Yachting · Senior · 3 to 7 years typical
Yacht Captain (Under 30m) Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $65,000 | $105,000 | $170,000 | $210,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $60,000 | $100,000 | $155,000 | $195,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $60,000 | $95,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $60,000 | $95,000 | $150,000 | $190,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $60,000 | $90,000 | $145,000 | $185,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $60,000 | $90,000 | $145,000 | $180,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $60,000 | $90,000 | $145,000 | $180,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $55,000 | $85,000 | $140,000 | $175,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $50,000 | $80,000 | $125,000 | $160,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 | $150,000 |
Time to fill 8 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Growth in owner-operated smaller yachts keeps demand healthy
What does a Yacht Captain (Under 30m) do?
The Yacht Captain (Under 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 3 to 7 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a competitive candidate pool, though specialized qualifications and sector-specific experience remain key differentiators in hiring.
What drives Yacht Captain (Under 30m) compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Yacht Captain (Under 30m) is $75,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $50,000 to $120,000. The 96% 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 17% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Yacht Captain (Under 30m) career path
Professionals who move into Yacht Captain (Under 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 1.7 years, with an annual turnover rate of 33%.
Hiring a Yacht Captain (Under 30m)?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.