How To Become A Manager Of Special Events: What It Is and Career Path

What is a manager of special events and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A manager of special events plans and executes events such as weddings, corporate events, festivals, and social gatherings. They work with clients to determine needs, identify vendors, and manage budgets. The role requires organizational skills, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving. A manager of special events must also possess excellent communication skills to liaise with clients, vendors, and event staff. Overall, a manager of special events creates a successful and memorable event for their clients.

ScoreManager Of Special EventsUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $56,716

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.7

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.42%

Asian 5.10%

Black or African American 5.87%

Hispanic or Latino 9.04%

Unknown 4.66%

White 74.92%

Gender

female 70.30%

male 29.70%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

8.7

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a manager of special events?

Pros

Opportunity to work on high-profile events
Potential for high earnings and bonuses
Networking with industry professionals
Opportunity for travel and experiencing new places
Ability to make a positive impact on attendees and communities

Cons

High risk of burnout due to intense workload and responsibilities
Often working with limited budgets or resources
Managing difficult personalities and conflicting opinions from clients or team members
High levels of competition in the industry
Potential for financial loss if events are not successful

Key steps to become a manager of special events

Explore manager of special events education requirements

Most common manager of special events degrees

Bachelor's

79.4 %

Associate

8.3 %

Master's

7.8 %

Start to develop specific manager of special events skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	21.03%
Event Planning	13.06%
Event Management	8.77%
Event Logistics	4.20%
PowerPoint	3.65%

Complete relevant manager of special events training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New managers of special events learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a manager of special events based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manager of special events resumes.

Research manager of special events duties and responsibilities

Negotiate contracts and manage project budgets to ensure optimal return on cost and measurable ROI.
Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
Assist in planning, developing and producing PowerPoint and video presentations.
Measure and track ROI on a per school basis to create weekly schedule.

Prepare your manager of special events resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manager of special events resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a manager of special events resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable manager of special events resume templates

Build a professional manager of special events resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manager of special events resume.