Salary guide / Engineer
Engineer salaries
Engineer 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
$90,000
Source: Northrop & Johnson 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide (U.S. dollars), 2026 (Chief, 2nd and 3rd engineer). Chief engineer 6-8k (30-40m) to 15k+ (80m+) a month; 2nd engineer 4.5-9k; 3rd engineer 4-6k. Figures are annual, in USD. We switch to live job-ad figures once we have five or more engineer ads with pay.
Engineer pay by yacht size
Monthly pay as printed in two 2026 crew salary guides, with the leave package from YPI Crew. Each figure links to its guide. The annual column is 12 × the monthly figure (our calculation). Last checked 31 October 2026.
Chief Engineer
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30–40m | 6,000–8,000 | 72,000–96,000 | 5,000–7,000 | Non-rotational |
| 40–50m | 7,000–10,000 | 84,000–120,000 | 6,500–8,000 | Non or equal rotation |
| 50–60m | 9,000–13,000 | 108,000–156,000 | 8,000–12,000 | Equal rotation |
| 60–80m | 11,000–12,000+ | 132,000–144,000+ | 11,000–12,000+ | Equal rotation |
| 80–100m | 15,000+ | 180,000+ | 12,000–15,000 | Equal rotation |
| 100m+ | 15,000+ | 180,000+ | 13,000–15,000+ | Equal rotation |
1st Engineer
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m+ | 8,500–10,000 | 102,000–120,000 | 8,500–10,000 | Equal rotation |
Second Engineer
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–50m | 4,500–5,000 | 54,000–60,000 | 4,500–5,000 | Non-rotational |
| 50–60m | 5,500–7,000 | 66,000–84,000 | 5,500–7,000 | Equal rotation |
| 60–80m | 7,000–8,000 | 84,000–96,000 | 7,000–8,000 | Equal rotation |
| 80–100m | 7,500–9,000 | 90,000–108,000 | 7,500–9,000 | Equal rotation |
| 100m+ | 6,500–7,500 | 78,000–90,000 | 6,500–7,500 | Equal rotation |
Third Engineer
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60–80m | 4,000–5,500 | 48,000–66,000 | 4,000–5,500 | Non-rotational |
| 80–100m | 5,000–6,000 | 60,000–72,000 | 5,000–6,000 | Rotation |
| 100m+ | 5,000–6,000 | 60,000–72,000 | 5,000–6,000 | Rotation |
Motorman
| Yacht size | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month | Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year | YPI Crew€ a month | YPI CrewLeave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80–100m | 3,500–5,000 | 42,000–60,000 | 3,500–5,000 | Rotation |
| 100m+ | 3,500–5,000 | 42,000–60,000 | 3,500–5,000 | Rotation |
- YPI ties chief engineer pay to the ticket the yacht needs: AEC or EOOW at 30–40m, Y3 at 40–50m, Y1 at 50–80m, Y1 or Class I at 80–100m, and Class I at 100m+.
- 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$) and YPI Crew, Yacht Crew Salary Guide 2026 (€).
Where the two guides disagree
In 12 of the 17 cells where both guides give a figure, they print the same number. Northrop & Johnson labels it US$ and YPI Crew labels it €. At the ECB rate of 1.1172 US$ to €1 on 30 October 2026, the euro figure is about 12% more pay. Ask the agency or yacht which currency an offer is in.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Engineer | 40–50m | 7,000–10,000 | 6,500–8,000 | 7,262–8,938 | YPI 5% lower |
| Chief Engineer | 30–40m | 6,000–8,000 | 5,000–7,000 | 5,586–7,820 | YPI 4% lower |
| Chief Engineer | 50–60m | 9,000–13,000 | 8,000–12,000 | 8,938–13,406 | YPI 2% higher |
Gaps of 20% or more are in bold. Cells with an open figure, such as 6,000+, are left out.
Indicative gross monthly figures for live-aboard crew; most packages are tax-advantaged with accommodation, food, travel and medical cover provided. Rotational salaries reflect pay during on-board periods. US-flagged/US-based yachts often pay comparable figures in USD. Actual pay varies with vessel size, flag, charter activity and qualifications.
Live engineer roles
See all →TEMP Chief Engineer required for 70M private yacht
Viking Crew · Mediterranean
TEMP 2nd Officer needed for 70M private support yacht
Viking Crew · Mediterranean
Rotational Chief Engineer 50m MY
Saltwater Recruitment · Worldwide
31m M/Y – Rotational Engineer – Australia – Private
Yachtsmen International · Worldwide
Sole Engineer - 35m Private Motor Yacht
Bluewater Yachting · Caribbean
Sole Engineer - 29m Private Sailing Yacht
Bluewater Yachting · Mediterranean
€4,000/month
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