Employer Registration
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Yacht Jobs in Florida
Are you an experienced captain or a Bosun looking for yacht jobs in Florida? You're in the right place. Florida is unarguably the yachting capital of the global market. Sitting at an exciting crossroads of maritime activity, it has bustling marinas, an active charter scene all year round, and a growing demand for skilled crew. Whether you're chasing your entry-level position in the yachting industry or moving into a senior position,Florida has several opportunities worth exploring.
Meridian connects superyacht professionals like you to the world's most premium crew recruiters through our simple platform. Create your profile today, start applying, and get started with your yachting career.
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Deck/Steward(ess)
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Full-Time
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- LocationKey Largo, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Deckhand
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary3500-4000
- Vessel Length211' to 275' (65 to 84 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Mate
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- LocationKey West, FL 33040, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Mate/Engineer
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary7500
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Sole Steward(ess)
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Full-Time
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- LocationKey Largo, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Chief Engineer
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- LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
- Salary10,000+
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
First Officer/Chief Mate
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary75000+
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Chief Steward(ess)
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
First Officer/Chief Mate
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- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Salary9000
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Why Work in Florida?
Florida is one of the home bases for the global yachting industry. In fact, if you're really serious about building a career in yachting, you may spend 70% of your working tenure in Florida. A favorite of both private and charter vessels, Florida has immaculate marina infrastructure and coastline, providing a consistent demand for qualified crew throughout the year.
- With full superyacht services, including fuel, provisioning, and technical support, Florida offers a number of top crew agencies, training schools, and major marinas nearby.
- Charter activity in Florida usually peaks during predictable seasons, giving crew a clear window to target for applications. Besides, it hosts some of the world's most popular refit yards. This means there are always daywork options available for those who are new to the industry as well as those who are looking for opportunities to earn while job hunting.
- With rising demands for both entry-level and experienced crew, Florida is a significant option whether you're just starting out or want to upgrade to a more senior position.
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
For Florida specifically, combining online job search methods with networking at local marinas can significantly boost your chances of finding yacht jobs. You must sign up at the leading job boards designed for yacht crew hiring, like Meridian. Moreover, spending time near ports and walking on docks can help you land your desired yachting position quickly.
Rather than targeting one city, consider the routes vessels take through Florida. Ports along those paths, where yachts refuel, restock, or switch crew, are often the hottest spots for job opportunities.
The baseline for almost any crewed yacht position is STCW Basic Safety Training. Beyond that, experience and role-specific certifications matter. Chef, engineer, and officer roles where technical skill is non-negotiable are some examples.
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.
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
Employers can find and contact you directly using keyword search, just like Google.
3One Click Apply
Apply through our job alert emails or directly from our website.
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