouse Careers, Household Staff and Yacht Crew Salaries 2026, https://www.lighthouse-careers.com/salary-report/
You are welcome to quote this page with a link. The ranges are published benchmarks, so please describe them that way. For a comment on the data, contact us.
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