Below Deck stars earn less than you think as they are 'lowest paid on Bravo' (2024)

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The Below Deck cast doesn’t earn a lot - and they’re not very happy about it.

Stars of the hit reality show have been speaking out about their low salaries - and pointing out they make way less than other Bravo personalities.

While stars of The Real Housewives can rake in a whopping $1 million per season and the socialites of Southern Charm reportedly earn $25,000 per episode, the cast of Below Deck make around the same as the average American.

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According to Business Insider, the Below Deck cast only makes between $5,000 and $6,000 a month - which totals up to around $60,000 to $72,000 a year. For comparison, in 2023, Forbes reported that the average salary in the US was $59,428.

Although the yachties get paid for their job, can make a large amount in tips on top of their TV salary, and have their living expenses covered by production while they work on board - numerous stars of the show have complained that they do not get enough considering how hard their jobs are.

Kate Chastain shocked fans when she described the tough working conditions (Image: Getty)

The crew has previously spoken out about the working conditions on the show, calling it “one of the most difficult shows out there for cast members” - making the massive pay discrepancy even harder for the cast to swallow.

Eddie Lucas - who appeared on the show for six seasons - explained why the low pay was so frustrating. Speaking to the New York Post, he fumed: "Below Deck - regardless of it being the most popular show on Bravo - we are the lowest-paid cast members."

Pointing out that - unlike in other shows - the cast is “really working,” he added: "We are still not getting paid what people like the Housewives are making, which is a little frustrating because they’re not really working - they’re just going out to dinner and fighting."

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Writing on X, she said: “Going through my phone,found this fun video….I feel like everyone should know #BelowDeck is one of the most difficult shows out there for cast members.Every night, after working 16+ hours, we’d get into our tiny bunk, & have to wave to the camera so they’d turn our lights off.”

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