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The differences between meeting coordinators and special events coordinators 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 a special events coordinator. Additionally, a meeting coordinator has an average salary of $43,344, which is higher than the $40,063 average annual salary of a special events coordinator.
The top three skills for a meeting coordinator include event planning, meeting logistics and client facing. The most important skills for a special events coordinator are customer service, event planning, and press releases.
| Meeting Coordinator | Special Events Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $43,344 | $40,063 |
| Hourly rate | $20.84 | $19.26 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 19,623 | 34,538 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| 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.
A special events coordinator is in charge of organizing and devising plans for an event, even monitoring all progress to ensure everything is running smoothly. They are typically responsible for consulting with clients and understanding the event's purpose, offering a selection of venues and caterers, providing cost estimates, and booking various services such as speakers, equipment, location, photographers, videographers, and other essential factors. Moreover, a special events coordinator manages all processes involved in setting up and down an event, all while maintaining client satisfaction.
Meeting coordinators and special events coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Meeting Coordinator | Special Events Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $43,344 | $40,063 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $56,000 | Between $26,000 And $60,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Shriners Hospitals for Children | Smithsonian Institution |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Education |
There are a few differences between a meeting coordinator and a special events coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Meeting Coordinator | Special Events Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | San Diego State University | San Diego State University |
Here are the differences between meeting coordinators' and special events coordinators' demographics:
| Meeting Coordinator | Special Events Coordinator | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.0% Female, 83.0% | Male, 26.4% Female, 73.6% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |