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Special events planner vs events assistant

The differences between special events planners and events assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a special events planner and an events assistant. Additionally, a special events planner has an average salary of $50,325, which is higher than the $28,633 average annual salary of an events assistant.

The top three skills for a special events planner include national security, event planning and event coordination. The most important skills for an events assistant are customer service, event materials, and event planning.

Special events planner vs events assistant overview

Special Events PlannerEvents Assistant
Yearly salary$50,325$28,633
Hourly rate$24.19$13.77
Growth rate18%18%
Number of jobs28,6885,728
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age3838
Years of experience22

Special events planner vs events assistant salary

Special events planners and events assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Events PlannerEvents Assistant
Average salary$50,325$28,633
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $84,000Between $21,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City-Cambridge, MA
Highest paying state-Maine
Best paying company-Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Best paying industry-Non Profits

Differences between special events planner and events assistant education

There are a few differences between a special events planner and an events assistant in terms of educational background:

Special Events PlannerEvents Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Special events planner vs events assistant demographics

Here are the differences between special events planners' and events assistants' demographics:

Special Events PlannerEvents Assistant
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 23.6% Female, 76.4%Male, 31.2% Female, 68.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 5.8% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.9% White, 62.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between special events planner and events assistant duties and responsibilities

Special events planner example responsibilities.

  • Select and manage live entertainment for VIP parties, special events and weekend entertainment.
  • Maintain business website and manage Facebook account.
  • Create and present PowerPoint presentations at trades shows and workshops.
  • Orchestrate seamless industry VIP and charity events worldwide involving up to 800 guests and budgets of up to $12K.
  • Develop agenda and itinerary, organize and procure all speaker biographies and materials and logistics for successful program execution.
  • Assist in the development of sponsorship opportunities, themes, and giveaways.
  • Show more

Events assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a pop-up shop, recruiting volunteers via Facebook, training them, and creating a volunteer calendar to manage hours.
  • Lead and manage the Instagram and twitter social media sites, also host numerous interviews with stars and celebrities.
  • Promote conversation and interaction among SUU alumni on Facebook by consistently writing posts and generating update photos and content.
  • Design business cards, social tickets, delegate passes and certificates using Photoshop and InDesign.
  • Publish stories on the college's website and post snippets on the college's Facebook page.
  • Compile speaker content and create presentation slides through Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Special events planner vs events assistant skills

Common special events planner skills
  • National Security, 21%
  • Event Planning, 7%
  • Event Coordination, 7%
  • Event Management, 6%
  • Event Logistics, 5%
  • Event Budgets, 4%
Common events assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 27%
  • Event Materials, 7%
  • Event Planning, 6%
  • Event Locations, 6%
  • Event Management, 4%
  • Event Support, 3%

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