Yachting · Mid

Security Officer (Yacht) Salary

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

National Compensation Range

P25

$55,000

25th percentile

P50

$75,000

Median

P75

$95,000

75th percentile

CANDIDATE MARKET

Tight

Scarcity: 6.5/10

EST. CANDIDATE POOL

60-130

Active candidates globally

DEMAND TREND

Stable

12% year-over-year

RETENTION

3 yr avg tenure

18% annual turnover

Security Officer (Yacht) Salary by City

New York City, NY$105,000
San Francisco, CA$100,000
Palm Beach, FL$100,000
Boston, MA$95,000
Los Angeles, CA$90,000

Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.

Market Trends

ISPS Code on 50m+. Dedicated security teams on 80m+.

Also Known As

Yacht Security Officer, Ship Security Officer (Yacht), Maritime Security Officer, Close Protection (Yacht), SSO, Maritime EP, CP (Yacht)

What Does a Security Officer (Yacht) Do?

The Security Officer (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 5 to 10 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Mid level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 60-130 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.

What Drives Security Officer (Yacht) Compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for a Security Officer (Yacht) is $75,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $55,000 to $95,000. The 53% 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.

Security Officer (Yacht) Career Path

Professionals who move into Security Officer (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 3 years, with an annual turnover rate of 18%.

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