How to hire a conference manager

How to hire a conference manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step conference manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a conference manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new conference manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The conference manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect conference manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of conference manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Conference Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Conference Manager	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$20-38
   Marketing And Event Planning Internship	A marketing and event planning intern is responsible for supporting the operations of a company's marketing department, performing administrative duties under the guidance of a direct supervisor or tenured marketing staff. Marketing and event planning interns shadow all the processes of marketing operations, assisting with events management procedures, and suggesting strategic solutions to boost the company's brand image to the public... Show more	$10-16
   Director Of Events	An event director or director of the event is responsible for organizing a successful execution of an event. This job is demanding and involves a varied range of tasks and obligations, from planning and overseeing the cast and crew recruited, supervise training for effective execution of the event... Show more	$18-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Conference Logistics
   • Audio-Visual Equipment
   • Conference Management
   • Event Management
   • Event Planning
   • Delphi
   • Site Selection
   • Conference Website
   • Trade Shows
   • Summer Conference
   • Budget Management
   • Conference Assistants
   • Room Set-Up
   • Contract Negotiations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a team five additional volunteers who are responsible for all aspects of VIP care during event.
   • Achieve quarterly financial goal by upselling products and services and by identifying additional opportunities base on the event profile.
   • Provide telephone coordination of all seminar attendees including reservations and accommodations.
   • Supervise RFP process with venues, vendors and speakers.
   • Prepare RFP's and contracts for hotels, vendors, and suppliers.
   • Prepare and execute PowerPoint presentations for all plenary sessions.

   More conference manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the conference manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A conference manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a conference manager in Maine may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level conference manager. Additionally, a conference manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average conference manager salary

   $59,570yearly

   $28.64 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level conference manager salary

   $43,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average conference manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$79,315	$38
   2	California	$75,302	$36
   3	Virginia	$72,354	$35
   4	District of Columbia	$71,357	$34
   5	Washington	$68,907	$33
   6	Illinois	$63,787	$31
   7	Massachusetts	$62,922	$30
   8	Texas	$58,165	$28
   9	Florida	$56,614	$27
   10	Colorado	$54,986	$26
   11	Nevada	$53,905	$26
   12	Georgia	$47,219	$23

   Average conference manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pegasystems	$84,485	$40.62
   2	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$80,381	$38.64	5
   3	Brookfield Properties	$71,283	$34.27
   4	J.P. Morgan	$70,125	$33.71
   5	Grainger	$69,331	$33.33
   6	Canon	$64,272	$30.90
   7	Cushman & Wakefield	$64,263	$30.90
   8	UMiami Health System	$63,544	$30.55
   9	Amazon	$63,256	$30.41	4
   10	American Gas Association	$58,266	$28.01
   11	BAE Systems	$58,176	$27.97
   12	Atla	$58,074	$27.92
   13	NMC	$57,971	$27.87
   14	Direct Marketing Assoc	$55,957	$26.90
   15	Informa Plc	$54,261	$26.09	9
   16	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$53,925	$25.93
   17	University of Colorado Boulder	$52,620	$25.30
   18	GreenBiz Group	$50,767	$24.41
   19	University of Florida	$50,377	$24.22

4. Writing a conference manager job description

   A conference manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a conference manager job description:

   Conference manager job description example

   At over 300 college & universities around the country, Chartwells Higher Education is re-inventing the on-campus dining experience. We are challenging the norm and setting new standards by investing in high-tech, food-infused social spaces that bring people together to promote meaningful relationships and interactions. We are food-forward difference makers, bound together by a desire to feed hungry minds and prepare students for success.
   
   We are seeking hungry, humble and smart associates who are looking to join and grow with a diverse organization. We invite you to start your career journey with us and look forward to hearing from you.
   
   Positions at this location require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, boosters, and/or regular COVID testing. Where permitted by law, applicants who are offered a position for this location may be asked about their vaccination status, which must meet minimum business requirements. All religious, medical, or other legally recognized exemptions regarding vaccination status will be considered.
   
   Join Chartwells as the Banquet and Conference Manager for a flagship university account servicing the Northwestern University downtown community including the prestigious Prtizker School of Law and Feinberg School of Medicine programs. We offer free parking, commuter assistance, cell phone reimbursement, long-term growth with a stable market leader, and a full benefits package. Our benefits package includes the best in class health, vision, dental plans along with 401K matching, short and long term disability, life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Programs including wellness and legal support. We also offer paid time off and paid holidays.
   
   Working as a Banquet and Conference Manager, you will manage events and offer personalized solutions for our clients while working with our operations team to make sure we exceed our client's expectations.
   Key Responsibilities:
   
   * Coordinates and oversees catering events for banquets and conferences
   * Develops and maintains the catering and event plan including a comprehensive event planning and conference service to clients including detailed menu development and conference planning
   * Hires, trains, and schedules catering/event staff, and will be actively involved in the development of existing catering staff in service techniques, menu presentation, policies, and procedures
   * Ensures successful operations of catering functions including labor cost control, foods cost control and preparation, transportation, setup, operation, and cleanup of all events
   * Books, selects and costs menu items, pricing contracts, and resourcing temporary help and equipment experience is key
   
   Preferred Qualifications:
   
   * Bachelor's Degree is required in Hospitality or Culinary Arts, Bachelor's degree Preferred
   * Minimum of five years of experience in hospitality industry including four years in management (preferably Catering Management) is required
   * The ability to supervise food preparation, service and clean up is also essential
   * ServSafe Certified a plus
   * Must have a valid clean driving license
   
   Positions at this location require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, boosters, and/or regular COVID testing. Where permitted by law, applicants who are offered a position for this location may be asked about their vaccination status, which must meet minimum business requirements. All religious, medical, or other legally recognized exemptions regarding vaccination status will be considered.
   
   Apply to Chartwells Higher Education today!
   
   Chartwells Higher Education is a member of Compass Group USA
   
   Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story
   
   Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.
   
   Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. *Los Angeles applicants: Compass Group will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring (Ban the Box ordinance)
   
   Associates at Chartwells Higher Ed are offered many fantastic benefits.
   
   * Medical
   * Dental
   * Vision
   * Life Insurance/ AD
   * Disability Insurance
   * Retirement Plan
   * Paid Time Off
   * Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
   * Associate Shopping Program
   * Health and Wellness Programs
   * Discount Marketplace
   * Identity Theft Protection
   * Pet Insurance
   * Commuter Benefits
   * Employee Assistance Program
   * Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
   
   
   Chartwells HE
   
   CINDY SCHOENFELD
   
   [[req_classification]]
   
   Nearest Major Market: Chicago
   
   Job Segment: Banquet, Food Service, Event Planning, Chef, Culinary, Hospitality

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find conference managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any conference managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level conference managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your conference manager job on Zippia to find and recruit conference manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit conference managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new conference manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the conference manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new conference manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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