Is Sailing the Open Seas Worth It? 'Below Deck' Cast Salaries, Explained

With the popularity of the series growing enough for spinoffs in the franchise, many wonder how much the the superyachties earn per season.

Sheridan Singleton - Author
By

Published June 20 2024, 5:49 p.m. ET

Captain Sandy Yawn speaks into a walkie talkie on 'Below Deck Med'
Source: Bravo

Ever since Bravo began its reality TV programming in the early 2000s, it has ballooned into the titan of unscripted television that viewers know and love today. It has created stars and a dedicated fandom large enough for the creation of BravoCon. One would think its stars have very fat pockets because of how grandiose and large the network has become. But that isn't always necessarily true. While some of Bravo's stars make millions in the span of a season, others barely come close to that.

Article continues below advertisement

Series like Below Deck has become a major hit for Bravo. It's one of the few series on the network that initially drew in both male and female viewers, which makes it stand out among its contemporaries. With the popularity of the series growing enough for spinoffs in the franchise, many wonder how much the superyachties earn per season. So, how much does the Below Deck cast truly earn? The figures might shock the typical Bravo fan, especially in comparison to other series.

Aesha Scott laughs behind the bar while serving guests on 'Below Deck Med'
Source: Bravo
Article continues below advertisement

How much does the 'Below Deck' cast make per episode?

While it is unclear how much the Below Deck cast earns per episode, there is insight into how much each cast member earns per month. According to Business Insider, the Below Deck cast makes an average of $5,000 to $6,000 per month, which comes to between $60,000 to $72,000 per year.

Based on that, combined with the knowledge that four to five episodes air per month in an 18-episode season, it seems like the Below Deck average per episode rate is somewhere close to $1,000.

Article continues below advertisement
Joe Bradley cleaning aboard the Mustique on 'Below Deck Med'
Source: Bravo

'Below Deck' has earned Bravo a lot of money, but former stars say the pay remains lower than other series.

Former Below Deck crew members have been frustrated with the alleged treatment they've received from Bravo. A former stew from Below Deck's third season, Ashley Marti, elaborated on this during her conversation with Business Insider.

Article continues below advertisement
Jono Shillingford preparing food on 'Below Deck Med'
Source: Bravo

She said, "We're on TV, but technically we're the help. We don't get the same treatment." She isn't wrong, considering that there are multiple Bravo stars on other shows raking in hefty sums each year, while Below Deck's crew earn the average American wage.

Article continues below advertisement
Sabrina Muller irons in laundry area on 'Below Deck Med'
Source: Bravo

Life after 'Below Deck' is often more difficult than prior to being on the show.

Other Below Deck alums who chose not to be directly quoted in the Business Insider article said finding work on other yachts became incredibly difficult after they appeared in the series. Most yachties earn a little more than their Below Deck counterparts, as they are allowed to receive tips from the guests, while Bravo, according to Kate Chastain, collects their tips and wires them, making it taxable income. This means they'd probably earn a lot more money not being on the series than they would on it.

Advertisement
More from Distractify

Latest Below Deck News and Updates

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 Engrost, Inc. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.