Employer Registration
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary5000
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Yacht Jobs in Florida
Build your maritime career with top super yacht jobs in Florida.
From private yacht placement to luxury charter employment opportunities,Florida has to offer a strong foundation for both beginners and experienced crews. An established marina and consistent vessel traffic across seasons are what set Florida apart from other yachting regions in the world. Thus, it's a market that rewards those who know where to look and how to show up.
Meridian puts you directly in front of hiring captains, yacht owners, and recruiters. Join Meridian for free to join and let your next role find you in just a few clicks.
Steward(ess)
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- LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
- Salary$4,500
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Chief Engineer
/ Deck/Steward(ess)
T
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationMiami, FL, USA
- Salary10000
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
First Officer/Chief Mate
/ Deck/Steward(ess)
T
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationMiami, FL, USA
- Salary7000
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
Mate
VIEW
- LocationKey Largo, FL 33037, USA
- Salary$90,000 to $100,000/year
- Vessel Length0' to 79' (0 to 24 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Engineer
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Temporary
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagMarshall Islands
Chef
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Temporary
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagMarshall Islands
Chef
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary8000
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Captain
/ Sole Steward(ess)
T
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Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationSouth Miami, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
3rd Engineer
VIEW
- LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length211' to 275' (65 to 84 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Why Work in Florida?
Working in Florida places you in a market that strikes a balance between year-round activity and seasonal opportunities. Since the state's marinas are important stops for ships travelling longer US coastal routes, crew demand doesn't completely go away with the seasons.
- A diverse recruiting environment is present due to the combination of private yachts, charter companies, and refit facilities in Florida. The range of vessels available accommodates both short-term contracts and long-term billets.
- The high-demand windows in Florida are defined by charter seasons, but wise employees explore beyond those peaks. For those who pay attention, maintenance seasons, delivery routes, and private owner schedules produce a more constant stream of opportunities.
- If you're looking to pursue a long-term career in yachting, Florida is a decent option because it's not as crowded as large hubs like Fort Lauderdale while still being busy enough to get employment on a regular basis.
Yacht Job Salaries in Florida
Yacht crew salaries in Florida are highly dependent on the size of the vessel, role, and the purpose of the yacht. On a quick analysis of the industry trends from 2024 to 2026, there's a steady 8-10% hike in salaries due to the increasing demand for specialized skills.
National Average:
| Yacht Crew Average Annual Salary Chart (USD) | |||
| Position | Small Yacht (<100ft) | Mid-Size Yacht (100–160ft) | Superyacht (160ft+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | $85,000 – $130,000 | $135,000 – $210,000 | $220,000 – $440,000+ |
| Chief Engineer | $75,000 – $100,000 | $110,000 – $150,000 | $160,000 – $200,000+ |
| Chef (Head/Sole) | $65,000 – $85,000 | $90,000 – $120,000 | $130,000 – $160,000+ |
| Chief Stewardess | $60,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $105,000 | $110,000 – $140,000 |
| First Officer/Mate | $60,000 – $80,000 | $85,000 – $110,000 | $115,000 – $145,000 |
| Bosun/Lead Deck | $50,000 – $60,000 | $65,000 – $75,000 | $80,000 – $95,000 |
| Stewardess (Junior) | $38,000 – $48,000 | $45,000 – $55,000 | $55,000 – $70,000 |
| Deckhand (Junior) | $36,000 – $45,000 | $42,000 – $52,000 | $55,000 – $68,000 |
Seasonal vs. Permanent Roles
- Temporary crew or freelancers get a higher daily rate (daywork) in return for the lack of long-term security. Meanwhile, permanent roles make a steady monthly income with regular raises, often at a rate of 5 to 10%.
- Temporary crew members also often earn through tips. Charter vessels provide higher tips. On average, each crew member can make from $1000 to #3000+ in tips above their base salary. Whereas permanent positions can earn you additional benefits in the form of health insurance, annual flight allowances to home port, and paid leave, etc.
- If you're looking forward to building your CV or those who want to travel without a yearly commitment, working as a yacht crew in {state} is a great way to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Timing and presence are everything for finding yachting jobs in Florida. Create your profile on online job boards, consistently look on social media platforms, and if possible, physically visit docks with your CV and relevant documents. Learn about the peak hiring windows in Florida and make sure your Meridian profile is complete and visible well before those periods. Employers search the database, too, so they may come to you rather than you searching for them.
Look for cities with established marinas, boatyards, or charter companies in Florida. The more vessels that pass through an area, the more crew turnover, and therefore, more job opportunities.
Qualifications vary by position and vessel size. For yachts over 500GT, you'll need higher-level maritime certificates. For private, non-commercial yachts, requirements are often more flexible.
Yes, there are. Based on weather, charter demand, and vessel migration, seasonal hiring in Florida usually follows a predictable pattern. You have a significant advantage when timing your applications if you understand that cycle.
As per current trends, the average annual salary for a yacht crew in Florida is $30,000. When simply calculated, the sum is about $15.00 on an hourly basis. Something that you should keep in mind is that salary and other monetary benefits vary depending on many factors, such as the position, your experience, the number of days you'll work, the size of the vessel, etc. While entry-level deckhands can expect an average of $2,500-$3,500/month, senior roles like chef or chief mate can range from $5,000 to $10,000+, depending on various factors.
Coastal cities with specialised superyacht facilities are often the busiest yachting destinations in Florida. You may get a real-time picture of where the jobs are now focused by searching Meridian by location.
The process is simple: join Meridian, upload your CV. Our system will automatically create your profile. Once it's live, you can browse through the roles and positions in Florida and apply with one click to any yacht job. Meridian puts your profile right in front of captains, private yacht owners, head of departments actively hiring for yacht crew members. Joining and applying through Meridian is completely free.
Why Use Meridian for Your Yacht Career?
Meridian has helped thousands of yacht owners, management companies, and recruiters find exceptional captains and crew for amazing yacht vacancies since Crew4Yachts was founded in 2006, continuing after its acquisition in 2020.
Beyond this, here are other reasons why you should use Meridian to jump-start your yacht career:
- Fast hiring cycle: It takes less than 2 minutes to upload your CV so that hiring yacht owners, captains, and recruiters can search our platform to find, contact, shortlist, and hire you.
- Trusted by captains and recruiters globally: We have been in the game since 2006, constantly connecting owners and recruiters with competent captains.
- Easy-to-use yacht crew database: Our platform is user-friendly, making it the best choice for owners, captains, and recruiters.
- Meridian grows with you: Today, you may be looking for work; tomorrow, you may be looking for crew. Within your account, you can easily switch from crew to employer.
Posting job vacancies or searching our platform for experienced crew takes just a few minutes.
How Our Platform Works
Join for free in under two minutes. Instantly get discovered by hundreds of employers hiring yacht crew, receive job alerts tailored to you, and apply for opportunities around the world.
1Join for Free
Upload your CV to create your account. If you'd like, you can also add qualifications and references.
2Be Found
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3One Click Apply
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