Salary guide / Yacht Chef & Galley
Yacht Chef & Galley salaries
Yacht Chef & Galley pay worldwide from the Northrop & Johnson crew salary guide, until SuperyachtRoles.com has enough job ads with pay to publish its own.
Median salary · Worldwide
$96,000
Source: Northrop & Johnson 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide (U.S. dollars), 2026 (Head chef, sole chef and sous chef). Head/sole chef 5-6k (<30m) to 15k+ (80m+) a month; sous chef 5-9k+. Figures are annual, in USD. We switch to live job-ad figures once we have five or more yacht chef & galley ads with pay.
Yacht Chef & Galley pay by yacht size
Monthly pay as printed in two 2026 crew salary guides, with the leave package from YPI Crew. Each figure links to its guide. The annual column is 12 × the monthly figure (our calculation). Last checked 31 October 2026.
Head Chef / Sole Chef
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30m | 5,000–6,000 | 60,000–72,000 | 4,500*-6,000 | Non-rotational |
| 30–40m | 6,000–9,000 | 72,000–108,000 | 5,000*-7,500 | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 40–50m | 8,000–11,000 | 96,000–132,000 | 6,000–9,000 | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 50–60m | 10,000–13,000 | 120,000–156,000 | 6,500**-9,000 | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 60–80m | 10,000–15,000 | 120,000–180,000 | 7,000–9,000 | 2:2 rotation or non-rotational |
| 80–100m | 15,000+ | 180,000+ | 9,000+ | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 100m+ | 15,000+ | 180,000+ | 10,000+ | 2:2 rotation |
Sous Chef
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–50m | 5,000–7,000 | 60,000–84,000 | 4,000*-5,000*** | Non-rotational |
| 50–60m | 5,000–8,000 | 60,000–96,000 | 4,500*-6,000 | Non-rotational |
| 60–80m | 7,000–9,000 | 84,000–108,000 | 5,000*-6,000 | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 80–100m | 9,000+ | 108,000+ | 6,000+ | 2:2 or non-rotational |
| 100m+ | 9,000+ | 108,000+ | 6,000+ | 2:2 rotation |
Third Chef
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80–100m | 5,000+ | 60,000+ | 4,500–5,500 | 2:2 rotation |
| 100m+ | 5,000+ | 60,000+ | 4,500–5,500 | 2:2 rotation |
- YPI marks: * new to yachting, ** rotation, *** combined cook/stew or cook/deck.
- YPI says its figures are indicative starting ranges. It says rotational pay is generally 10–20% lower a month, and that pressure to offer leave or rotation now starts at 40–50m.
- Sources: Northrop & Johnson, 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide (US$) and YPI Crew, Yacht Crew Salary Guide 2026 (€).
Where the two guides disagree
Cells where the numbers differ. YPI's euros are converted to US$ at the European Central Bank euro reference rate of 1.1172 (30 October 2026). The gap compares midpoints. Largest gap first.
| Role | Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI Crewin US$ | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Chef / Sole Chef | 60–80m | 10,000–15,000 | 7,000–9,000 | 7,820–10,055 | YPI 28% lower |
| Head Chef / Sole Chef | 50–60m | 10,000–13,000 | 6,500**-9,000 | 7,262–10,055 | YPI 25% lower |
| Sous Chef | 60–80m | 7,000–9,000 | 5,000*-6,000 | 5,586–6,703 | YPI 23% lower |
| Sous Chef | 40–50m | 5,000–7,000 | 4,000*-5,000*** | 4,469–5,586 | YPI 16% lower |
| Head Chef / Sole Chef | 40–50m | 8,000–11,000 | 6,000–9,000 | 6,703–10,055 | YPI 12% lower |
| Sous Chef | 50–60m | 5,000–8,000 | 4,500*-6,000 | 5,027–6,703 | YPI 10% lower |
| Head Chef / Sole Chef | 30–40m | 6,000–9,000 | 5,000*-7,500 | 5,586–8,379 | YPI 7% lower |
| Head Chef / Sole Chef | Under 30m | 5,000–6,000 | 4,500*-6,000 | 5,027–6,703 | YPI 7% higher |
Gaps of 20% or more are in bold. Cells with an open figure, such as 6,000+, are left out.
Ranges are indicative gross monthly figures and vary widely by vessel size, private vs charter programme, itinerary and candidate CV. Rotational positions (e.g. 2:2) may be paid at a higher base. Charter crew typically receive guest gratuities on top of salary; private yachts may offer longevity bonuses. Figures exclude accommodation and food, which are provided aboard.
Live yacht chef & galley roles
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$207/day
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Chef for a 50m Yacht
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€6,500 - €6,800/month
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Chef on a 40m Yacht
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€5,500 - €6,000/month
Sole Chef on 35m motor yacht
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€4,000 - €4,500/month
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