Yachting · Senior · 6 to 10 years typical
Chief Officer / First Mate Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $75,000 | $135,000 | $210,000 | $265,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $70,000 | $125,000 | $195,000 | $245,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $70,000 | $120,000 | $190,000 | $235,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $70,000 | $120,000 | $190,000 | $235,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $65,000 | $115,000 | $185,000 | $230,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $65,000 | $115,000 | $180,000 | $225,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $65,000 | $115,000 | $180,000 | $225,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $65,000 | $110,000 | $175,000 | $215,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $60,000 | $100,000 | $160,000 | $195,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $55,000 | $95,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 |
Time to fill 11 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Career progression path to captain roles; retention a key issue
What does a Chief Officer / First Mate do?
The Chief Officer / First Mate operates aboard private and charter yachts, managing vessel operations, crew, and guest experiences for yacht owners and charter clients. Professionals in this role typically bring 6 to 10 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 257-373 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Chief Officer / First Mate compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Chief Officer / First Mate is $95,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $55,000 to $150,000. The 100% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by vessel length and type (motor vs. sailing), charter vs. private program, crew size, operating region, and required certifications (MCA, STCW, ISM). Demand is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Chief Officer / First Mate career path
Professionals who move into Chief Officer / First Mate roles most commonly come from commercial maritime, cruise line operations, naval service, or hospitality management with maritime crossover. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward larger vessel commands, fleet management, yacht management company leadership, or shoreside marine operations director roles. The average tenure in this role is approximately 2.6 years, with an annual turnover rate of 25%.
Hiring a Chief Officer / First Mate?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.