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The differences between meetings managers 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 meetings manager and an event specialist. Additionally, a meetings manager has an average salary of $63,589, which is higher than the $41,294 average annual salary of an event specialist.
The top three skills for a meetings manager include client facing, cost savings and vendor contracts. The most important skills for an event specialist are brand awareness, product preparation, and product demonstrations.
| Meetings Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $63,589 | $41,294 |
| Hourly rate | $30.57 | $19.85 |
| Growth rate | 18% | 18% |
| Number of jobs | 1,821 | 12,130 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
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.
Meetings managers and event specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Meetings Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Average salary | $63,589 | $41,294 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $87,000 | Between $26,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Shearman & Sterling |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a meetings manager and an event specialist in terms of educational background:
| Meetings Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | 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 meetings managers' and event specialists' demographics:
| Meetings Manager | Event Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.9% Female, 81.1% | Male, 30.9% Female, 69.1% |
| 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, 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% |