Yacht Jobs in Florida

Searching for a yacht captain or stewardess role in Florida? Meridian makes it easy to access verified yacht jobs across various ranks and departments.

From seasonal charter runs to permanent billets on long-range vessels, Florida sees consistent crew movement throughout the year. Moreover, key marinas keep vessels close, and recruiters, including private yacht owners, actively use our platform to source qualified candidates.

Meridian is the yachting industry's leading digital job board with 45,000+ active crew, hundreds of agencies, and a platform designed to get you hired without the red tape. Join the platform today and start getting the latest job alerts that match your requirements.

Chief Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

VIEW
  • LocationMiami, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagJamaica
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • Salary200 per day
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
  • LocationMiami, FL, USA
  • Salary4000-5500
  • Vessel Length0' to 79' (0 to 24 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length211' to 275' (65 to 84 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • Salary5000-5500
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Sole Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

VIEW
  • LocationPalm Beach, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • Salary4200
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • Salary5000+
  • Vessel Length0' to 79' (0 to 24 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Why Work in Florida?

Florida draws vessels for several reasons. Favorable weather windows, quality marina services, and its position along key yachting routes are some of the examples. For the crew, that translates into a market with both seasonal bursts and steady background demand.

  • The region supports a range of vessel types, from luxury charter yachts to explorer-style boats and privately owned superyachts. Each vessel type creates different crew needs, so the diversity of work here is genuinely broad.
  • Hiring in Florida mirrors the broader US yachting migration: fall preparation, spring season startup, and summer activity. Targeting your availability to these windows improves your chances significantly.
  • Interior crew (stewards, chefs, and hospitality professionals) find particularly strong demand in Florida during the charter season, when owners expect a high standard of onboard service.

Yacht Job Salaries in Florida

A popular hub for expedition yachts and water adventures, Florida-based roles often pay 10- 15% above the national average. With the rising demand for skilled and technically sound crew members, the pay for yacht positions in Florida is competitive. However, Florida is undisputedly one of the top locations for engineering and technical maritime roles. Typical monthly salary benchmarks in Florida look like this:

  • Deckhand (entry): $2,800 – $4,000
  • Steward/Stewardess: $2,500 – $4,500
  • Head Chef: $5,000 – $9,000+
  • Chief Mate / Chief Engineer: $6,500 – $11,000
  • Captain: $10,000 – $22,000+

Permanent roles in Florida obviously offer more stability than seasonal contracts. While tips are rare in permanent jobs, you get a better work-life balance. In fact, in some cases, many permanent owners pay you for time-for-time training, e.g., they may pay for your next Coast Guard training program in return for a commitment to stay. On the other hand, seasonal roles in Florida come with high turnover but are better for those who are just starting out. The benefits are minimal compared to those of permanent roles and usually only cover food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Finding a yacht job in Florida requires a strong presence both online and offline. Start by registering yourself with recruitment agencies or, even better, platforms like Meridian. Here, you can browse all active openings in Florida, filter by role and vessel type, and apply directly. Build networks through dock walking. Walk to the docks (where permitted) and ask captains for day work. Even though yachting recruitment has moved mainly to the online sphere, showing up physically is still the best way if you are new to the industry.

Cities with active charter markets or refit facilities in Florida tend to generate the most consistent crew demand. These locations also attract recruitment agencies, including private owners, which opens up even more channels for finding work.

For most entry-level deck roles, a valid STCW Basic Safety Training certificate is the minimum requirement. For more senior positions — mate, captain, chief engineer — you'll need appropriate USCG or MCA certification.

Seasonal employment is usual and a great way to get started in the yachting niche. Vessel activity in Florida peaks in certain months, and many owners hire temporary crew to fill positions ranging from interior staff to deckhands during those times.

Salaries across yachting roles in Florida reflect the US market rate. Captain and chief engineer positions on super yachts can command six-figure annual salaries. Newer crews usually start lower but grow quickly as they gain hours and certifications.

Areas with deep-water marinas, well-established refit yards, and close proximity to well-liked charter routes are usually the busiest for yachting in Florida. These are the places where ships gather and where you can find tons of crew opportunities.

Walking the public docks and asking for day work on yachts alone won't work for you in 2026. Upgrade your search capacity by signing up for the leading yacht crew recruitment websites, like Meridian. It's free to join and lets you apply to unlimited jobs, including all active postings in Florida. Besides, it's so simple to create and update a profile on Meridian. You just need to upload your CV, and the platform automatically prepares a digital profile for you. Once your profile is live, you'll start getting the notifications for the latest yacht job posts, and can apply instantly within a few clicks.

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.

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