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The differences between meeting coordinators and event specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a meeting coordinator has an average salary of $43,344, which is higher than the $41,294 average annual salary of an event specialist.
The top three skills for a meeting coordinator include event planning, meeting logistics and client facing. The most important skills for an event specialist are brand awareness, product preparation, and product demonstrations.
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $43,344 | $41,294 |
| Hourly rate | $20.84 | $19.85 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 19,623 | 12,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| 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.
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.
Meeting coordinators and event specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Specialist | |
| Average salary | $43,344 | $41,294 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $26,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Shearman & Sterling |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a meeting coordinator and an event specialist in terms of educational background:
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| 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 specialists' demographics:
| Meeting Coordinator | Event Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.0% Female, 83.0% | Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1% |
| 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, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |