Chief officer pay by yacht size
Northrop & Johnson's 2026 guide prints the Chief Officer / First Mate line in seven bands, in US dollars a month. Under 30m it gives 3,500-4,500. At 30-40m it is 4,500-7,000, and at 40-50m 6,000-8,000. At 50-60m it is 8,000-9,000, at 60-80m 9,000-10,000 and at 80-100m 9,000-12,000. Over 100m the guide prints 12,000 and up, with no ceiling. The biggest steps come between 30m and 60m, where the mate moves from working deck on a small crew to running a full deck department.
Titles shift with size. On smaller yachts the chief officer is usually called the mate or first mate. YPI Crew notes that yachts over 100m, or 3,000 GT, generally carry a First Officer as well as a Chief Officer. Northrop & Johnson prints the First Officer at 7,500-9,500 a month on 100m+ yachts, which is the rung below the chief officer on those ships.
How YPI Crew's figures compare
YPI Crew's 2026 officer guide prints chief officer pay in euros a month. It gives €3,500-4,500 under 30m, €5,500-7,000 at 40-50m, €7,000-8,000 at 50-60m, €7,000-9,000 at 60-80m, €8,000-10,000 at 80-100m and €9,500 and up over 100m. The size bands match Northrop & Johnson's, and the numbers run close. They are in a different currency, so treat the two guides as separate views of the market rather than one table.
YPI also sets out leave. Below 40m it lists minimum flag leave up to 60 days, 45-60 days at 40-50m, 60 days or equal rotation at 50-60m, and equal rotation from 60m. It says rotation is uncommon under 500 GT and usually offered to all senior officers over 3,000 GT. YPI warns that in 2026 the supply of qualified officers has outpaced bridge roles, so the top of a band is earned, never assumed.
The rise to captain
The jump to command is large. In Northrop & Johnson's 2026 figures a captain on a 40-50m yacht earns US$13,000-20,500 a month against US$6,000-8,000 for the chief officer. At 60-80m the captain band is US$19,600-32,750 against US$9,000-10,000. At 80-100m it is US$26,200-32,800 against US$9,000-12,000. Captain pay over 100m is listed as discretionary. YPI's euro captain bands show the same gap, for example €14,000-18,000 at 60-80m.
The numbers explain a common choice. Northrop & Johnson's under-30m captain band, US$9,800-12,250, sits above its 50-60m chief officer band. So a chief officer on a mid-size yacht can weigh a first command on a smaller boat against staying on as mate. Both guides say captain pay depends on experience and qualifications, which brings you back to the ticket.
What the next ticket adds
Under MSN 1858 Amendment 2, the Chief Mate (Yachts less than 3000 GT) ticket needs the OOW (Yachts less than 3000 GT) ticket or its full requirements, plus an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean with the shore-based course or an IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited, the ancillary courses and an ENG1. The MCA manning scale requires a Chief Mate (Y) in the chief mate post on a 500-3000 GT yacht more than 150 miles from a safe haven.
Master (Yachts less than 500 GT) needs 12 months' yacht service as a deck officer while holding the OOW ticket, with at least 120 days' watchkeeping, four MCA training modules, the Celestial Navigation exam and an oral. Master (Yachts less than 3000 GT) needs 24 months as a deck officer, with 240 days' watchkeeping and either 12 months on yachts of 24m or more or 6 months on yachts of 500 GT or more, then an oral.
From 18 May 2026 the MCA's new Yacht Unlimited ticket lets holders serve as chief mate or master on any size of yacht, including over 3,000 GT, with no cargo-ship service. The MCA says yacht sea time must be verified by Nautilus International or the PYA. Unverified time can delay an application by around 160 days.
Pay
USD a month. Chief Officer / First Mate line from Northrop & Johnson's 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide, in US dollars a month; YPI Crew 2026 euro figures are compared in the text. Yacht size and experience move the figure, as does the ticket held. Refer to the chief officer pay page for pay by yacht size.
What you need
- OOW (Yachts <3000 GT)The base deck ticket. The Chief Mate ticket needs it, or all its requirements met, including 36 months' yacht service and an Efficient Deck Hand certificate.
- Yachtmaster OceanAn RYA Yachtmaster Ocean with the shore-based course, or an IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited, is required for Chief Mate (Yachts <3000 GT).
- ENG1 medicalA valid ENG1 or accepted equivalent is required for every MCA yacht deck ticket.
- Ancillary coursesEach yacht ticket requires the ancillary and safety course certificates listed in section 6 of MSN 1858 Amendment 2.
- Verified sea timeYacht service should be verified by Nautilus International or the PYA. The MCA warns that skipping this can cause delays of around 160 days.
- Watchkeeping for MasterMaster (Yachts <500 GT) needs 120 days' watchkeeping within 12 months as a deck officer, and Master (Yachts <3000 GT) needs 240 days within 24 months.
How to get there
- Officer entryOOW (Yachts <3000 GT)36 months' yacht service, including at least 365 days' seagoing service (at least 250 days at sea, with the rest made up of sea, stand-by or yard service), plus EDH, two MCA modules, a Training Record Book and an oral.
- With or after OOWChief Mate (Yachts <3000 GT)Add Yachtmaster Ocean or IYT Master of Yachts Unlimited. It can be applied for at the same time as the OOW ticket.
- After 12 months as officerMaster (Yachts <500 GT)12 months as a deck officer with 120 days' watchkeeping, four modules, Celestial Navigation and an oral.
- After 24 months as officerMaster (Yachts <3000 GT)24 months as a deck officer with 240 days' watchkeeping, then the Master (yachts less than 3000 GT) oral.
- From May 2026Yacht UnlimitedNew MCA route from 18 May 2026 for chief mate or master on yachts of any size, including over 3,000 GT.
Open now on SuperyachtRoles.com
Related pages
Questions people ask
Is yacht chief officer pay quoted in dollars or euros?
It depends on the agency. Northrop & Johnson's 2026 guide prints US dollars a month, and YPI Crew's 2026 officer guide prints euros a month. The size bands match, so compare within one guide, never across currencies.
What does a chief officer earn on a 100m+ yacht?
Northrop & Johnson prints US$12,000 and up a month for the chief officer on yachts over 100m. YPI Crew gives €9,500 and up on equal rotation. These yachts usually carry a First Officer as well, paid US$7,500-9,500 a month in Northrop & Johnson's guide.
How much more does a captain earn than a chief officer?
On a 60-80m yacht, Northrop & Johnson puts the captain at US$19,600-32,750 a month against US$9,000-10,000 for the chief officer. On a 40-50m yacht the figures are US$13,000-20,500 against US$6,000-8,000. Captain pay over 100m is discretionary.
Do chief officers work rotation?
YPI Crew lists equal rotation for chief officers from 60m upwards, and 60 days or equal rotation at 50-60m. Smaller yachts usually give set leave of up to 60 days. YPI says rotation is uncommon under 500 GT.
How much sea time do I need for Master (Yachts <3000 GT)?
MSN 1858 Amendment 2 requires 24 months' yacht service as a deck officer while holding the OOW ticket, with at least 240 days' watchkeeping. That must include 12 months on yachts of 24m or more, or 6 months on yachts of 500 GT or more.
Do I need the new Yacht Unlimited ticket?
Only if you aim to serve as chief mate or master on yachts over 3,000 GT. The MCA launched it on 18 May 2026 so yacht officers can reach that level without cargo-ship service. Below 3,000 GT the existing yacht tickets still cover the post.
Sources
- Northrop & Johnson: 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide (US dollars)
- YPI Crew: Superyacht Officer Salary Guide 2026
- GOV.UK: MSN 1858 (M+F) Amendment 2, deck officers on large yachts
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency: MSN 1858 Amendment 2 (PDF)
- GOV.UK: MCA launches Yacht Unlimited Certificate of Competency
- GOV.UK: Certification for Deck Officers on Commercial and Private yachts
