How much do you get paid as a chief steward on a yacht?

The role of a chief steward on a yacht is an important one, responsible for overseeing service operations and managing interior crew. It’s a demanding job that requires organizational skills, attention to detail, and grace under pressure. So how much does this critical position pay? The chief steward’s salary depends on several factors, including experience level, certifications, yacht size and type, cruising area, and more. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of chief steward pay, including average wages, pay scales, tips and bonuses, and additional employee benefits. With insight into compensation ranges, job seekers can better gauge potential earnings in this evolving niche of the maritime profession.

What is the Role of a Chief Steward?

Before examining pay scales, it helps to understand the wide range of duties assigned to a superyacht’s chief steward. As head of interior operations, this manager oversees housekeeping, laundry service, table setting, flower arrangements, and food service. The chief steward hires and schedules an interior crew that may include stews, laundry crew, and wait staff. This department head creates dining menus in collaboration with the yacht’s chef, stocks inventories, and ensures high standards of service and presentation. During charters, the chief steward coordinates closely with the captain to orchestrate flawless guest experiences. This may involve decorating for themed events, resolving service issues, or fulfilling special requests. When the yacht is docked, the chief steward handles maintenance projects, crew hiring, payroll, and supply orders. The most successful chief stewards are highly organized team managers with an unflappable attitude. Previous stewarding experience, a stewardess license, and culinary training are common prerequisites to earn this top job.

Average Salary for Chief Stewards

It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact average salary for superyacht chief stewards due to the wide variance in compensation. But surveying pay scales can provide a general idea of typical earnings. According to 2021 statistics from Crewseekers International, a chief steward’s average base wages range between $5,000 to $7,500 per month. These monthly figures translate to approximately $60,000 to $90,000 per year. However, it’s important to note that base salaries tell only part of the compensation story. Several other monetary factors can significantly increase total pay.

Determining Factors in Chief Steward Salaries

What accounts for the broad spread of $30,000 in average chief steward salaries? Several variables play a key role in determining pay. The most important factors include:

Yacht Size

Larger yachts with bigger crews and service demands tend to pay chief stewards higher salaries. According to Yachting Pages, chief stewards on yachts between 130 and 160 feet can expect to earn around $5,000 per month. For yachts measuring 160 to 200 feet, pay increases to approximately $7,000 monthly. On the largest superyachts of 200+ feet, chief stewards may earn $8,000 to $12,000 per month.

Yacht Type

Beyond sheer size, the style and use of a yacht also impacts the chief steward’s wages. Salaries tend to be higher on busy charter yachts than on private yachts with minimal guests. Formal cruise ships pay the most for chief stewards to manage large hospitality crews.

Experience Level

A chief steward’s years of proven experience directly informs compensation. Beginners with less than a year’s experience may start around $4,000 per month. Intermediate chief stewards earn approximately $5,000 – $7,000. Veterans with over five years in the chief steward role can command premium salaries of $8,000 to $10,000 monthly.

Training & Certifications

Relevant maritime training and certifications increase a chief steward’s hiring appeal and negotiating power. Professional diplomas, such as PYA Interior Yacht Operations or a degree like ISSMC Superyacht Interior Management, demonstrate valuable expertise. Desired certifications include STCW Interior, PSSR-Yacht, and silver service credentials.

Cruising Area

The prime cruising grounds of the Mediterranean and Caribbean tend to pay chief stewards higher salaries than other regions due to more charter activity. In less popular areas, chief stewards may earn around $4,000 monthly.

Nationality & Living Expenses

An international chief steward recruited from Eastern Europe or the Philippines may accept a lower salary than a Western European or American due to differences in living costs. For tax purposes, many non-residents have salaries based on net income after taxes are deducted.

Perks & Bonuses

The base monthly wage only tells part of the chief steward’s total income story. Things like yacht crew tips, holiday bonuses, completion bonuses, and other perks can significantly increase actual compensation.

Tips & Bonuses

Besides base wages, supplemental compensation in tips and bonuses provides a variable but often substantial income source for chief stewards. Let’s examine some typical extra payments.

Tips

The chief steward benefits from yacht crew tip pools, especially on charter yachts. Guest tips are pooled together and divided among the crew. This revenue split allotment varies, but around 5% of the total tips go to the chief steward. On a two-week charter that yields $35,000 in guest tips, the chief steward’s share would be approximately $1,750. For a charter yacht doing 20 charters a year averaging $30,000 in tips per charter, the chief steward could earn around $30,000 annually in tips.

Holiday Bonuses

End-of-year holiday bonuses are customary for yacht crew, usually 1 month’s salary. Some captains give their chief stewards an extra bonus or gift for the holidays. Holiday bonuses can add approximately $5,000 or more to yearly earnings.

Completion Bonuses

Many yacht managers incentivize crew with bonuses for completing a season or charter itinerary, often an extra month’s salary. Completion bonuses reward the chief steward with another $5,000+ at year’s end.

Sales Commissions

For charter yacht chief stewards, booking guest charters may earn sales commissions starting around 5%. If a chief steward books $600,000 in charters directly, a 5% commission would equal an extra $30,000+ for the year.

Additional Pay Factors

Beyond direct wages, chief stewards enjoy additional financial advantages and perks that enhance their employment packages.

No Living Expenses

Since chief stewards live aboard the yacht, they have minimal living expenses. Food, housing, utilities, medical insurance and transportation are covered during employment. This perk increases disposable income.

Reduced Tax Requirements

Depending on jurisdiction, ship employees can qualify for seafarer tax status with financial benefits. Many chief stewards are exempt from income tax or pay taxes at reduced sailor rates.

Paid Vacation

Yacht chief stewards usually get paid vacation of 4-6 weeks per year, depending on longevity. This time off is separate from usual crew rest periods between charters.

Travel Opportunities

Working in the yachting industry allows chief stewards to visit exotic destinations around the world during their employment travels. This perk appeals to wandering spirits.

Career Advancement

A leadership role like chief steward builds impressive hospitality and people management skills transferable to shoreside careers. Many stew move up the ranks to officer positions.

Chief Steward Sample Pay Scales

To further illustrate the wide variance in chief steward pay ranges, let’s examine some sample salary packages on different sizes and types of yachts.

130-foot Private Yacht

  • Base Salary: $4,000/month
  • Holiday Bonus: $4,000
  • Total Salary: $60,000 per year

160-foot Charter Yacht

  • Base Salary: $5,000/month
  • Tips: $1,500/month
  • Holiday Bonus: $5,000
  • Completion Bonus: $5,000
  • Total Salary: $81,000 per year

200-foot Charter Yacht

  • Base Salary: $7,000/month
  • Tips: $4,000/month
  • Holiday Bonus: $7,000
  • Completion Bonus: $7,000
  • Total Salary: $125,000 per year

As these samples illustrate, larger charter yachts with tipping guests offer the highest earning potential for chief stewards. Those managing diverse interior teams on busy cruising schedules stand to earn over $100,000 annually. However, even on smaller private yachts, chief stewards still earn respectable salaries compared to shoreside hospitality positions.

Career Paths to Chief Steward

Very few stewards start out as chief stewards. They usually advance up the hierarchy gaining experience along the way. Here are some typical career steps to becoming a superyacht chief steward:

  • Entry Level Stewardess/Steward – Work under chief stew to learn service.
  • Lead Stewardess – Assist chief stew in managing interior team.
  • Second Stewardess – Help chief stew with purveying and guest services.
  • Chief Stewardess – Oversee entire interior department after 2+ years experience.

Some candidates attend yachting hospitality programs or complete chef training to accelerate their career advancement. But proven stewardess experience, leadership capabilities, and formal maritime training are prerequisites to reach the chief steward level. It’s a highly competitive position at the top of the interior department.

Job Outlook for Chief Stewards

The job outlook for chief stewards remains bright, fueled by steady growth in the global superyacht industry. The 2022 Global Order Book indicates continued demand for qualified crew, with over 1,000 new yachts projected to hit the water through 2025. Charter yacht revenues are rebounding post-pandemic as travelers flock to remote yachting vacations. And private yacht ownership is surging amongst the ultra-wealthy looking to isolate at sea. These trends signal strong hiring demand for chief stewards trained in luxury hospitality. Candidates with formal maritime credentials, culinary abilities, and steward management experience should have their pick of appealing job opportunities on yachts worldwide.

Conclusion

A chief steward’s salary varies widely based on multiple factors like yacht size, cruising region, qualifications, and experience level. But top earners can command six-figure compensation between base wages, tips, bonuses, and other monetary perks. While the job involves hard work and long hours, chief stewards enjoy unique travel opportunities and a glamorous lifestyle unavailable in most hospitality careers. For motivated professionals seeking to advance, the chief steward role offers an intriguing career path with lucrative earning potential and adventures at sea.

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