Yachting · Senior
Head of Service (Yacht) Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$60,000
25th percentile
P50
$80,000
Median
P75
$100,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Tight
Scarcity: 6/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
80-160
Active candidates globally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
8% year-over-year
RETENTION
2.5 yr avg tenure
20% annual turnover
Head of Service (Yacht) Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Growing as yachts formalize service hierarchies; butler/fine dining experience valued
Also Known As
Service Director (Yacht), Chief of Service (Superyacht), Head Steward (Yacht), Service Manager (Yacht), HOS (Yacht), F&B Manager (Yacht), Chief Steward (Service)
What Does a Head of Service (Yacht) Do?
The Head of Service (Yacht) 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 4 to 8 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 80-160 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Head of Service (Yacht) Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Head of Service (Yacht) is $80,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $60,000 to $100,000. The 49% 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.
Head of Service (Yacht) Career Path
Professionals who move into Head of Service (Yacht) 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 2.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 20%.
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