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Event planning manager salary
Average event planning manager salary
$52,565
Average Salary for Event Planning Managers
The average salary for an Event Planning Manager in the United States is approximately $52,565 per year, translating to around $25 per hour. Factors influencing this figure include location, experience level, and industry type. For instance, those in metropolitan areas or with extensive experience often command higher salaries.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $70,000 annually. Continuing education and networking can further enhance earning potential.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
States such as California and New York typically offer the highest salaries for Event Planning Managers. Other factors, such as the type of events planned—corporate versus social—can also affect compensation. Understanding these variables is crucial for negotiating your salary effectively.
Job Opportunities
With the demand for skilled event planners rising, numerous job openings exist across various sectors, including corporate event management, weddings, and non-profit organizations. Explore these opportunities to find the best fit for your skills and aspirations.
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Where can an Event Planning Manager earn more?
Event planning manager salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level event planning manager | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| Mid-level event planning manager | $54,200 | $26.07 |
| Senior-level event planning manager | $64,000 | $30.75 |
Event planning manager salary estimates from across the web
Average event planning manager salary by state
The highest-paying states for event planning managers are Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. The lowest average event planning manager salary states are Kansas, New Mexico, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for event planning managers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $68,946 | $33.15 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $68,356 | $32.86 |
| 3 | New York | $67,339 | $32.37 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59,314 | $28.52 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $60,808 | $29.23 |
| 6 | Virginia | $57,284 | $27.54 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $58,218 | $27.99 |
| 8 | Vermont | $53,620 | $25.78 |
| 9 | Maryland | $57,416 | $27.60 |
| 10 | Washington | $57,044 | $27.43 |
| 11 | Texas | $56,666 | $27.24 |
| 12 | Illinois | $51,576 | $24.80 |
| 13 | California | $52,822 | $25.40 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $53,785 | $25.86 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $51,463 | $24.74 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $48,133 | $23.14 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $45,186 | $21.72 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $51,307 | $24.67 |
| 19 | Michigan | $44,446 | $21.37 |
| 20 | Nevada | $45,387 | $21.82 |
| 21 | Oregon | $46,065 | $22.15 |
| 22 | Indiana | $46,177 | $22.20 |
| 23 | Delaware | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| 24 | Arizona | $46,135 | $22.18 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $43,676 | $21.00 |
| 26 | Florida | $45,671 | $21.96 |
| 27 | Alabama | $46,480 | $22.35 |
| 28 | Ohio | $44,408 | $21.35 |
| 29 | Georgia | $45,167 | $21.71 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $41,882 | $20.14 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $44,423 | $21.36 |
| 32 | Alaska | $42,918 | $20.63 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $40,272 | $19.36 |
| 34 | Colorado | $43,519 | $20.92 |
| 35 | Utah | $37,126 | $17.85 |
| 36 | Missouri | $42,618 | $20.49 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| 38 | Maine | $40,586 | $19.51 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $42,097 | $20.24 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $37,629 | $18.09 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $33,996 | $16.34 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $36,943 | $17.76 |
| 43 | Montana | $36,528 | $17.56 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $39,291 | $18.89 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $38,989 | $18.74 |
| 46 | Idaho | $34,352 | $16.52 |
| 47 | Iowa | $38,032 | $18.28 |
| 48 | Kansas | $35,821 | $17.22 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $35,149 | $16.90 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $35,424 | $17.03 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $32,557 | $15.65 |
Highest paying cities for event planning managers
The highest-paying cities for event planning managers are New York, NY, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $67,793 | $32.59 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $60,875 | $29.27 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $59,245 | $28.48 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,169 | $28.45 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $57,197 | $27.50 |
| 7 | Bethesda, MD | $56,970 | $27.39 |
| 8 | Burlingame, CA | $56,186 | $27.01 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $51,919 | $24.96 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $47,083 | $22.64 |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,937 | $22.09 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $45,459 | $21.86 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $44,978 | $21.62 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,423 | $21.36 |
| 15 | Denver, CO | $43,429 | $20.88 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $43,047 | $20.70 |
| 17 | Mason, OH | $42,507 | $20.44 |
| 18 | Kenner, LA | $42,493 | $20.43 |
| 19 | Burlington, NC | $40,970 | $19.70 |
Event planning manager salary details
An event planning manager's salary ranges from $36,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an event planning manager's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $52,565 | $4,380 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
Highest paying event planning manager jobs
The highest paying types of event planning managers are planning manager, planning committee member, and director of events.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Events | $65,971 | $5,498 | $31.72 | 8,520 |
| Site Coordinator | $38,256 | $3,188 | $18.39 | 29,397 |
| Conference Coordinator | $41,978 | $3,498 | $20.18 | 19,660 |
| Special Events Coordinator | $40,063 | $3,339 | $19.26 | 34,538 |
| Event Internship | $29,693 | $2,474 | $14.28 | 52,914 |
| Planning Committee Member | $81,213 | $6,768 | $39.04 | 15,066 |
Top companies hiring event planning managers now:
Which companies pay event planning managers the most?
Event planning manager salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average event planning manager salary at companies like Hyatt Hotels and Highgate Hotels are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $141,511 | $68.03 |
| 2 | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | $58,662 | $28.20 |
| 3 | Hyatt Hotels | $58,278 | $28.02 |
| 4 | Highgate Hotels | $57,743 | $27.76 |
| 5 | Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $55,326 | $26.60 |
| 6 | Goodwin Recruiting | $55,008 | $26.45 |
| 7 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $54,647 | $26.27 |
| 8 | Marriott International | $54,635 | $26.27 |
| 9 | California State University, Fresno | $54,460 | $26.18 |
| 10 | US Foods | $54,406 | $26.16 |
| 11 | WTS International | $54,196 | $26.06 |
| 12 | Northmarq | $51,607 | $24.81 |
| 13 | Chandon USA | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| 14 | IQPC | $50,205 | $24.14 |
| 15 | Aramark | $42,170 | $20.27 |
| 16 | Brasada Ranch | $26,141 | $12.57 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Event Planning Manager salary by industry
The average event planning manager salary varies across industries:
- The average event planning manager salary in the hospitality industry is $54,453, the highest of any industry.
- The average event planning manager salary in the finance industry is $52,564.
- Event planning managers in the retail industry earn an average salary of $50,575, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for event planning managers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | $54,453 | $26.18 |
| 2 | Technology | $52,564 | $25.27 |
| 3 | Media | $51,311 | $24.67 |
| 4 | Retail | $50,575 | $24.31 |
High paying event planning manager jobs
Event planning manager salary trends
The average event planning manager salary has risen by $5,648 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average event planning manager earned $46,917 annually, but today, they earn $52,565 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for event planning managers over the last decade.
Compare event planning manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average event planning manager salary over time
Compare event planning manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Event planning manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,600 | $25.27 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $51,600 | $24.80 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $50,300 | $24.20 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $49,200 | $23.67 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $48,300 | $23.21 | +1.1% |
Recently added event planning manager salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Event Planning Manager | Fort Collins, CO | 06/27/2025 | $70,000 |
| Marriott International | Manager Event Planning | Snowmass Village, CO | 06/26/2025 | $59,000 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Manager Event Planning | Snowmass Village, CO | 06/26/2025 | $59,000 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Event Planning Manager | Chicago, IL | 06/25/2025 | $60,100 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Meeting & Event Planning Manager | Richmond, VA | 06/25/2025 | $50,000 |
| Davidson Hospitality Group | Event Planning Manager | Spokane, WA | 06/25/2025 | $55,000 |
| Hyatt | Event Planning Manager | Arlington, VA | 06/19/2025 | $70,000 |
| Hyatt Hotels Corp | Event Planning Manager | Seattle, WA | 06/14/2025 | $77,969 |
| Cultura HR | Event Planning Manager | Palm Beach, FL | 06/13/2025 | $80,000 |
| Davidson Hospitality Group | Event Planning Manager | Cincinnati, OH | 06/12/2025 | $57,000 |
Event planning manager salary FAQs
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