Event Planner

Your Fit

Income

$59K

Preparation

Considerable

Growth

7.5%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is an Event Planner?

Event Planners coordinate all aspects of professional meetings and events. They choose meeting locations, arrange transportation, and coordinate other details.

Sample job titles:

Conference Planning Manager, Conference Services Manager, Convention Services Manager (CSM), Events Manager

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Event Planner.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does an Event Planner earn

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, typical income (in USD) in 2024 was...

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$36K per year	$46K per year	$59K per year	$77K per year	$101K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $9.94K above the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does an Event Planner do?

Work environment

Event Planners typically work in offices, but they may travel to event sites and venues. The job often involves working additional hours during events, and the environment can be fast-paced and high-pressure.

Quick task list

Meets with clients to understand the purpose of the event.
Plans the scope of the event, including time, location, program, and cost.
Solicits bids from venues and service providers.
Works with clients to choose where to hold the event and whom to contract for services.
Oversees event happenings and manages details such as decor, catering, entertainment, transportation, location, invitee list, special guests, equipment, and promotional material.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Corporate Event Planning: Focusing on business-related events like conferences, meetings, and trade shows.
Wedding Planning: Specializing in organizing and coordinating wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Entertainment and Leisure Events: Planning events like concerts, award shows, and large public events.
Non-Profit Event Planning: Specializing in fundraising and awareness events for non-profit organizations.
Conference Services: Focusing on academic, medical, or professional conferences.

Description

Event planning is a dynamic and creative profession. Planners must understand the detailed requirements of an event to ensure its success. They must be adept at juggling multiple tasks and remain calm under pressure, often dealing with tight deadlines and last-minute changes.

Event planners coordinate with multiple vendors, manage budgets, and work closely with clients to ensure that the event meets their expectations. This career requires excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to think on one's feet. Networking and maintaining good relationships with vendors and clients are crucial.

The role of an event planner is as challenging as it is rewarding. It involves creativity in design and layout, logistical planning, and problem-solving. The satisfaction of seeing an event come together smoothly and being appreciated by clients and attendees is a significant reward in this career.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

The creativity involved in designing and executing unique events.
The joy and appreciation from clients for successful events.
Variety in day-to-day tasks and working on different types of events.

You might make a good Event Planner if you are...

Creative and enjoy coming up with innovative event ideas.
Detail-oriented, ensuring all aspects of the event are perfectly planned.
A good communicator, both for negotiating with vendors and understanding client needs.
Able to stay calm under pressure and handle unexpected situations.
Organized and good at juggling multiple tasks simultaneously.

Pros:

Creative and dynamic work environment.
Opportunity to meet new people and build a broad network.
High levels of job satisfaction from successful event execution.

Cons:

Can involve irregular hours and weekend work.
High-pressure situations with tight deadlines.
The challenge of managing varying client expectations.

How to become an Event Planner

Typical education

Most event planners have a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, tourism, business, public relations, or communications. This typically requires 4 years of post-secondary education.

High school preparation

Courses:

Business and Marketing to understand the basics of managing an event.
Hospitality or Tourism for industry-specific knowledge.
Art and Design for creativity in event planning.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Join clubs that involve event planning and organization.
Volunteer for local events to gain practical experience.
Participate in workshops or courses related to event planning.

Preparation after high school

Pursue a bachelor's degree in hospitality, public relations, or a related field.
Gain experience through internships or entry-level positions in event planning or related fields.
Obtain certifications like the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) to enhance credentials.

More resources

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) - Offers education, certification, and networking opportunities.
Events Industry Council (EIC) - Provides the CMP certification and industry resources.
The Knot - A comprehensive resource for wedding planning.
BizBash - Offers event planning news, ideas, and resources.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.