Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between event managers 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 an event manager and an event specialist. Additionally, an event manager has an average salary of $51,117, which is higher than the $41,294 average annual salary of an event specialist.
The top three skills for an event manager include customer service, event logistics and event planning. The most important skills for an event specialist are brand awareness, product preparation, and product demonstrations.
| Event Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,117 | $41,294 |
| Hourly rate | $24.58 | $19.85 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 8,230 | 12,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Event managers and event specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,117 | $41,294 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $77,000 | Between $26,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | VMware | Shearman & Sterling |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event manager and an event specialist in terms of educational background:
| Event Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between event managers' and event specialists' demographics:
| Event Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8% | Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |