Event planner vs conference coordinator

The differences between event planners and conference coordinators 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 planner and a conference coordinator. Additionally, an event planner has an average salary of $51,542, which is higher than the $41,978 average annual salary of a conference coordinator.

The top three skills for an event planner include customer service, vendor contracts and plan events. The most important skills for a conference coordinator are conference calls, reservations, and event planning.

Event planner vs conference coordinator overview

	Event Planner	Conference Coordinator
Yearly salary	$51,542	$41,978
Hourly rate	$24.78	$20.18
Growth rate	18%	18%
Number of jobs	19,793	19,660
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does an event planner do?

An event planner is responsible for organizing events, following the clients' needs, instructions, and budget goals. Event planners must be highly communicative to coordinate and negotiate contracts with suppliers, third-party vendors, and venue rentals. They finalize the guest list, catering services, and assist with marketing materials to promote the event. An event planner should also have a broad knowledge of the current market industry trends, which plays a vital role in planning and organizing future event opportunities.

What does a conference coordinator do?

A conference coordinator organizes professional gatherings and meetings according to a client's needs and preferences. There are also instances where they may plan reunions, parties, and other events. Their responsibilities begin at meeting the clients to identify their needs and preferences, including the event's purpose or themes. From there, a conference coordinator develops plans, secures venues and speakers, books caterers and other equipment, prepares and processes requests, and maintains records of all transactions, presenting invoices to the clients. Moreover, a conference coordinator must be proactive and resolve any conflicts or issues should any arise.

Event planner vs conference coordinator salary

Event planners and conference coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Event Planner	Conference Coordinator
Average salary	$51,542	$41,978
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $74,000	Between $32,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	Stamford, CT	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	New York
Best paying company	Intelliswift	Battelle
Best paying industry	Technology	Telecommunication

Differences between event planner and conference coordinator education

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

	Event Planner	Conference Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	San Diego State University	San Diego State University

Event planner vs conference coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between event planners' and conference coordinators' demographics:

	Event Planner	Conference Coordinator
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6%	Male, 26.5% Female, 73.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	16%	16%

Differences between event planner and conference coordinator duties and responsibilities

Event planner example responsibilities.

Manage client RFP s, develop detailed proposals & client pitches.
Produce, implement, and manage sales lead forms and online surveys to determine overall ROI.
Manage VIP & bottle service, sell tickets, hire promoters, promotional models, disc jockeys & staff for venues.
Manage and ship all marketing and advertising kits and giveaways for career fairs, on-campus presentations, final rounds and orientations.
Coordinate and host successful client seminars, creating invitations and promotional materials, booking venues, and selecting guest speakers.
Coordinate travel arrangements, including booking airfare, hotel and transportation.

Conference coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage internal & external reservations for audio and videoconferencing requirements over telephone and via e-mail.
Attend daily and weekly BEO meetings.
Process documentation of hotel BEO s and final invoices while disputing where necessary.
Help Medicaid eligible members to secure both physical and behavioral services in the community by reviewing and preparing prior authorization requests.
Track lead referrals and ROI.
Track budget costs and ROI relate to each event.

Event planner vs conference coordinator skills

Common event planner skills

Customer Service, 15%
Vendor Contracts, 12%
Plan Events, 8%
Event Management, 6%
PowerPoint, 5%
Event Logistics, 3%

Common conference coordinator skills

Conference Calls, 15%
Reservations, 13%
Event Planning, 6%
Audio Visual Equipment, 5%
Conference Planning, 4%
Event Management, 4%

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Event Planner vs Conference Coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

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