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.

Deckhand
- Full-Time
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagMarshall Islands

2nd Steward(ess)
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • Salary$4,000 to $4,500
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)

Chief Steward(ess)
- Full-Time
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagMarshall Islands
  • LocationWest Palm Beach, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length80' to 110' (25 to 33 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)

Steward(ess)
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFlorida City, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)

Bosun
- Full-Time
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagCayman Islands

2nd Steward(ess)
- Full-Time
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagCayman Islands
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • SalaryDepends on Experience
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America

Temporary Stewardess
Job Filled

VIEW
  • LocationFlorida City, FL, USA
  • SalaryTBC
  • Vessel Length145' to 175' (45 to 53 meters)
  • Vessel FlagUnited States of America
  • LocationFort Lauderdale, FL, USA
  • Salary$5,500-$6,500
  • Vessel Length111' to 144' (34 to 44 meters)
  • Vessel FlagForeign (Non-US)

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

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

The most reliable way is to join a dedicated yachting job board like Meridian, where employers in Florida post openings regularly. Additionally, you can try staying in dedicated yacht crew houses. Here, you benefit in twofold ways - 1. You build connections and learn from others experiences, and 2. You'll hear about job openings from other crew members. Besides, walking directly to the dock and offering daywork services is a great approach to getting a position on the yacht.

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.

In yachting, seasonal positions are among the most accessible. Keep an eye on the months before peak season for Florida, as this is when job postings are most prevalent, and captains are most open to new crew.

Base pay for entry yachting roles in Florida begin around $2,500-$4,000/month. Higher ranks and more senior positions can earn you a range of $30,000 to $70,000 a year, which may rise with experience and certifications. What's worth noting is that most yachting job contracts cover accommodation, food, travel, and health insurance for crew members. Additionally, your job may come with bonuses and tips depending on whether it's a privately owned yacht or a commercial boat. All these additions can make your average pay more than it may look on paper.

The most reliable hiring in Florida is driven by busy boatyards and marinas exclusive for private and non-industrial yachts. You are in the right place at the right time if you know which facilities handle the biggest vessels and when they are busiest.

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.

join for free

1Join for Free

Upload your CV to create your account. If you'd like, you can also add qualifications and references.

be found

2Be Found

Employers can find and contact you directly using keyword search, just like Google.

one click apply

3One Click Apply

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

Recruitment Partners