Below Deck is one of the most popular reality TV shows on Bravo. The show follows the lives of crew members who work on luxury yachts during charter seasons. Since its premiere in 2013, Below Deck has become a household name. Fans love the drama, luxury, and cast members of the show.
One of the most common questions about Below Deck is – how much do the crew members get paid? The paychecks of Below Deck crew has been kept under wraps for the most part. However, over the years, some details about their salaries have come to light.
How Much Does the Below Deck Crew Make?
The pay structure on Below Deck is different than most reality shows. Instead of earning a flat per-episode fee, Below Deck crew members earn salaries based on their positions. So the chief stewardess and captain will earn the highest paychecks. While the deckhands typically make the least. Their tips are also a major part of their income.
Here is a breakdown of the typical salaries of Below Deck crew members:
| Position | Average Salary Per Season |
|---|---|
| Captain | $150,000 |
| Chief Stew | $80,000 |
| Bosun | $50,000 |
| Chef | $75,000 |
| Deckhands | $40,000 |
| 2nd Stew | $50,000 |
| 3rd Stew | $45,000 |
These salaries are not set in stone. Pay can vary based on the crew member’s experience and negotiations with producers. But it gives a general idea of the Below Deck pay scale.
Captain Lee’s Salary
Captain Lee Rosbach is one of the most beloved crew members and has appeared on every season of Below Deck. According to various reports, Captain Lee earns between $150,000-$210,000 per season of Below Deck.
As the captain and one of the biggest stars of the show, Lee is likely paid on the higher end. His salary per episode comes out to $12,500-$17,500. While that pay might seem huge, Rosbach has said working on a yacht charter is much more lucrative outside of the show.
In 2018, Rosbach told The Cheat Sheet he could earn over $210,000 a month captaining super yachts privately. But he returns to Below Deck over the big paydays for the opportunity.
“On Below Deck, I make more with less work, but if I stay in yachting, I can make a lot more money with a lot more work,” he revealed.
Kate Chastain’s Salary
Chief stewardess Kate Chastain quickly became the fan-favorite her first season on the show. She has since appeared on every season of Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean. According to reports, Kate earns between $60,000-$80,000 per season of the show.
Considering she is the chief stew and a major presence on Below Deck, her salary is likely on the higher end. Per episode, Kate can earn around $5,000-$7,000. And that’s not including tips.
In 2018, Chastain told The Cheat Sheet her preference is working on television over private yachting. “I like that I’ve become a TV personality. I like being recognized from the show,” she shared. “It’s less money, but more glory.”
How Much Do Below Deck Deckhands Make?
The lowest earners on the Below Deck crew are typically the deckhands. Their responsibilities include helping charter guests, cleaning the exterior of the yacht, and doing anchor watch. According to Glassdoor, the average deckhand salary is around $35,000-$45,000 per charter season.
However, pay can increase with each season. Deckhand Colin Macy O’Toole revealed to Showbiz CheatSheet he earned $500 per episode his first season. The next season it jumped to $2,500 per episode. Thanks to tips, Colin said he took home $45,000 overall his second season.
Other deckhands have boosted their earnings by crossing over to Below Deck Med. Fan-favorite Bobby Giancola reportedly earned $3,500 per Below Deck episode. When he joined Below Deck Med, his per-episode rate jumped to $5,500.
Chef & Sous Chef Salaries
The chef and sous chefs have one of the most difficult jobs on the crew. They are tasked with preparing elegant gourmet meals for the wealthy charter guests. According to reports, the Below Deck chef can earn around $75,000 per season. The sous chefs earn about $50,000.
When former chef Ben Robinson returned to Below Deck Mediterranean, his salary was reportedly around $5,000 an episode. Other chefs like Adrian Martin have put their Below Deck per-episode earnings between $2,000-$5,000.
The chefs may earn less than the stews and captain, but they rake in big bucks from their food budgets. Robinson revealed to The Daily Dish he had food budgets between $45,000-$60,000 per charter season.
Tips from Charter Guests
While the base salaries of Below Deck crew members are respectable, their biggest source of income often comes from tips. Yacht crew members can earn a tip for providing excellent service to charter guests.
On Below Deck, the crew will earn one large tip from the primary charter guest at the end of the charter. This tip is typically handed out on the final day and ranges from $15,000-$25,000. The tip is then divided evenly among the crew.
Last season on Below Deck, the crew earned around $168,000 in tips. Divided evenly, that came out to $14,000 per crew member. In previous seasons, the total tip amount has been as high as $168,000. Divvied up between 18 crew members, that comes out to $16,800 each.
So while deckhands may start out earning lower salaries, their tip earnings often put them on par with higher-paid crew members.
Do They Get Paid Extra for Reunions?
After each season wraps, Bravo films Below Deck reunion episodes. The crew comes together to rehash drama and events from the season. Fans often wonder if they earn an extra paycheck for the reunion specials.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the Below Deck team gets paid for attending the reunion. They are likely required to participate as part of their overall contract with Bravo. While they don’t earn extra, attending the reunion may help them negotiate higher pay for future seasons.
Below Deck Med Salaries
Below Deck Mediterranean debuted as a spin-off show in 2016. It features a similar yacht crew model, this time with jaw-dropping charters in the Mediterranean sea. So how do the salaries stack up between Below Deck and Below Deck Med?
For the most part, crew members earn the same or slightly lower on Below Deck Med. The chief stews have reported earning $5,000 per episode. While deckhands start around $2,500-$3,000 per episode. Their overall seasonal salaries end up in the same ballpark as the Below Deck crew.
One advantage for Below Deck Med is the longer season. With more episode and charter seasons, the overall earnings for crew members are higher. Chef Ben Robinson estimated he earned $10,000 more working a season of Below Deck Med over Below Deck.
Do They Pay for Their Own Travel?
Fans are often curious if Bravo covers travel costs for the Below Deck crew. After all, they take flights across the world to join yachts in exotic destinations. Unfortunately, the cast members do pay their own way when it comes to travel.
Several crew members have revealed they pay for their own flights, luggage fees, and expenses getting to the yacht. Of course, once they arrive the yacht covers all living expenses. But just getting to their destination comes out of their own pocket.
This includes any travel between charters or at the end of the season. The crew will have to cover their own way home once filming wraps up. Although at that point, they likely have plenty of tip money to cover the expenses!
Salary Negotiations
For many crew members, their Below Deck salary has increased over time thanks to negotiations. As they gain more experience and popularity on the show, several have been able to demand higher paychecks.
Kate Chastain revealed she originally earned just $2,000 per Below Deck episode her first season. She was able to negotiate a much higher salary in following seasons. Other cast members like Ben Robinson and Eddie Lucas have scored pay bumps for returning to the show.
Of course, pay negotiations don’t always go smoothly. Former chief stew Adrienne Gang reportedly asked for a raise to return for a second season. The network declined and instead hired someone else for less money.
Only Paid for Episodes They Appear In
An interesting twist with Below Deck salaries is that cast members are only paid for the episodes they actually appear in. So if a crew member joins halfway through the season, they earn less than someone who was present the entire time.
This played out with deckhand Rhylee Gerber in season 6 and 7. She joined the crew mid-season, resulting in far fewer episode payments. Chef Rachel Hargrove also had her earnings docked when she left after just a handful of charters in season 8.
So while the full-time cast may earn $40,000-$80,000, late additions will walk away with a lower seasonal salary.
Income Outside of Below Deck
For many crew members, Below Deck has opened the door to earning income outside of the show. Appearing on a top reality program gives them opportunities to earn money in new ways.
Some cast members are able to leverage their fame to charge fees for club appearances or sponsored social media. Others have launched businesses using their Bravo platform. Former chief stew Hannah Ferrier created the Ocean International Training Academy for yachting. While Katie Chastain has an online merchandise shop.
Below Deck has also created huge opportunities for former cast members to earn money with virtual appearances on Cameo. Stars like Captain Lee, Kate, and Ben share videos with fans for fees ranging from $50-$150.
So while their base Below Deck salaries may cap around $80,000, the earning potential from the show is far higher thanks to new business opportunities.
Rules About Earning Outside Income
To protect their salaries, Below Deck cast members do have rules about outside income during filming. Their contracts prohibit earning money from media appearances, clubs, or sponsorships during the season.
This ensures the crew remains focused on their jobs and doesn’t just join the show for exposure. Once the season wraps, they are free to leverage their fame to earn extra. But they can’t take income while also earning their Bravo salaries.
Estimated Total Earnings
Between base salaries, tips, and outside opportunities, long-time cast members are likely earning well over six figures annually from Below Deck.
Chief stews like Kate Chastain and Hannah Ferrier can earn around $150,000 or more between their Bravo salary, tips, and side gigs. While popular deckhands and chefs like Ben Robinson can surpass $100,000.
Even the lowest paid crew members earn sizable incomes from their episode fees and charter tips. And their Below Deck fame sets them up to earn big once the season wraps.
Why Salaries Are Kept Secret
Unlike most reality shows, Below Deck salaries are not widely publicized. Viewers get clues based on occasional cast comments and leaks. But the show does not confirm exact amounts.
Producers likely want to keep salaries under wraps to have leverage in negotiations. If all earnings were public, the cast would know exactly what to ask for. It also allows them to play cast members against each other.
Secrecy around pay helpsBelow Deck avoid salary disputes spilling into the storyline on the show. Since cast members don’t know exactly what their co-stars earn, it avoids tension or resentment over pay differences.
Should They Earn More?
While Below Deck salaries might seem huge to average viewers, some former crew members argue they should be higher. The cast members work long hours in high stress roles under constant scrutiny.
Several have pointed out comparable shows like The Real Housewives franchise pay much higher. And Bravo makes a huge profit from the success of Below Deck. So why not share more of that with the cast?
It’s definitely a debate among fans and former crew members. The show’s commercial success means the network likely could afford to pay higher salaries. But for now, paydays remain mostly secret and moderate for the yachties of Below Deck.
Conclusion
Below Deck has become a ratings juggernaut and consistent fan-favorite in the reality TV landscape. But the cast members don’t earn quite as much as stars on comparably successful shows.
The base salaries of stews, deckhands, and chefs start around $2,500 per episode. Chief stews and captains earn the top pay of around $5,000-$7,500 an episode. Their overall seasonal pay falls between $40,000-$80,000 depending on their role and experience.
Tips from charter guests is the biggest earning opportunity of the season. The crew can take home $15,000-$25,000 each in tips. That pushes their seasonal earnings well over six figures after adding in base pay.
While Below Deck salaries may seem small compared to the show’s success, the opportunity sets the crew up for big earning potential. Their fame from the show allows them to launch brands, earn club appearances, do virtual shout-outs, and more.
So at the end of the day, yachties who put in their time on Below Deck usually come out with a comfortable paycheck and plenty of new earning opportunities thanks to their reality TV exposure.
