Salary guide / Chief Officer, Mate & OOW

Chief Officer, Mate & OOW salaries

Chief Officer, Mate & OOW 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

$84,000

10th percentile

$54,000

25th percentile

$69,000

Median (50th)

$84,000

75th percentile

$102,000

90th percentile

$126,000

Source: Northrop & Johnson 2026 Yacht Crew Salary Guide (U.S. dollars), 2026 (Chief, 2nd and 3rd officer). Chief officer 3.5-4.5k (<30m) to 12k+ (100m+) a month; 2nd officer 5-8k; 3rd officer 4.5-6.5k. Figures are annual, in USD. We switch to live job-ad figures once we have five or more chief officer, mate & oow ads with pay.

Chief Officer, Mate & OOW 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 Officer / First Mate

Yacht size	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year	YPI Crew€ a month	YPI CrewLeave
Under 30m	3,500–4,500	42,000–54,000	3,500–4,500	60 days
30–40m	4,500–7,000	54,000–84,000	3,500–4,500	60 days
40–50m	6,000–8,000	72,000–96,000	5,500–7,000	45–60 days
50–60m	8,000–9,000	96,000–108,000	7,000–8,000	60+ or equal rotation
60–80m	9,000–10,000	108,000–120,000	7,000–9,000	Equal rotation
80–100m	9,000–12,000	108,000–144,000	8,000–10,000	Equal rotation
100m+	12,000+	144,000+	9,500 + discretionary	Equal rotation

First Officer

Yacht size	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year	YPI Crew€ a month	YPI CrewLeave
100m+	7,500–9,500	90,000–114,000	7,500–9,500	Equal rotation

Second Officer

Yacht size	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year	YPI Crew€ a month	YPI CrewLeave
50–60m	5,000–6,000	60,000–72,000	5,000–6,000	60+ days or rotation
60–80m	6,000–7,500	72,000–90,000	5,500–6,500	60 days+ or rotation
80–100m	6,000–8,000	72,000–96,000	6,000+	Equal rotation
100m+	6,500–7,500	78,000–90,000	6,500–7,500	Equal rotation

Third Officer

Yacht size	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a month	Northrop & JohnsonUS$ a year	YPI Crew€ a month	YPI CrewLeave
60–80m	4,500+	54,000+	4,500+	90 days or equal rotation
80–100m	5,500–6,500	66,000–78,000	5,500–6,500	90 days or equal rotation
100m+	5,500–6,500	66,000–78,000	5,500–6,500	Equal rotation

Both guides say yachts over 100m (3000 GT) usually have a First Officer as well as a Chief Officer. On smaller yachts the Chief Officer is often called the Mate.
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 7 of the 15 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 Officer / First Mate	30–40m	4,500–7,000	3,500–4,500	3,910–5,027	YPI 22% lower
Chief Officer / First Mate	60–80m	9,000–10,000	7,000–9,000	7,820–10,055	YPI 6% lower
Chief Officer / First Mate	80–100m	9,000–12,000	8,000–10,000	8,938–11,172	YPI 4% lower
Chief Officer / First Mate	50–60m	8,000–9,000	7,000–8,000	7,820–8,938	YPI 1% lower
Second Officer	60–80m	6,000–7,500	5,500–6,500	6,145–7,262	YPI 1% lower
Chief Officer / First Mate	40–50m	6,000–8,000	5,500–7,000	6,145–7,820	Same

Gaps of 20% or more are in bold. Cells with an open figure, such as 6,000+, are left out.

Monthly figures in euros, typically tax-free (subject to residency) with food, accommodation and uniform provided. Ranges reflect 2025–2026 Mediterranean and US (Florida/Bahamas) market data and vary with vessel size, gross tonnage, qualifications and rotation terms. Charter yachts may offer lower base pay offset by tips.