Yachting · Senior
Staff Captain Salary
Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.
National Compensation Range
P25
$105,000
25th percentile
P50
$135,000
Median
P75
$170,000
75th percentile
CANDIDATE MARKET
Tight
Scarcity: 7/10
EST. CANDIDATE POOL
40-80
Active candidates globally
DEMAND TREND
Stable
10% year-over-year
RETENTION
3.5 yr avg tenure
14% annual turnover
Staff Captain Salary by City
Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.
Market Trends
Growing as gigayacht fleet expands; bridge management and safety oversight focus
Also Known As
Deputy Captain, Second Captain, Staff Master, Relief Master (Superyacht), 2IC, Second in Command, Deputy Master
What Does a Staff Captain Do?
The Staff 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 tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 40-80 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What Drives Staff Captain Compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Staff Captain is $135,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $105,000 to $170,000. The 47% 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 0.1% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Staff Captain Career Path
Professionals who move into Staff 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 3.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 14%.
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