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Corporate event planner vs event specialist

The differences between corporate event planners and event specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a corporate event planner and an event specialist. Additionally, a corporate event planner has an average salary of $53,681, which is higher than the $41,294 average annual salary of an event specialist.

The top three skills for a corporate event planner include corporate events, event logistics and audio visual. The most important skills for an event specialist are brand awareness, product preparation, and product demonstrations.

Corporate event planner vs event specialist overview

Corporate Event PlannerEvent Specialist
Yearly salary$53,681$41,294
Hourly rate$25.81$19.85
Growth rate18%18%
Number of jobs29,34112,130
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does a corporate event planner do?

A corporate event planner is responsible for organizing business events such as seminars, conferences, award ceremonies, meetings, or product launches. They oversee procedures from planning to execution to ensure that everything runs efficiently and meets the clients' needs. They must coordinate with clients to identify event requirements and budgets, secure venues and equipment, book caterers, reserve supplies, delegate responsibilities among staff, and monitor all operations. An event planner must promptly and efficiently recognize issues and solve them to ensure optimal services.

What does an event specialist do?

Events specialists, also known as events producers or event planners, have many roles and responsibilities. They establish event concepts, select venues, secure sponsorships, and handle logistics for events. Also, they plan and manage event timelines, coordinate technical aspects, and manage risks. Event specialists are also responsible for communicating with vendors, organizing marketing materials, and liaising with event speakers. To become an event specialist, one should need to meet several qualifications that include having a degree in marketing, hospitality, or public relations. Organization skills and experience in project management are also important.

Corporate event planner vs event specialist salary

Corporate event planners and event specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Corporate Event PlannerEvent Specialist
Average salary$53,681$41,294
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $78,000Between $26,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Shearman & Sterling
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between corporate event planner and event specialist education

There are a few differences between a corporate event planner and an event specialist in terms of educational background:

Corporate Event PlannerEvent Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Corporate event planner vs event specialist demographics

Here are the differences between corporate event planners' and event specialists' demographics:

Corporate Event PlannerEvent Specialist
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 13.6% Female, 86.4%Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.8% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between corporate event planner and event specialist duties and responsibilities

Corporate event planner example responsibilities.

  • Manage all logistics and communications from beginning to end with clients, including sending invitations, monitoring RSVP, and hosting.
  • Develop agenda and itinerary, organize and procure all speaker biographies and materials and logistics for successful program execution.
  • Arrange onsite and offsite activities and dinners for participants and VIP's.
  • Provide creative support and assistance by researching and developing booth entertainment ideas and designing booth signage and packaging of giveaways.

Event specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage three key concierge brands with a high level of guest service and VIP attention.
  • Manage RSVP lists, checked-in attendees at events, and insure guest satisfaction at all times.
  • Build client pipeline by using SEO, Linkedin, Mattermarks, Angel.CO.
  • Establish streamline budget management process, enabling overall department to effectively tracking spending trend and ROI.
  • Post to Facebook and other media regarding up-coming event and/or event outcome.
  • Promote upcoming events and shows through marketing materials, emails and twitter.
  • Show more

Corporate event planner vs event specialist skills

Common corporate event planner skills
  • Corporate Events, 15%
  • Event Logistics, 12%
  • Audio Visual, 9%
  • Event Management, 8%
  • Trade Shows, 5%
  • Event Budgets, 4%
Common event specialist skills
  • Brand Awareness, 51%
  • Product Preparation, 14%
  • Product Demonstrations, 5%
  • Food Preparation, 4%
  • Food Safety, 4%
  • Product Knowledge, 3%

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