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The differences between event planning managers 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 planning manager and a director of events. Additionally, a director of events has an average salary of $65,971, which is higher than the $52,565 average annual salary of an event planning manager.
The top three skills for an event planning manager include event management, smooth execution and event sales. The most important skills for a director of events are customer service, event management, and customer satisfaction.
| Event Planning Manager | Director Of Events | |
| Yearly salary | $52,565 | $65,971 |
| Hourly rate | $25.27 | $31.72 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 21,149 | 8,520 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Event planning managers have responsibilities such as planning, organizing, promoting, and social events. They also perform tasks like booking venues, coordinating with clients and suppliers, managing invoices and budgets, and handling logistics. Managers negotiate sales agreements for room rentals, function space, food and beverage services, and coordinate room reservations and amenities. They also handle billing and accounting and present post-event reports. Planners must maintain contracts, permits, event management plans, and databases and spreadsheets with timelines and action plans.
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 planning managers and directors of events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Planning Manager | Director Of Events | |
| Average salary | $52,565 | $65,971 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $38,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | CrowdStrike |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event planning manager and a director of events in terms of educational background:
| Event Planning Manager | Director Of Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | 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 planning managers' and directors of events' demographics:
| Event Planning Manager | Director Of Events | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.5% Female, 77.5% | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.8% White, 61.9% 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% |