Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between event planning managers and event planners 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 planner. Additionally, an event planning manager has an average salary of $52,565, which is higher than the $51,542 average annual salary of an event planner.
The top three skills for an event planning manager include event management, smooth execution and event sales. The most important skills for an event planner are customer service, vendor contracts, and plan events.
| Event Planning Manager | Event Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $52,565 | $51,542 |
| Hourly rate | $25.27 | $24.78 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 21,149 | 19,793 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 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.
Event planning managers and event planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Planning Manager | Event Planner | |
| Average salary | $52,565 | $51,542 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $74,000 | Between $35,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Stamford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Intelliswift |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event planning manager and an event planner in terms of educational background:
| Event Planning Manager | Event Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| 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 planners' demographics:
| Event Planning Manager | Event Planner | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.5% Female, 77.5% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |