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.

Deck/Engineer
- Full-Time

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  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • Salary4000
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagCayman Islands
  • LocationMiami, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Deck/Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

VIEW
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Chief Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

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  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

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  • LocationAventura, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America
  • LocationMiami, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagJamaica
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagCayman Islands
  • LocationTampa, FL, USA
  • Salary4000-6000 DOE
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

2nd Steward(ess)
- Full-Time

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  • LocationTampa, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

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

Pay in the yachting sector in Florida varies across departments and vessel categories. One consistent advantage: most positions include food and accommodation, meaning your take- home is close to your entire salary. That makes the numbers more impressive than they first appear. Estimated ranges by department:

  • Deck: $2,500 – $10,000+/month (deckhand to captain)
  • Interior: $2,500 – $9,000+/month (junior stew to chief stew or head chef)
  • Engineering: $4,000 – $12,000+/month (assistant to chief engineer)

Charter work adds gratuity income on top of salary — the industry standard is around 10–15% of the charter fee, split among crew. For busy charter vessels, this can add several thousand dollars per month during peak season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Online job boards like Meridian and social media platforms are arguably the most active places where you can look for day work and last-minute yacht job openings. However, using both the online and offline modes for searching jobs is the best way. Visit ports and ask for jobs in person, build connections with yacht crew members, and offer day work services if you're new.

In Florida, the most active hiring usually happens around major marina hubs. Lined with crew agencies, training schools, and chandleries, it's the heart of the local industry. The Florida is close to some of the most popular coastal destinations used for leisure and cruising.

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.

While Meridian is witnessing salaries as high as $70,000, they can go as low as approximately to $20,000. Please remember that multiple factors, such as the size of the vessel, your experience and skill level, and the position you're looking forward to working in, can heavily impact the salary.

Crew demand is usually highest at chartering ports and refit facilities in Florida. Since these locations are busy throughout the year, it makes sense to keep a lookout for job opportunities there all year long.

In Florida, the primary way that you can find and apply for yacht jobs is through job boards. Create a free account online on Meridian, a yacht recruitment platform with hundreds of job listings from Florida. Upload your CV and other essential documents, and start applying directly to open positions. Our One Click Apply feature makes it fast, so you can apply to multiple roles in minutes.

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.

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1Join for Free

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3One Click Apply

Apply through our job alert emails or directly from our website.

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