How To Become A Corporate Event Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a corporate event manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Joel Reece Ph.D.,

Mark Zanter

Corporate events managers are responsible for promoting conferences, conventions, and trade shows to potential customers. They respond to inquiries concerning services provided and costs for room and equipment hire, catering, and related services. They also arrange and coordinate services, such as conference facilities, catering, signage, displays, audio-visual equipment, accommodation, transport, and social events for participants.

Corporate events managers earn a median sum of $91,000 annually or $43 per hour. They are tasked with creating successful corporate events that leave memorable experiences for the members of the hosting organization or firm. They also organize or identify opportunities to improve employees' or employers' experience according to the organization's desire. Corporate events managers need to have excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills to succeed.

Corporate events managers typically hold a bachelor's degree in business, hospitality management, or other related fields. They are expected to have years of event management experience and extensive knowledge of managing vendors and partnering with internal business cohorts to support operative events.

What general advice would you give to a corporate event manager?

Joel Reece Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Brigham Young University–Hawaii

Review job postings of career jobs you want to see what types of skills and experience they are looking for in applicants, then go find opportunities to gain those skills and experience.

Look for opportunities to get involved. It is ok to be a volunteer or have an entry level job.
Think of your job as a place you can get paid to learn. Work with the attitude to add value to the company.

ScoreCorporate Event ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $63,057

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.6

Growth rate 18%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 6.01%

Black or African American 10.74%

Hispanic or Latino 16.86%

Unknown 4.73%

White 61.42%

Gender

female 77.95%

male 22.05%

Age - 36

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36

Stress level

7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.0

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a corporate event manager

Explore corporate event manager education requirements

Most common corporate event manager degrees

Bachelor's

79.3 %

Associate

11.2 %

Master's

6.7 %

Start to develop specific corporate event manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Corporate Events	18.41%
Event Planning	10.22%
Event Management	6.27%
Business Development	6.09%
Trade Shows	5.03%

Complete relevant corporate event manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New corporate event managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a corporate event manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real corporate event manager resumes.

Research corporate event manager duties and responsibilities

Manage secret entertainment reveals and VIP rehearsals.
Manage CRM program including development and enforcement of internal protocols and database management.
Forecast event ROI and present details to executive management.
Generate ROI evaluation report and provide recommendation for future events.

Prepare your corporate event manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your corporate event manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a corporate event manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable corporate event manager resume templates

Build a professional corporate event manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your corporate event manager resume.

Apply for corporate event manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a corporate event manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do corporate event managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Corporate event manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Pros

I was a theater major who received my CMP and realized I could put on a production in the corporate world. Event Planning allows me to utilize my skillset in a way I didn't know was possible. I also have the opportunity to travel and most venues treat you well when you're the planner (if you're the one in charge of the event).

Cons

There is nothing more stressful then this job. As you get closer to an event, the days get longer and the job can become 24/7, especially while the event is happening. If you're looking for a job you clock out from at 5pm, this is not the job for you. You're also in charge of budgets, F&B, Centerpieces, Entertainment, Speakers, Content, App Development, Registration, the list is endless. If you aren't good under pressure, this is not the job for you.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019