Galley
Yacht chefs cook for guests and crew, often at fine-dining level and with ingredients from every port. A completed chef training is the usual way in.
Open positionsCertificates and recognition
- Time to first job
- 1–2 weeks
- Cost to first job
- €1,000 – €1,700
- Salary per month
- €4,000 – €10,000
- Season
- Mediterranean May–Oct, Caribbean Nov–Apr
Entry route: Chef training plus STCW and ENG1 · Last updated: 15/10/2026. No liability is accepted; the linked sources are authoritative.
Duties
- Planning and cooking menus for guests, including allergies and diets
- Crew meals, provisioning and stores in changing ports
- Galley hygiene according to Food Safety Level 2
- Galley budget and coordination with the chief stew and captain
Career path
- Chef training and experience in a restaurant or hotel
- Crew chef or sous chef on large yachts, sole chef on small ones
- Head chef on yachts of 50 m and over
- Freelance charter chef on a day rate
Certificates and recognition
On yachts, chef training, experience and Food Safety Level 2 count. The Ship’s Cook Certificate is only mandatory on commercial yachts with 10 or more crew.
Chef training and Ship’s Cook Certificate
On superyachts, professional chef training is standard. The MCA Ship’s Cook Certificate is only mandatory on commercially operated vessels with 10 or more seafarers, not on private yachts. Requirements: age 18, 1 month of sea service, STCW, ENG1 and recognised training under MIN 689. Large yachts can apply for equivalent arrangements.
- Germany
- A chef apprenticeship is the best foundation; the MCA decides case by case how it is credited.
- Austria
- Chef apprenticeship (Koch/Köchin), then STCW, ENG1 and Food Safety Level 2.
- Switzerland
- Swiss federal chef certificate (Koch/Köchin EFZ), then STCW, ENG1 and Food Safety Level 2.
Food hygiene (Food Safety Level 2)
According to the MCA, Level 2 is the minimum for ship’s cooks, catering staff and anyone handling food in the galley. Only the UK courses listed in MIN 689 are accepted; online only as a virtual classroom, not as pure self-study. Takes about 1 day.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Cost
- €120 – €240
- Germany
- German hygiene training and the instruction under the Infection Protection Act are not listed in MIN 689. Take a UK Level 2 course as well.
- Austria
- Austrian hygiene training is not listed in MIN 689. Take a UK Level 2 course as well.
- Switzerland
- Swiss hygiene training is not listed in MIN 689. Take a UK Level 2 course as well.
Sources:5
Where to train
- Training companies and vocational schools: chef apprenticeship (DE, AT), Koch/Köchin EFZ (CH)
- UK providers listed in MIN 689 for Food Safety Level 2, also as a virtual classroom
- MCA-approved schools for STCW and security training
We deliberately name no individual schools and receive no commission. Before booking, check that the provider is approved for the certificate you need and for the flag state.
Salary
| Position | Per month | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Sole chef, yacht up to 40 m | €4,500 – €7,500 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Head chef, 50 m+ yacht | €6,500 – €10,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Sous chef | €4,000 – €6,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (YPI CREW 2026) |
| Crew chef / second chef | €4,500 – €7,000 | Basic salary on board plus food and accommodation (Superyacht Content, 2025) |
Basic monthly salary according to YPI CREW 2026 and Superyacht Content (2025), plus food and accommodation. Freelance chefs work on a day rate.
Your next step
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Sources
Official bodies, certificate issuers, salary guides and statistics. The current version of each source always prevails.
- YPI CREW – Yacht Crew Salary Guide 2026 (retrieved on 15/10/2026)
- Superyacht Content – Yacht Chef Salaries in 2025, Rotational Contracts (retrieved on 15/10/2026)
- YPI CREW – What Are The Two Main Yachting Seasons? (retrieved on 15/10/2026)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency – MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1: MLC 2006, Ships’ Cooks and Catering Staff (retrieved on 14/10/2026)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency – MIN 689 (M) Amendment 3: Recognised qualifications in food hygiene or food safety (retrieved on 14/10/2026)