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What is a program & events manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

A Program & Events Manager is responsible for the planning, preparing, and hosting of events. This includes project design and management, preparing a budget and a timeline, marketing the event to certain target audiences, endlessly thinking up ideas on how to improve the event or the process.

This often involves a lot of communicating and cooperating from the side of the Manager with various vendors, employees, higher-ups, event attendants, and others, including DJs, caterers, and event coordinators. They are meant to move them around and instruct them on various steps and are also supposed to advertise the event through various means. Good interpersonal, organizational, negotiation, and communication skills are key for this role.

Past experience is often necessary for marketing and event, and project planning. A Program & Events Manager should generally have a Bachelor's in marketing or hospitality management, or a subject similarly relevant. Knowledge of marketing strategies is important, as well as general computer and social media literacy. A Program & Events Manager earns, on average, $42.59 an hour or $88,594 a year.

What's a day at work look like for a program & events manager?

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.Meaghan Goodman Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Program Director & Assistant Professor, Maryville University

A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
ScoreProgram & Events ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.0

Avg. Salary $51,412

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.94%

Black or African American 7.58%

Hispanic or Latino 12.71%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.40%

Gender

female 76.94%

male 23.06%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Program & events manager career paths

Key steps to become a program & events manager

  1. Explore program & events manager education requirements

    Most common program & events manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    79.7 %

    Associate

    9.2 %

    Master's

    9.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific program & events manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management14.10%
    Event Planning13.87%
    Event Management9.48%
    Program Management6.71%
    Event Logistics6.56%
  3. Research program & events manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage implementation of referrals, coordinate assignment of new physicians and create support network for transitioning patients during clinic closure.
    • Represent the logistics business division for all quality relate issues including process development for all ISO and Non-ISO certify warehouse locations.
    • Coordinate with base acquisition office on logistics requirements in the transport of maintenance equipment in support mobility requirements for contingency operations.
  4. Apply for program & events manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a program & events manager 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 program & events manager job

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Average program & events manager salary

The average program & events manager salary in the United States is $51,412 per year or $25 per hour. Program & events manager salaries range between $29,000 and $88,000 per year.

Average program & events manager salary
$51,412 Yearly
$24.72 hourly

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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.

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