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Event planner: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$61,160median pay per year, or $29.41 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,830lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,97025th percentile
  3. $61,160median
  4. $78,79075th percentile
  5. $101,700top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Event planners had a median wage of $61,160 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.8%[3]
Openings per year
16,800[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do event planners make?

BLS tracks this job under the title Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. In May 2025 the median wage was $61,160 a year, or $29.41 an hour[1]. That means about half of workers made more than this amount and half made less[1]. The average (mean) was $66,520 a year, or $31.98 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The range is wide. Here are the percentiles:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][8] $36,830 $17.71
25th[4][8] $46,970 $22.58
75th[4][8] $78,790 $37.88
90th[4][8] $101,700 $48.90

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of event planners earned less than $36,830[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

The figures come from OEWS, which covers wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not count bonuses that are not tied to production or the cost of benefits[10]. About 142,860 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11]. In 2025, 10.1% of event planners were self-employed[12].

Pay by state and city

Among states with published data, the District of Columbia had the highest median at $76,970[13]. Massachusetts followed at $75,740 and New York at $74,730[13]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median, at $35,760[13].

California had the most jobs, at 20,650[14]. Texas (10,730), Florida (10,480), New York (10,330) and Illinois (5,220) came next[14].

In metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($90,560), Kahului-Wailuku, HI ($84,640) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($82,120)[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, at 9,050, with a median of $78,610[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came second for jobs at 7,300, with a median of $68,850[16].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$76,9702,360
Massachusetts$75,7404,640
New York$74,73010,330
Hawaii$74,460550
Vermont$74,310430
New Jersey$72,7802,160
California$71,12020,650
Connecticut$70,0101,450
Washington$65,5303,600
Maryland$63,2802,570
New Hampshire$63,250510
Colorado$62,0504,650
Arizona$61,3303,440
Louisiana$61,150610
Oregon$61,1202,020
Virginia$60,9304,230
Florida$60,27010,480
Rhode Island$59,910890
Illinois$59,8405,220
Pennsylvania$58,1703,940
Maine$57,900490
Minnesota$57,7103,160
Nevada$57,6102,060
Texas$57,47010,730
Missouri$56,9002,500
Wyoming$55,550120
Alaska$54,990150
North Carolina$54,9904,340
Kansas$54,840920
Utah$54,1501,970
Wisconsin$53,9402,690
Arkansas$53,040550
Michigan$52,7803,560
Nebraska$52,630610
Alabama$52,180980
Tennessee$52,0003,260
South Carolina$51,8301,240
Iowa$51,7501,120
North Dakota$51,700300
New Mexico$50,820350
Indiana$50,0902,140
Ohio$49,9004,750
Kentucky$49,2801,110
Georgia$49,2505,050
Delaware$49,020400
Montana$49,000350
Oklahoma$48,9901,440
South Dakota$47,050340
Mississippi$44,680360
West Virginia$35,760300

How to become an event planner

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[6]. Some experience in event planning may still help[17].

Planners who focused on meeting and event management or on hospitality management may take on more responsibility at the start than those from other fields[21]. The facts we use do not say how long it takes to qualify beyond the degree itself.

BLS highlights communication, interpersonal, negotiation, organizational and problem-solving skills[22][23][24][25][26].

What event planners do

O*NET describes the job as coordinating staff, convention personnel or clients to set up group meetings, events and conventions[27]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as Conference Planner, Convention Services Manager and Event Coordinator[29].

Where they work

Event planners split their time between offices and event locations, for example hotels and convention centers. Travel can be frequent, to attend events and visit meeting sites[30]. The work can be fast paced, with many deadlines and several events handled at once[31]. Full-time schedules are common, and many planners work more than 40 hours a week[32]. Extra hours often come as a big event approaches, and weekends are possible during meetings or conventions[32]. The largest employer group in 2025 was religious, grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations, at 14%[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment will rise 5.8% between 2025 and 2035, from about 172,100 jobs to 182,100, a gain of 10,000[3]. BLS projects all occupations together will grow 3.5% over the same period[34]. These counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the wage-and-salary count above[3][11].

BLS expects about 16,800 openings a year on average[5]. Openings count new jobs and also spots left by people who retire or move to other occupations[5]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.5% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The median wage is above the all-occupation median, and growth is projected to be faster than average[1][2][3][34]. The usual entry route is a bachelor's degree, in a range of fields[6][18]. The work is fast paced and can mean long hours and weekend work around big events[31][32]. It may suit people who like juggling details, dealing with clients and suppliers, and meeting deadlines[22][25]. Pay differs widely, from $36,830 at the 10th percentile to $101,700 at the 90th[4].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an event planner make a year?
The median was $61,160 a year in May 2025, and the average was $66,520[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,830, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $101,700[4].
How much does an event planner make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $29.41 and the average was $31.98[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an event planner?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. Event management is one field, and business, communications and social science are others[18].
Is event planning in demand?
BLS projects 5.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][34]. About 16,800 openings a year are expected[5].
Which state pays event planners the most?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $76,970, ahead of Massachusetts at $75,740 and New York at $74,730[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners in the US was $61,160 per year and $29.41 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 172,100 to 182,100 jobs (a change of +10,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: 10th percentile $36,830, 25th percentile $46,970, 75th percentile $78,790, 90th percentile $101,700. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 16,800 openings for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners was $66,520 per year and $31.98 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: 10th percentile $17.71, 25th percentile $22.58, 75th percentile $37.88, 90th percentile $48.90. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 142,860 people were employed as Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 10.1% of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners jobs: California 20,650; Texas 10,730; Florida 10,480; New York 10,330; Illinois 5,220. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $90,560; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $84,640; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $82,120; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $78,610; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $78,010; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $77,010; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $75,450; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $73,890. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 9,050 (median $78,610); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,300 (median $68,850); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,140 (median $75,450); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,230 (median $62,640); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 3,650 (median $78,010); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 3,490 (median $82,120). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET 13-1121.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Catering Director, Conference Planner, Conference Planning Manager, Conference Services Director, Conference Services Manager, Convention Services Director, Convention Services Manager (CSM), Event Coordinator. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of meeting, convention, and event planners in 2025: Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations 14%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.