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The differences between event specialists 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 specialist and a director of events. Additionally, a director of events has an average salary of $65,971, which is higher than the $41,294 average annual salary of an event specialist.
The top three skills for an event specialist include brand awareness, product preparation and product demonstrations. The most important skills for a director of events are customer service, event management, and customer satisfaction.
| Event Specialist | Director Of Events | |
| Yearly salary | $41,294 | $65,971 |
| Hourly rate | $19.85 | $31.72 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 12,130 | 8,520 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Events specialists, also known as events producers or event planners, have many roles and responsibilities. They establish event concepts, select venues, secure sponsorships, and handle logistics for events. Also, they plan and manage event timelines, coordinate technical aspects, and manage risks. Event specialists are also responsible for communicating with vendors, organizing marketing materials, and liaising with event speakers. To become an event specialist, one should need to meet several qualifications that include having a degree in marketing, hospitality, or public relations. Organization skills and experience in project management are also important.
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 specialists and directors of events have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Event Specialist | Director Of Events | |
| Average salary | $41,294 | $65,971 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $63,000 | Between $38,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Shearman & Sterling | CrowdStrike |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an event specialist and a director of events in terms of educational background:
| Event Specialist | Director Of Events | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | 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 specialists' and directors of events' demographics:
| Event Specialist | Director Of Events | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1% | 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, 61.4% 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% |