Your earnings increase with experience, giving you the opportunity to level up your pay rate as you complete more assignments. All Quarterdeck (QD) staff work as independent consultants and will invoice Quarterdeck the amounts listed below (plus any approved bonuses). You are responsible for declaring and paying any taxes, social charges, VAT, and other statutory contributions according to the rules in the country where you are tax registered. Your net earnings will vary depending on factors such as your local tax rate and deductions, whether you are VAT registered, currency exchange rates and banking/transfer fees, pension/insurance contributions, and any allowable business expenses you may claim.

Your band is set by your cumulative career weeks with Quarterdeck. Weeks bank and carry across seasons, they do not reset each summer.

*Your first 2 paid weeks are reduced by €200 per week (so €500 per week) to repay the €400 Academy subsidy. Base Rate applies in full from week 3. See: Why don't you just charge the full Skipper Academy instead of deducting pay on the first 2 weeks? and Why will I only get €200 less per week in my first two weeks of work?

What this adds up to over a season. A skipper or host available for a full season is typically offered 8 to 10 weeks, which works out at around €4,500 in a first season, €8,200 in a second, and €11,200 in a third. See: How much do you earn in a full season as a skipper or host?

Pay rate on upcoming assignments may look wrong. The rate displayed on a future assignment is the level you were at when the assignment was accepted. It is re-synced automatically when the assignment starts, based on your current level. See: Why does the pay rate on my upcoming assignment look wrong?

Private charter work starts at €1,050 per week when Quarterdeck assigns it. It can be higher when the yacht, chalet, or villa is larger, or when the client has requested a more senior host or chef. Some private placements are arranged as day rates rather than weekly, and these vary by role and setting. Quarterdeck typically charges the client a commission of around 15% on private charter assignments.

When working, your food, drinks, and accommodation on the yacht are covered. If you have a week off between assignments, you may be offered to stay for free in an apartment as a Standby Host/Skipper (currently only in Croatia), meaning you're available on short notice if someone becomes unavailable.

We know this can be a sensitive subject: tips are not a requirement for guests, and begging for tips is not acceptable. Guests should always feel free to set their own level of gratuity (if any) based on their culture and experience. Tips are common, but never guaranteed, and our skippers and hosts should treat them as a bonus, not an entitlement. We want every guest's experience to feel natural and unpressured.

For the full step-by-step on submitting your invoice, including the two-invoice split for Yacht Week work, see: