Post job

What is a party planner and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a party planner. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.32 an hour? That's $38,098 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 18% and produce 22,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreParty PlannerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,098

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.6

Growth rate 18%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 5.75%

Black or African American 11.23%

Hispanic or Latino 16.19%

Unknown 4.70%

White 61.89%

Gender

female 79.62%

male 20.38%

Age - 36
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 36
Stress level
7.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.0

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Party planner career paths

Key steps to become a party planner

  1. Explore party planner education requirements

    Most common party planner degrees

    Bachelor's

    44.8 %

    High School Diploma

    29.2 %

    Associate

    15.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific party planner skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service25.76%
    Event Planning12.60%
    Customer Satisfaction11.38%
    RAN7.03%
    Wedding Receptions5.94%
  3. Complete relevant party planner training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New party planners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a party planner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real party planner resumes.
  4. Research party planner duties and responsibilities

    • Source RFP's, negotiate contracts, and manage logistics for meetings, events and individual travel.
    • Guide production planning activities ranging from developing and revising production schedules, forecasting trends and customer demand, and managing logistics.
    • Oversee air and grind travel and hotel reservations for VIP's, speakers and international scholarship attendees.
    • Help coordinate dj's, photographers, bakeries and all the wedding party on the day of the wedding.
  5. Prepare your party planner resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your party planner resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a party planner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable party planner resume templates

    Build a professional party planner resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your party planner resume.
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
    Party Planner Resume
  6. Apply for party planner jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a party planner job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first party planner job

Zippi

Are you a party planner?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average party planner salary

The average party planner salary in the United States is $38,098 per year or $18 per hour. Party planner salaries range between $29,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average party planner salary
$38,098 Yearly
$18.32 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do party planners rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Party planner reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

It fun and it has a lot of money involved

Cons

All these fees we have to pay an tbe waiting process


Working as a party planner? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Party planner FAQs

Search for party planner jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse business and financial jobs