Yachting · Senior
Relief Captain / Rotation Captain Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$80,000
25th percentile
P50
$130,000
Median
P75
$200,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Very Tight
Scarcity: 7.5/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
30-70
Active candidates globally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
12% year-over-year
RETENTION
2.5 yr avg tenure
20% annual turnover
Relief Captain / Rotation Captain Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Growing as owners adopt structured rotation schedules; key retention lever in the industry
Also Known As
Rotation Captain, Relief Master, Part-Time Captain (Yacht), Locum Captain
What Does a Relief Captain / Rotation Captain Do?
The Relief Captain / Rotation Captain 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 very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 30-70 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Relief Captain / Rotation Captain Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Relief Captain / Rotation Captain is $130,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $80,000 to $200,000. The 92% 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 0.12% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Relief Captain / Rotation Captain Career Path
Professionals who move into Relief Captain / Rotation Captain 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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