Yachting · Senior

DPA (Designated Person Ashore) Salary

Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.

National Compensation Range

P25

$70,000

25th percentile

P50

$100,000

Median

P75

$125,000

75th percentile

CANDIDATE MARKET

Tight

Scarcity: 6.5/10

EST. CANDIDATE POOL

50-100

Active candidates globally

DEMAND TREND

Stable

8% year-over-year

RETENTION

4.5 yr avg tenure

12% annual turnover

DPA (Designated Person Ashore) Salary by City

New York City, NY$135,000
San Francisco, CA$125,000
Palm Beach, FL$125,000
Boston, MA$125,000
Los Angeles, CA$120,000

Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.

Market Trends

Mandated role; growing as flag state enforcement intensifies

Also Known As

Designated Person Ashore, DPA/CSO, ISM DPA, Safety & Compliance Manager (Yacht), Fleet Safety Manager

What Does a DPA (Designated Person Ashore) Do?

The DPA (Designated Person Ashore) 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 8 to 14 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 50-100 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.

What Drives DPA (Designated Person Ashore) Compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for a DPA (Designated Person Ashore) is $100,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $70,000 to $125,000. The 54% 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 for this role is trending upward with 0.08% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.

DPA (Designated Person Ashore) Career Path

Professionals who move into DPA (Designated Person Ashore) 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 4.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 12%.

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