Meetings manager vs event manager

The differences between meetings managers and event managers 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 manager and an event manager. Additionally, a meetings manager has an average salary of $63,589, which is higher than the $51,117 average annual salary of an event manager.

The top three skills for a meetings manager include client facing, cost savings and vendor contracts. The most important skills for an event manager are customer service, event logistics, and event planning.

Meetings manager vs event manager overview

	Meetings Manager	Event Manager
Yearly salary	$63,589	$51,117
Hourly rate	$30.57	$24.58
Growth rate	18%	18%
Number of jobs	1,821	8,230
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	2	2

What does a meetings manager do?

Meetings managers are professionals who organize the details that involve planning large and small events, including meetings. These managers are required to conduct site selections so that they can make recommendations to the committees involved while handling vendor negotiations and preparing proposals. They must manage responsibilities related to invitation and attendee management processes such as meeting registration, air travel, ground transportation, and accommodation. Meetings managers must also schedule for all managers to meet with audio-visual staff so that they can test run all their presentations.

What does an event manager do?

An event manager is an individual who is in charge of planning an organization's event and coordinating meetings with clients to determine details about the event. Event managers must look and compare different vendors such as food caterers, decorators, or musicians while working within the planned budget. They interview and hire personnel to assist them during the event and evaluate their performance after the event. Event managers must also distribute post-event surveys so that customers can provide feedback on the event.

Meetings manager vs event manager salary

Meetings managers and event managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Meetings Manager	Event Manager
Average salary	$63,589	$51,117
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $87,000	Between $33,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	VMware
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between meetings manager and event manager education

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

	Meetings Manager	Event Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	San Diego State University	San Diego State University

Meetings manager vs event manager demographics

Here are the differences between meetings managers' and event managers' demographics:

	Meetings Manager	Event Manager
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1%	Male, 36.2% Female, 63.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	16%	16%

Differences between meetings manager and event manager duties and responsibilities

Meetings manager example responsibilities.

Manage of hotel master accounts and organize VIP services for client leadership and celebrity guests.
Manage relationships with vendors, hotel staff and DMC's to ensure delivery of services as defined by senior management.
Design metrics to analyze and improve return on investment (ROI).
Assist all clients with booking hotel guest rooms and offer discount when applicable.
Contract suppliers including hotels, DMC's, and exhibit companies, and maintain relationships.
Create, circulate and analyze feedback forms to summarize ROI and report results to stakeholders.

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Event manager example responsibilities.

Manage FOH staff during the lunch rush - correctly handle any customer complaints or issues.
Manage successful closing of NYC block to control traffic flow and allow celebrity red carpet entrances.
Coordinate and manage maintenance, bartending, catering, schedules, calendars, and supervise staff.
Create BEO's and lead weekly team meetings for support team laying out the direction and objective of upcoming events.
Manage delivery schedules, outside vendor orders, and budget requirements for the sales, operations, and culinary staff.
Manage all logistics and communications from beginning to end with clients, including sending invitations, monitoring RSVP, and hosting.

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Meetings manager vs event manager skills

Common meetings manager skills

Client Facing, 17%
Cost Savings, 12%
Vendor Contracts, 11%
Site Selection, 11%
Event Budgets, 9%
Ground Transportation, 6%

Common event manager skills

Customer Service, 15%
Event Logistics, 10%
Event Planning, 9%
Audio Visual, 6%
Onsite, 5%
PowerPoint, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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