How to become a Chief Engineer
Nobody starts as a Chief Engineer. The usual path starts as a Junior Engineer, a job you can get with no yacht experience, and reaches Chief Engineer at about year 7 to 10 of a yacht career.
The pathFrom no experience to Chief Engineer. A typical path, not a rule.
Junior Engineer
Year 0. Pay from about US$3,500 a month. The first rung in a superyacht engine room: daily rounds, maintenance, bilges and tenders under a senior engineer while you build sea time for Y4.
Third Engineer
Year 1-2. Pay from about US$4,000 a month. Junior engineering officer on larger yachts, running daily rounds, planned maintenance and engine room watches under the second and chief engineer.
Second Engineer
Year 3-5. Pay from about US$6,000 a month. The engineer who runs the engine room day to day under the chief, keeping generators, machinery and hotel systems working on yachts from 45m upward.
First Engineer
Year 5-7. Pay from about US$8,000 a month. Second in command of the engine room on larger yachts, running daily maintenance, watchkeeping and the engineering team under the Chief Engineer.
Chief Engineer
Year 7-10. Pay from about US$8,000 a month. The Chief Engineer runs every machine and system on board, leads the engine room team, controls the technical budget and answers to the captain.
Before you applyWhat a Junior Engineer needs, from the Junior Engineer guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- AEC 1 (Approved Engine Course)
- PDSD
Gets you hired
- AEC 2
- Trade qualification in mechanical, electrical or HVAC
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
- Engine Room Watch Rating certificate
- Manufacturer courses for engines or outboards
Later, for Chief Engineer
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- MCA Y4 to Y1 or Unlimited Chief Engineer CoC to suit tonnage and kW
- Advanced Fire Fighting
Visas
- US B1/B2 visa
- Schengen visa if not an EU national
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Junior Engineer for engine room rounds and logs, planned maintenance systems and generator and engine servicing. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. A background in marine engineering ashore is the closest match, for example work as a marine mechanic.
Write each job on your CV as what you did, with numbers: how many guests, how many boats, how many covers. Then list every skill below that you can prove.
- Engine room rounds and logs
- Planned maintenance systems
- Generator and engine servicing
- Tender and jet ski maintenance
- Bilge and fuel management
- Basic electrical fault finding
- Safe use of hand tools
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Junior Engineer must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training, ENG1 medical certificate, AEC 1 (Approved Engine Course) and PDSD before a yacht can put you to work as a Junior Engineer.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Junior Engineer CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then the work that transfers: marine engineering ashore.
See a Junior Engineer CV example →Create your crew profile
Upload that CV and we build your profile from it. Your name and contact details stay hidden. Captains and recruiters contact you. It is free.
Create your crew profile →Apply and look for daywork
Apply to open jobs and to crew agencies, and take daywork: a few paid days on a yacht is how most first-time crew get a reference.
Junior Engineer guide →Step up to Third Engineer
The usual path puts Third Engineer at year 1 to 2. Pay starts from about US$4,000 a month.
How to become a Third Engineer →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Chief Engineer with no experience?
Not directly. Chief Engineer is head of department work. The usual path starts as a Junior Engineer, which you can get with no yacht experience, and reaches Chief Engineer at about year 7 to 10.
How long does it take to become a Chief Engineer?
The usual path puts Chief Engineer at about year 7 to 10 of a yacht career, after Junior Engineer, Third Engineer, Second Engineer and First Engineer. It is a typical path, not a rule: time on busy yachts and the tickets you pass move it.
What does a Junior Engineer earn at the start?
From about US$3,500 a month, by our Junior Engineer guide. Charter tips can add several thousand dollars over a busy summer. Permanent contracts usually include annual leave, flights home and paid training once you have proved yourself.
Other paths from Junior EngineerAll roles
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