How much does an event planner make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical event planner in the United States makes $61,160 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They meet clients, compare venues, and line up food, travel, and sound services while tracking budgets and deadlines. At the event, they check guests in, coordinate the venue team, and solve problems as they pop up.
Did you know? A Cvent survey found that one event planner may have to juggle five to ten different vendors at a single event.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $36,830 and $101,700How do you become one?
Most U.S. event planners need a bachelor’s degree, often in event management, business, communications, or a related field. Volunteer event work or hotel experience helps; the optional Certified Meeting Professional credential requires an application and written exam.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay varies with experience, the employer’s industry, and location. An industry survey found higher reported pay among credentialed planners, while event weeks may bring long hours or weekend shifts.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($76,970), lowest in Oklahoma ($48,990).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
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Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $36,830 | $61,160 | $101,700 | about 143,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,970 | about 2,000 |
| Massachusetts | $75,740 | about 5,000 |
| New York | $74,730 | about 10,000 |
| Hawaii | $74,460 | about 550 |
| New Jersey | $72,780 | about 2,000 |
Official definition: Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1121.00
- www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/StateAndLocal/Wages.aspx?dataview=table&location=T
- www.pcma.org/salary-survey-2022-pandemic-effect-event-organizers-compensation
- www.cvent.com/en/blog/events/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-event-planner-survey-result
- eventscouncil.org/CMP/Future-CMPs
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY