Nautical Day Worker: what it is, how much it pays and how to find work in Spain

I started as a day worker. No fixed contract, no long-term commitment, learning the sector from the dock. It's the best entry point if you're starting out and don't have a contact network yet.

What is a nautical day worker?

A day worker is a nautical professional hired on a daily basis for specific tasks on a vessel without being part of the permanent crew. Work is done in single shifts, typically 8–10 hours, paid at the end of the day or week.

Common day worker tasks

• Deck cleaning and maintenance (hull, teak, winches, anchoring)
• Interior cleaning (cabins, galley, saloon)
• Delivery trips (moving boats between ports)
• Manoeuvre assistance (docking, anchoring)
• Provisioning and logistics
• Events and party boats

Day worker pay rates in Spain

Profile	Day rate
Sailor / cleaning (no cert)	€80–100
Sailor with STCW	€100–150
Skipper (PER/PY)	€150–250
Marine engineer	€150–300
Chef on board	€200–350

Required certifications

• Port maintenance only: no specific cert required
• Working on board during navigation: STCW Basic Safety recommended
• Skippering: PER minimum, PY/CY depending on vessel length

How to find day work in Spain

1. Yemplea: create your profile at yemplea.com and activate day work alerts
2. Show up at marinas: Marina Botafoc (Ibiza), Port Adriano (Mallorca), Port Olímpic (Barcelona)
3. Local WhatsApp groups: each port has crew groups where opportunities circulate
4. Crew agencies with active day worker pools in the Balearics