Yachting · Senior
Chief Officer / First Mate Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$55,000
25th percentile
P50
$95,000
Median
P75
$150,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Tight
Scarcity: 5.5/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
257-373
Active candidates globally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
2% year-over-year
RETENTION
2.6 yr avg tenure
25% annual turnover
Chief Officer / First Mate Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Career progression path to captain roles; retention a key issue
Also Known As
First Officer (Yacht), Chief Mate (Yacht), First Mate (Superyacht), Senior Deck Officer
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%.
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