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The differences between meeting coordinators 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 a meeting coordinator and an event planner. Additionally, an event planner has an average salary of $51,542, which is higher than the $43,344 average annual salary of a meeting coordinator.
The top three skills for a meeting coordinator include event planning, meeting logistics and client facing. The most important skills for an event planner are customer service, vendor contracts, and plan events.
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $43,344 | $51,542 |
| Hourly rate | $20.84 | $24.78 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 19,623 | 19,793 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A meeting coordinator is responsible for all aspects of meetings and events. Your duties will include finding and scheduling meetings and events venues, designing and planning the itineraries and menus for the meeting or event, and looking for vendors to provide services at meetings such as decorators. As a meeting coordinator, you will be responsible for inviting speakers, confirming their attendance, and preparing any equipment they need to present. You are also expected to inspect the venues and ensure that everything is organized and ready before the event.
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.
Meeting coordinators and event planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Planner | |
| Average salary | $43,344 | $51,542 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $35,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Stamford, CT |
| Highest paying state | New York | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Intelliswift |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a meeting coordinator and an event planner in terms of educational background:
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | 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 meeting coordinators' and event planners' demographics:
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Planner | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.0% Female, 83.0% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |