What does a chief engineer earn by yacht size?
Northrop & Johnson's 2026 guide prints no chief engineer figure for yachts under 30m. From 30–40m the band is US$6,000-8,000 a month, then US$7,000-10,000 at 40–50m and US$9,000-13,000 at 50–60m. At 60–80m the guide prints US$11,000 to 12,000-plus. From 80m upwards it shows one open figure of US$15,000 and up, so the top end on large yachts is a matter for negotiation. Yachts over 100m also carry a 1st engineer, and the guide puts that post at US$8,500-10,000.
YPI Crew's 2026 engineering guide works in euros and follows a similar curve. It gives a chief engineer €5,000-7,000 a month at 30–40m, €8,000-12,000 at 50–60m, €12,000-15,000 at 80–100m and €13,000 to 15,000-plus above 100m. YPI also says the senior end of the market favours candidates. In its view, though, starting offers on some yachts of 60m and over have not kept up with what experienced chiefs expect. Chiefs who stay years on one yacht usually collect yearly rises, and they want a new package to reflect that.
Second engineer, third engineer and motorman
Northrop & Johnson places the second engineer at US$4,500-5,000 on a 40–50m yacht, rising to US$7,000-8,000 at 60–80m and US$7,500-9,000 at 80–100m. On 100m+ yachts the figure falls back to US$6,500-7,500, because a 1st engineer sits between the second and the chief. YPI Crew prints the same numbers in euros. It adds that a new EOOW joining a 50–60m yacht on a permanent contract would expect €5,500-6,500.
Third engineers appear from 60m: US$4,000-5,500 at 60–80m and US$5,000-6,000 above that. A motorman on an 80m+ yacht earns US$3,500-5,000, and YPI lists STCW III/4 as the ticket for that post. ETO and AV/IT posts sit close to second engineer pay or above it, at US$7,000-8,500 on 60–80m yachts and up to US$9,000-10,000-plus on yachts over 100m.
How rotation shapes the package
YPI Crew says 2:2 time-for-time rotation is now the normal expectation for chief and second engineers in 2026. It notes that yachts which cannot offer rotation at senior level lose out on the best candidates. Its tables show a chief on a 30–40m yacht as non-rotational and equal rotation from 50m upwards. Third engineers on 60–80m yachts are listed as non-rotational.
Read the whole package as well as the monthly figure. One October 2026 Yotspot advert from Northrop and Johnson offered a chief engineer on a 50m charter yacht US$8,000 a month, non-negotiable, on 2:2, with tips split evenly with the other rotational engineer. A Yacrew advert for a 50m expedition yacht offered US$9,000 a month, paid twelve months a year, on 3:3. YPI also says European day rates for relief engineers lag behind US rates.
What a higher ticket adds to your pay
YPI Crew links each chief engineer band to the ticket the yacht needs: AEC or EOOW at 30–40m, Y3 or small vessel Chief 3000 kW at 40–50m, Y1 or small vessel Chief 9000 kW at 50–80m, Y1 or Class I at 80–100m, and Class I above 100m. Going from Y3 to Y1 moves a chief from the US$7,000-10,000 band into bands that reach US$13,000 at 50–60m and over US$12,000 at 60–80m.
The limits come from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Y4 covers under 200 GT and 1,500 kW, Y3 under 500 GT and 3,000 kW, Y2 under 3,000 GT and 3,000 kW, and Y1 under 3,000 GT and 9,000 kW. The MCA has closed the old yacht structure to new notices of eligibility, apart from resits. It still revalidates yacht tickets, and holders convert to a small vessel ticket under MIN 642.
Pay
USD a month. Chief engineer rates from the Northrop & Johnson 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide, which gives no figure under 30m. YPI Crew 2026 euro rates are covered in the text. Yacht size, experience, ticket and rotation all move the figure. Refer to the chief engineer pay page for pay by yacht size.
What you need
- AEC or EOOWYPI Crew lists this as the ticket for a chief or sole engineer on a 30–40m yacht. It also suits a 2nd engineer at 40–50m or a 3rd engineer at 60–80m.
- Y3 or SV Chief 3000 kWYPI Crew's ticket for a chief engineer at 40–50m and a 2nd engineer at 50–80m. The MCA limits Y3 to yachts under 500 GT and 3,000 kW.
- Y1 or SV Chief 9000 kWYPI Crew's ticket for a chief engineer at 50–80m. The MCA limits Y1 to yachts under 3,000 GT and 9,000 kW.
- Class IYPI Crew expects Class I for a chief on yachts over 100m, and Y1 or Class I at 80–100m.
- STCW III/4YPI Crew lists this rating certificate for a motorman on 80m+ yachts.
- Yacht ticket conversionThe MCA no longer issues notices of eligibility for the old yacht tickets except for resits. It still revalidates them, and conversion to a small vessel ticket follows MIN 642.
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Questions people ask
How much does a chief engineer earn on a 50m yacht?
Northrop & Johnson's 2026 guide gives US$7,000-10,000 a month at 40–50m and US$9,000-13,000 at 50–60m. In late 2026, published adverts for 50m chiefs offered US$8,000 on 2:2 and US$9,000 on 3:3.
Is there a pay figure for engineers on yachts under 30m?
No. Neither Northrop & Johnson nor YPI Crew prints an engineer figure for yachts under 30m. Their chief engineer bands start at 30–40m.
Why does a second engineer earn less on a 100m+ yacht?
Northrop & Johnson shows a second engineer at US$7,500-9,000 on 80–100m yachts and US$6,500-7,500 above 100m. On those larger yachts a 1st engineer, at US$8,500-10,000, sits between the second and the chief.
Do yacht engineers work rotation?
YPI Crew says 2:2 rotation is now the normal expectation for chief and second engineers in 2026. Its tables show chiefs on 30–40m yachts as non-rotational and equal rotation from 50m. Third engineers on 60–80m yachts are listed as non-rotational.
How much more does a Y1 ticket earn than a Y3?
YPI Crew pairs Y3 with 40–50m chief posts and Y1 with 50–80m. In Northrop & Johnson's figures that takes the top of the band from US$10,000 a month to US$13,000 at 50–60m, with more on 60–80m yachts.
