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The differences between event planners and directors of events 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 director of events. Additionally, a director of events has an average salary of $65,971, which is higher than the $51,542 average annual salary of an event planner.
The top three skills for an event planner include customer service, vendor contracts and plan events. The most important skills for a director of events are customer service, event management, and customer satisfaction.
| Event Planner | Director Of Events | |
| Yearly salary | $51,542 | $65,971 |
| Hourly rate | $24.78 | $31.72 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 19,793 | 8,520 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
An event director or director of the event is responsible for organizing a successful execution of an event. This job is demanding and involves a varied range of tasks and obligations, from planning and overseeing the cast and crew recruited, supervise training for effective execution of the event. They manage how to effectively deal with people from staff and crew to sponsors, and talents, especially in tight schedules and difficult circumstances. Moreover, the event director is the representative of the event when dealing with the benefactors of the event, media group for promotion coverage, and people outside the industry.
Event planners and directors of events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Planner | Director Of Events | |
| Average salary | $51,542 | $65,971 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $74,000 | Between $38,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stamford, CT | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Intelliswift | CrowdStrike |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event planner and a director of events in terms of educational background:
| Event Planner | Director Of Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between event planners' and directors of events' demographics:
| Event Planner | Director Of Events | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| 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, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |