How to become a Nanny
Nobody starts as a Nanny. The usual path starts as a Steward / Nanny, a role people enter from work ashore, and reaches Nanny at about year 1 to 4 of a yacht career.
The pathFrom no experience to Nanny. A typical path, not a rule.
Steward / Nanny
Year 0. Pay from about US$3,800 a month. A dual interior role on family yachts: normal stewarding duties, plus full care of the owner's or charter guests' children while they are aboard.
Nanny
Year 1-4. Pay from about US$4,000 a month. A yacht nanny looks after the owner's or guests' children on board, running their routines, safety and activities while the family is at sea.
Before you applyWhat a Steward / Nanny needs, from the Steward / Nanny guide
Must have
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- Paediatric first aid
- Enhanced background check (DBS or equivalent)
Gets you hired
- CACHE Level 3 or Norland childcare diploma
- GUEST interior course
- Food Hygiene Level 2
- PDSD
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Later, for Nanny
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical certificate
- Paediatric first aid (12-hour)
- Enhanced DBS or equivalent background check
Visas
- US B1/B2
- Schengen visa if non-EU
What counts instead of yacht experienceOur advice
Captains hire a Steward / Nanny for paediatric first aid, age-appropriate activity planning and water safety supervision. With no yacht job behind you, show the same skills from work ashore. For a Steward / Nanny, that means your qualifications and the years you have worked in the profession.
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.
- Paediatric first aid
- Age-appropriate activity planning
- Water safety supervision
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Silver service
- Discretion with UHNW families
- Clear communication with parents
Your first stepsIn the order we suggest
Get the tickets a Steward / Nanny must hold
You need STCW Basic Safety Training, ENG1 medical certificate, Paediatric first aid and Enhanced background check (DBS) before a yacht can put you to work as a Steward / Nanny.
STCW and ENG1: what they are and what they cost →Write a first Steward / Nanny CV
Keep it to one page. Put your tickets and your start date at the top, then your qualifications and your work ashore, with dates.
See a Steward / Nanny 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.
Steward / Nanny guide →Step up to Nanny
The usual path puts Nanny at year 1 to 4. Pay starts from about US$4,000 a month.
How to become a Nanny →
QuestionsMore in the green crew guide
Can I become a Nanny with no experience?
Not directly. Nanny is mid level work. The usual path starts as a Steward / Nanny, and reaches Nanny at about year 1 to 4.
How long does it take to become a Nanny?
The usual path puts Nanny at about year 1 to 4 of a yacht career, after Steward / Nanny. It is a typical path, not a rule: time on busy yachts and the tickets you pass move it.
What does a Steward / Nanny earn at the start?
From about US$3,800 a month, by our Steward / Nanny guide. Family charters usually pay tips of 10-20% of the charter fee, split among the crew, and this can add several thousand dollars a month in season. Private family yachts rarely tip, but some pay a bonus at the end of the season and offer longer paid leave.
Other paths from Steward / NannyAll roles
Let the yachts come to you
Upload your CV and we build your crew profile from it. Captains and recruiters contact you. Free for crew.