With the premiere of Season 8 of Below Deck Mediterranean, many might wonder just how much the crew members get paid for their work on the yacht.
Below Deck is a wildly popular reality TV franchise that features long-time and new crew members on various different yachts during charter season.
Since premiering on Bravo in 2013, the series has gone on to have a number of spin-offs, including Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Below Deck Mediterranean, and more.
Over the years, many fans have been curious as to how much the cast makes, both for being part of the show and for their regular crew duties.
The duties include abiding by the guests’ every demand while cooking, serving, cleaning, entertaining, and keeping the passengers safe. Here’s everything to know about how much the Below Deck crew makes from their work on the show.
How much Below Deck crew make
Per Refinery 29 and Crewfinders, a second and third steward(ess) on a yacht the size of My Seanna would earn an average of about $5,000 per month. Meanwhile, a chief steward(ess) like Kate Chastain will be taking home around $5,500 to $6,000 a month.
The deckhands usually make around $3,500-$4,500 a month, while a bosun would nab approximately $5,000 a month.
As for the chefs, such as Below Deck alum Chef Ben Robinson, they make about $7,000 to $10,000 a month, depending on experience and training.
The Captain of the boat is the highest earner, making between $150,000 to $210,000 a year working on a 185-foot superyacht like Captain Lee’s My Seanna.
However, after adding on tips, a Captain can reportedly make up to $100,000 on top of the salary they are getting if they charter their yacht for the full year.
The crew also receives a small extra fee for being part of the TV show. While the exact number is unknown, fans believe it’s at least a few thousand dollars per episode.
Below Deck crew members keep their tips
At the end of each charter on the show, the Captain reveals how much the charter guests gave to the crew as a tip for their hard work.
Captain Lee confirmed that the stars of the season then split the tips evenly among themselves and pocket the money in addition to how much they were paid by Bravo to join the show.