Yachting · Senior · 9 to 15 years typical
Yacht Captain (30m+) Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 257 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $120,000 | $190,000 | $295,000 | $370,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $110,000 | $175,000 | $275,000 | $340,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $105,000 | $170,000 | $265,000 | $330,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $105,000 | $170,000 | $265,000 | $330,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $105,000 | $165,000 | $255,000 | $320,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $100,000 | $160,000 | $250,000 | $315,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $100,000 | $160,000 | $250,000 | $315,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $100,000 | $155,000 | $240,000 | $300,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $90,000 | $140,000 | $220,000 | $275,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $85,000 | $135,000 | $210,000 | $265,000 |
Time to fill 7 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Larger average yacht size drives higher compensation
What does a Yacht Captain (30m+) do?
The Yacht Captain (30m+) 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 9 to 15 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 570-933 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Yacht Captain (30m+) compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Yacht Captain (30m+) is $135,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $85,000 to $210,000. The 93% 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 is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Yacht Captain (30m+) career path
Professionals who move into Yacht Captain (30m+) 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 1.9 years, with an annual turnover rate of 33%.
Hiring a Yacht Captain (30m+)?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.