I’m a die-hard Below Deck fan like, can’t-miss-an-episode obsessed. But every time the drama reaches a peak, I find myself wondering: how much are these yachties actually getting paid to deal with this chaos?
Today, we’re spilling the champagne and breaking down the real Below Deck crew salaries, tips, TV pay, and a few secrets they probably wish we didn’t know.
Life on a yacht = solid pay + a tonne of stress.
Yes, they get to work on a floating luxury hotel… But let’s be honest, it’s not all Aperol spritzes and sunsets. Think 18-hour shifts, no privacy, demanding guests asking for cucumber-infused water on the hour, and bunk beds that make hostel rooms look spacious.
Here’s the average monthly take-home pay for real yacht jobs:
- Captain: €13,800–€19,300 / $15,000–$21,000—and if they charter out the yacht all year, they can bag an extra €92,000 / $100,000.
- Deckhands: €3,200–€4,100 / $3,500–$4,500
- Bosun: ~€4,600 / $5,000
- 2nd & 3rd Stews: ~$4,600 / $5,000
- Chief Stew: €5,000–€5,500 / $5,500–$6,000 (plus emotional trauma from wrangling the interior)
- Chef: €6,400–€9,200 / $7,000–$10,000 (and no, complaints about scallops don’t come with a bonus)
Tips are where the real magic happens.
Forget your local café tip jar—these are next level. Guests routinely drop €13,800–€17,300 ($15,000–$18,500) in tips per crew member for a six-week charter season. That’s the reward for surviving drunk billionaires, malfunctioning jet skis, and stews crying in the laundry room.
Most of these tips are handed out in wads of cash during the dramatic “tip meetings,” which have basically become a Below Deck signature moment. One wrong move, and that glorious tip can go from “party” to “pocket change” instantly.
Bravo pay isn’t Housewives money.
Yes, they’re reality TV stars now. But while the drama streams into our living rooms, the Below Deck crew gets about €4,600–€5,500 / $5,000–$6,000 per month for being filmed 24/7. Compare that to The Real Housewives, who pull in €930,000/$1 million+ per season for throwing wine—ouch.
No wonder some crew members have ranted about it. Ashley Marti from Below Deck Sailing Yacht even called the pay gap a joke. Honestly? Hard to disagree.
Bravo pay isn’t Housewives money.
Being a reality TV star comes with perks, but the pay is not outrageous. While the drama streams into our living rooms, the Below Deck crew gets about €4,600–€5,500 / $5,000–$6,000 per month for being filmed 24/7. Compare that to The Real Housewives, who pull in €930,000/$1 million+ per season for throwing wine—ouch.
Some crew have openly called the TV pay laughable. Ashley Marti from Below Deck Sailing Yacht went as far as to call the pay gap “a joke.” And, honestly? Watching them scrub toilets after 17-hour shifts, it’s impossible not to agree.
Fame is the long game.
This is where it gets interesting. Once a yachtie hits the screen, they can cash in on:
- Paid appearances and conventions
- Brand deals and sponsored beachwear posts
- Influencer-level partnerships and merch
- Even books, podcasts, and skincare lines (looking at you, Hannah Ferrier!)
Some crew members transform their 15 minutes of fame into a full-blown career, while others disappear after a single season, often by choice.
The unspoken reality: you’re paid to bring the drama.
This isn’t just a job; it’s a floating soap opera. You’re signing up for:
- Hook-ups that come back to haunt you
- Fights over laundry and 2 a.m. anchor watches
- Tequila-fuelled tears in the crew mess
- Passive-aggressive radio calls from the bridge
- And that one guest every season who thinks they own the ocean
The crew knows that to make the final cut, you need to deliver storylines. Your wild night out or your laundry room meltdown is part of your unofficial job description.
Bonus treat: My Below Deck song!
I love the show so much; I wrote a little tune inspired by the chaos. I think Avril Lavigne meets Taylor Swift but with jet skis and champagne flutes. It’s all about 18-hour shifts, laundry room meltdowns, and the sweet sound of the tip bell. Give it a listen right here—it’s the unofficial yachtie anthem.
But fame? That’s the long game.
After appearing on the show, crew members have the opportunity to earn income from their yacht. Appearances, brand deals, and 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.
What a season on Below Deck really looks like.
If you break it down, one season usually means the following:
- 4–6 weeks of chartering
- 18-hour days and minimal sleep
- €30,000–€50,000 in total pay and tips
- Non-stop drama and zero personal space
You live, work, party, and cry all in the same 180-foot space. Cameras are rolling, producers are listening, and if you so much as sneeze during a crew night out, it might become a GIF by next Tuesday.
The final verdict?
Work four months a year, live on a superyacht, make five figures, and maybe get famous. Tempting? Absolutely. But you’ll need earplugs, a thick skin, and a backup plan for when Bravo inevitably airs your most questionable drunken moment.
Would I do it? Honestly, it’s difficult, but at least I applied. The promise of sun, sea, and superyacht tips is difficult to resist.
Related articles you might like:
- 5 Wildest Reality TV Job Perks (and Nightmares)
- Love Below Deck? Here’s the Real Life of Superyacht Crews
- The Most Dramatic Reality TV Meltdowns at Sea
- Reality Stars Who Turned Their 15 Minutes into Millions
FAQ: The Below Deck Crew’s Salary and What They Really Earn
Do the below-deck crew get paid a salary?
Yes. Crew members earn a salary for working on the yacht, just like they would on any luxury charter vessel. They also receive charter tips, and many cast members are believed to receive an appearance fee for filming the show, although Bravo has never publicly confirmed those amounts.
Do the crew keep all of their tips?
Yes. At the end of each charter, the primary guest presents a tip, which is then divided among the crew according to the yacht’s policy. On the show, the split is typically shared across the onboard crew.
How much does a below-deck deckhand earn?
A deckhand typically earns around $3,500 to $4,500 per month before tips. Experience, yacht size, and responsibilities can all affect pay.
What is a chief steward’s salary?
Chief stews generally earn around $6,000 or more per month, depending on their experience and the yacht they’re working on.
How much does the chef make on Below Deck?
The yacht chef is usually one of the highest-paid crew members, earning approximately $7,000 to $10,000 per month before tips.
How much does the captain earn?
Captains command the highest salaries, with estimates ranging from $150,000 to more than $200,000 per year for experienced superyacht captains.
