Event manager vs director of special events

The differences between event managers and directors of special events can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an event manager, becoming a director of special events takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a director of special events has an average salary of $63,671, which is higher than the $51,117 average annual salary of an event manager.

The top three skills for an event manager include customer service, event logistics and event planning. The most important skills for a director of special events are event planning, alumni, and event management.

Event manager vs director of special events overview

	Event Manager	Director Of Special Events
Yearly salary	$51,117	$63,671
Hourly rate	$24.58	$30.61
Growth rate	18%	8%
Number of jobs	8,230	23,252
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	38	42
Years of experience	2	4

What does an event manager do?

An event manager is an individual who is in charge of planning an organization's event and coordinating meetings with clients to determine details about the event. Event managers must look and compare different vendors such as food caterers, decorators, or musicians while working within the planned budget. They interview and hire personnel to assist them during the event and evaluate their performance after the event. Event managers must also distribute post-event surveys so that customers can provide feedback on the event.

What does a director of special events do?

A director of special events spearheads and oversees the planning and execution of various events, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They typically set goals and guidelines, manage schedules and timelines, outline plans and strategies, coordinate managers and different departments, and liaise with vendors and suppliers, building positive business relationships in the process. Moreover, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

Event manager vs director of special events salary

Event managers and directors of special events have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Event Manager	Director Of Special Events
Average salary	$51,117	$63,671
Salary range	Between $33,000 And $77,000	Between $35,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	VMware	NRDC
Best paying industry	Technology	Professional

Differences between event manager and director of special events education

There are a few differences between an event manager and a director of special events in terms of educational background:

	Event Manager	Director Of Special Events
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	San Diego State University	Stanford University

Event manager vs director of special events demographics

Here are the differences between event managers' and directors of special events' demographics:

	Event Manager	Director Of Special Events
Average age	38	42
Gender ratio	Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8%	Male, 25.1% Female, 74.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	16%	16%

Differences between event manager and director of special events duties and responsibilities

Event manager example responsibilities.

Manage FOH staff during the lunch rush - correctly handle any customer complaints or issues.
Manage successful closing of NYC block to control traffic flow and allow celebrity red carpet entrances.
Coordinate and manage maintenance, bartending, catering, schedules, calendars, and supervise staff.
Create BEO's and lead weekly team meetings for support team laying out the direction and objective of upcoming events.
Manage delivery schedules, outside vendor orders, and budget requirements for the sales, operations, and culinary staff.
Manage all logistics and communications from beginning to end with clients, including sending invitations, monitoring RSVP, and hosting.

Director of special events example responsibilities.

Manage the communications/special events budget to ensure ROI in accordance with the communication plan.
Restructure the budget plan for the department, achieving significant cost reductions while increasing ROI.
Organize, execute and manage all VIP hospitality and auxiliary celebrity events.
Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
Develop a BEO form to promote effective communication between front of house and back of house.
Collaborate with catering to create BEO s and assist clients with menu selection for meetings and events.

Event manager vs director of special events skills

Common event manager skills

Customer Service, 15%
Event Logistics, 10%
Event Planning, 9%
Audio Visual, 6%
Onsite, 5%
PowerPoint, 4%

Common director of special events skills

Event Planning, 13%
Alumni, 11%
Event Management, 7%
Event Logistics, 6%
Audio Visual, 4%
Press Releases, 3%

Event Manager vs. similar jobs

Event Manager related careers

Event Manager related jobs

Event Manager jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Business and Financial Industry
Event Manager
Event Manager vs Director Of Special Events

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs