Employer Registration
- LocationFlorida City, FL, USA
- Salary3000-35000USD
- Vessel Length55M+
- Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)
Yacht Jobs in Florida
Yacht jobs in Florida are more in demand than ever, and Meridian can connect you to them.
Florida has been rapidly growing into a key yachting destination among private as well as commercial yacht companies. With active ports and marinas drawing vessels year-round, this region offers consistent demand for skilled yacht crew. From deck and engine to interior, the demand for qualified superyacht crew in Florida reflects the growing pace of the industry here.
Through Meridian, you get free access to a live job board with 2,100+ listings annually. Create your profile in under two minutes and start applying today.
First Officer/Chief Mate
-
Contract
VIEW
- LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
- Vessel FlagCayman Islands
Engineer
-
Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationFort Pierce, FL, USA
- Salary7000
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagMarshall Islands
Head Chef
-
Freelance
VIEW
- LocationFt Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length176' to 210' (54 to 64 meters)
- Vessel FlagCape Verde
Bosun
-
Freelance
VIEW
- LocationFt Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length176' to 210' (54 to 64 meters)
- Vessel FlagCape Verde
Captain
VIEW
- LocationMiami Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDOE
- Vessel Length108 ft
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Sole Steward(ess)
-
Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationHollywood, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUSA
Deckhand
-
Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagCayman Islands
Mate
-
Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationFt Lauderdale, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Chief Steward(ess)
-
Full-Time
VIEW
- LocationPalm Beach, FL, USA
- SalaryDepends on Experience
- Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
- Vessel FlagUnited States of America
Why Work in Florida?
For crew looking to build their experience without relocating to somewhere far, Florida offers a solid and often overlooked alternative. Vessel traffic through the state supports a steady job market across deck, interior, and engineering roles.
- The marinas here serve yachts ranging from 24 meters to well over 100 meters. This means that there won't be any shortage of opportunities. Also, the range of work will vary, spanning everything from day work on smaller boats to permanent contracts on major vessels.
- Florida is a very walkable city, which means you can hit every important marina within days.
- For engineers and technical crew, especially, Florida offers regular employment linked to maintenance cycles, which run year-round regardless of the charter season.
- If you like sailing over motor, Florida is one of the world's most popular destinations for high-performance racing and classic sailing yachts.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, seasonal recruitment can lead to permanent employment. Many crew members begin with a season-long contract, showcasing their worth, and then receive an offer to work full-time. To find those seasonal positions as they become available, use Meridian's job alerts.
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.
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.
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.
Recruitment Partners
