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Meetings & events manager vs events assistant

The differences between meetings & events managers and events assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a meetings & events manager and an events assistant. Additionally, a meetings & events manager has an average salary of $46,029, which is higher than the $28,633 average annual salary of an events assistant.

The top three skills for a meetings & events manager include event management, event planning and site inspections. The most important skills for an events assistant are customer service, event materials, and event planning.

Meetings & events manager vs events assistant overview

Meetings & Events ManagerEvents Assistant
Yearly salary$46,029$28,633
Hourly rate$22.13$13.77
Growth rate18%18%
Number of jobs4,6605,728
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

What does a meetings & events manager do?

Meeting and Events Managers are responsible for overseeing virtual or live events and meetings for a company or private individuals. Their duties include implementing event strategies, assist in event venue research, create vendor networks, and conduct contract negotiations for event support services. They are also involved in handling pre-event activities, facilitating post-event reviews, monitoring event budgets, preparing management reports, setting project milestones, and tracking event team performance. Meetings and events managers also work closely with clients to identify individual needs and assist in staff development programs.

What does an events assistant do?

An events assistant is responsible for coordinating an event based on a client's guidelines under the supervision of a head event planner. Events assistants manage event logistics, including negotiating with suppliers and third-party vendors and events place rental. They also ensure that the plans stay within the budget goals, minimizing costs but not compromising the quality of the materials. An events assistant usually updates the client on behalf of the event planner, especially on the updates and adjustments as needed. To be an events assistant requires excellent communication and organizational skills.

Meetings & events manager vs events assistant salary

Meetings & events managers and events assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Meetings & Events ManagerEvents Assistant
Average salary$46,029$28,633
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $62,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying CityHalf Moon Bay, CACambridge, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMaine
Best paying companyAstraZenecaDana-Farber Cancer Institute
Best paying industryHospitalityNon Profits

Differences between meetings & events manager and events assistant education

There are a few differences between a meetings & events manager and an events assistant in terms of educational background:

Meetings & Events ManagerEvents Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Meetings & events manager vs events assistant demographics

Here are the differences between meetings & events managers' and events assistants' demographics:

Meetings & Events ManagerEvents Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 14.6% Female, 85.4%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.1% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between meetings & events manager and events assistant duties and responsibilities

Meetings & events manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage and mentor team of alliances coordinators and business development representatives.
  • Submit RFP's to convention and visitors bureaus and hotel partners to secure travel industry funding for all events.
  • Solicit vendor RFP's and effectively negotiate optimal client savings.
  • Develop several best practices to include interactive event microsites, event twitter campaigns and in-booth think leadership presentations.
  • Prepare meeting details for SMERF, corporate, and government markets such as set-up, menus and audio-visual needs.
  • Coordinate all aspects of educational meetings for medical specialty associations, including requirements for approval of CME accreditation.

Events assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a pop-up shop, recruiting volunteers via Facebook, training them, and creating a volunteer calendar to manage hours.
  • Lead and manage the Instagram and twitter social media sites, also host numerous interviews with stars and celebrities.
  • Promote conversation and interaction among SUU alumni on Facebook by consistently writing posts and generating update photos and content.
  • Design business cards, social tickets, delegate passes and certificates using Photoshop and InDesign.
  • Publish stories on the college's website and post snippets on the college's Facebook page.
  • Compile speaker content and create presentation slides through Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Meetings & events manager vs events assistant skills

Common meetings & events manager skills
  • Event Management, 15%
  • Event Planning, 15%
  • Site Inspections, 7%
  • Client Satisfaction, 6%
  • Cost Savings, 5%
  • Event Logistics, 5%
Common events assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Event Materials, 7%
  • Event Planning, 6%
  • Event Locations, 6%
  • Event Management, 4%
  • Event Support, 3%

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