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The differences between event planning managers and event managers 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 an event manager. Additionally, an event planning manager has an average salary of $52,565, which is higher than the $51,117 average annual salary of an event manager.
The top three skills for an event planning manager include event management, smooth execution and event sales. The most important skills for an event manager are customer service, event logistics, and event planning.
| Event Planning Manager | Event Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $52,565 | $51,117 |
| Hourly rate | $25.27 | $24.58 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 21,149 | 8,230 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 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.
Event planning managers and event managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Planning Manager | Event Manager | |
| Average salary | $52,565 | $51,117 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $33,000 And $77,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | VMware |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event planning manager and an event manager in terms of educational background:
| Event Planning Manager | Event Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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 event managers' demographics:
| Event Planning Manager | Event Manager | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.5% Female, 77.5% | Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8% |
| 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, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |