I love Below Deck — like, really love it. But sometimes I’m watching the chaos unfold and wondering: “Wait… how much are these people actually getting paid to deal with this madness?”
Let’s spill the champagne and break it down. From deckhand drama to confessional cash and five-figure tips — here’s everything you didn’t know you needed to know about how much the Below Deck crew really earns.
The yacht job = solid pay + a whole lotta stress
Yes, they’re getting paid to work on a luxury yacht, but it’s not all sunsets and rosé. Try 18-hour shifts, zero privacy, nightmare guests who want cucumber-infused water every hour, and bunk beds that look like jail cells.
Here’s the monthly take-home pay for the real yacht jobs:
- Deckhands: €3,200–€4,100 / $3,500–$4,500
- Bosun: About €4,600 / $5,000
- 2nd & 3rd Stews: Also around €4,600 / $5,000
- Chief Stew: €5,000–€5,500 / $5,500–$6,000 — plus emotional trauma from managing the interior
- Chef: €6,400–€9,200 / $7,000–$10,000 — and no, they don’t get paid more when guests complain about the scallops
- Captain: €13,800–€19,300 / $15,000–$21,000. That’s if they’re full-time — and if they charter out the yacht for a year, they could make an extra €92,000 / $100,000 on top
But the real cherry? The tips
Forget your average restaurant tip jar. These guests throw down big money. Each crew member usually bags €13,800–€17,300 / $15,000–$18,500 in tips during a six-week charter season. That’s for putting up with drunk billionaires, broken jet skis, and stews crying in laundry rooms.
Bravo adds TV pay – but it’s not Housewives-level
This is the stage where chaos ensues. The Below Deck crew gets about €4,600–€5,500 / $5,000–$6,000 a month for being filmed 24/7 and having their worst hangovers and hook-ups aired for the world to see. It’s something, but not much compared to The Real Housewives, who cash in upwards of €930,000 / $1 million per season for throwing wine at each other.
No wonder some crew members have spoken out. Ashley Marti from Below Deck Sailing Yacht called the pay gap a joke. And honestly? We kind of agree.
But fame? That’s the long game
Once they’ve been on the show, crew members can cash in off the yacht. Appearances, brand deals, sponsored beachwear on Insta — it adds up. Some even parlay their reality fame into full-on influencer careers, writing books, starting businesses, and launching skincare lines. (Looking at you, Hannah Ferrier.)
Let’s not overlook the juicy details…
Here’s the unspoken deal: you’re not just getting paid to mop the deck or fluff pillows. You’re getting paid to bring the drama. That means:
- Random hook-ups that come back to haunt you
- Fights over laundry and late-night shifts
- Tequila-fuelled tears in the crew mess
- Passive-aggressive radio calls from the bridge
- And that one guest every season who acts like they own the ocean
Below Deck isn’t just a job. It’s a wild, floating soap opera — with tips.
The final verdict?
Work four months a year, live on a superyacht, make five figures and become a reality TV star? Count us in. Just maybe pack some earplugs, a thick skin, and a backup plan in case Bravo airs your worst drunken moment.
