How to hire an event manager

How to hire an event manager, step by step

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

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

What does an event manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an event manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an event manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an event manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of event managers.

   Type of Event Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Event Manager	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$15-37
   Director Of Special Events	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... Show more	$16-54
   Planning Committee Member	The role of planning committee members is to assist with designing and implementing an educational activity. They need to ensure that the leadership gives the continuing education (CE) developer enough time to complete the CE process... Show more	$9-152

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Event Logistics
   • Event Planning
   • Audio Visual
   • Onsite
   • PowerPoint
   • Excellent Organizational
   • Manage Events
   • Event Operations
   • Guest Satisfaction
   • Room Blocks
   • Trade Shows
   • ROI
   • Site Inspections

   Check all skills

   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.

   More event manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your event manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An event manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, event managers' average salary in missouri is 56% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level event managers earn 57% less than senior-level event managers.
   • Certifications. An event manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an event manager's salary.

   Average event manager salary

   $51,117yearly

   $24.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level event manager salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average event manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$67,215	$32
   2	District of Columbia	$61,368	$30
   3	California	$60,659	$29
   4	Massachusetts	$60,264	$29
   5	Pennsylvania	$59,997	$29
   6	Washington	$56,384	$27
   7	Virginia	$55,936	$27
   8	Texas	$53,009	$25
   9	Maryland	$50,180	$24
   10	Georgia	$48,135	$23
   11	Ohio	$47,701	$23
   12	Nevada	$46,749	$22
   13	Michigan	$45,275	$22
   14	Illinois	$44,461	$21
   15	North Carolina	$44,179	$21
   16	Florida	$43,681	$21
   17	Minnesota	$41,920	$20
   18	Louisiana	$40,774	$20
   19	Colorado	$40,736	$20
   20	Indiana	$36,072	$17

   Average event manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	VMware	$144,457	$69.45
   2	Google	$136,838	$65.79	1
   3	Microsoft	$132,294	$63.60	1
   4	NTT Data International L.L.C.	$119,008	$57.22
   5	Adobe	$114,093	$54.85
   6	CrowdStrike	$111,970	$53.83	1
   7	Intel	$111,644	$53.67
   8	Capgemini	$111,423	$53.57
   9	Workday	$107,203	$51.54
   10	Boston Consulting Group	$103,044	$49.54
   11	Keysight Technologies	$98,842	$47.52
   12	Salesforce	$96,993	$46.63
   13	Intuitive Surgical	$96,979	$46.62
   14	Medallia	$89,774	$43.16
   15	Ngam Advisors, L.P.	$89,430	$43.00	1
   16	HP	$88,763	$42.67
   17	Vista Equity Partners	$87,343	$41.99	1
   18	Stripe	$87,139	$41.89	1
   19	Kern Community College District	$84,621	$40.68	1
   20	Agilysys	$81,935	$39.39

4. Writing an event manager job description

   An event 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. Below, you can find an example of an event manager job description:

   Event manager job description example

   The Rock Family of Companies is made up of nearly 100 separate businesses spanning fintech, sports, entertainment, real estate, startups and more. We're united by our culture - a drive to find a better way that fuels our commitment to our clients, our community and our team members. We believe in and build inclusive workplaces, where every voice is heard and diverse perspectives are welcomed. Working for a company in the Family is about more than just a job - it's about having the opportunity to become the best version of yourself.
   
   Rocket Central is a centralized hub that delivers thoughtful and innovative solutions for Rocket Companies . We are the center of operations, technology, marketing, HR, legal, strategy and more that propels our companies forward. Here, we'll give you the opportunity to launch your career and work with various companies, spanning multiple industries from fintech, to auto and real estate. We offer you the tools you'll need to succeed, no matter what stage you're at in your career. You'll be able to master your craft here by working on complex problems in a collaborative culture and challenging yourself to make a real impact.
   Apply today to see all that Rocket Central has to offer!
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   3 years of full-time experience planning and executing events Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite
   
   Job Summary
   As an Event Manager, you'll plan and execute special events, meetings, incentive travel, parties, award shows, charity functions and more for the Family of Companies.
   
   Responsibilities
   Work with internal clients to assess goals, timelines and budgets to produce outstanding events Solicit quotes for food/beverage selections and make arrangements for audiovisual service, transportation, travel, entertainment, decor, venue, etc.Propose theming, look and feel, and other event elements to clients Create planning cadence and timeline and provide ongoing updates to a team of planners, vendors, clients and leadership Develop detailed run-of-show documents for events, from load-in through show and load-out Oversee event expenses from quote through requisition/payment and tracking of expenses for reporting Source city locations, venues, travel, arrangements and other event elements for incentive trips and out-of-town events Manage registration process for events Manage volunteer workforce for events Handle stage management Collaborate with the Event Graphic Design team to produce various email communications, PowerPoint and Keynote presentations, registrations, post-event surveys and printed collateral for events Supervise Event Production interns
   
   Who We Are
   Rocket Companies is a Detroit-based company made up of businesses that provide simple, fast and trusted digital solutions for complex transactions. The name comes from our flagship business, now known as Rocket Mortgage , which was founded in 1985. Today, we're a publicly traded company involved in many different industries, including mortgages, fintech, real estate, automotive and more. We're insistently different in how we look at the world and committed to an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard. And we're passionate about the work we do, and it shows. We've been ranked #5 on Fortune's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2021, as well as ranking #1 for Fortune's Best Large Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance List in 2021.
   
   Disclaimer
   This is an outline of the primary responsibilities of this position. As with everything in life, things change. The tasks and responsibilities can be changed, added to, removed, amended, deleted and modified at any time by the leadership group.
   
   We are proud equal opportunity employers and committed to providing an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all candidates and team members. Employment decisions, including hiring decisions, are not based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law.
   
   The Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and does not discriminate in any hiring or employment practices. The Company provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with state and federal law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation in completing the application and/or participating in the employment application process should notify a representative of the Human Resources Team, The Pulse, at 1-800-411-JOBS.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find event 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 event managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level event 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 event manager job on Zippia to find and recruit event manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with event manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   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 event manager

   Once you've selected the best event manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new event manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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How much does it cost to hire an event manager?