How To Become A Trade Show Coordinator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a trade show coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Duane Sunwold,

Mark Zanter

As a trade show coordinator, you'll work with the marketing team and organizers to define the strategy and requirements of the show. You'll research concepts and ideas and present them to the organizers and sponsors for consideration. You'll be accountable for preparing and managing budgets and negotiating contracts. Also, you'll book the show's venue, plan the layout, and coordinate with vendors to determine their booth requirements. Likewise, you'll book and register vendors, sponsors, and guests. Additionally, you'll oversee logistics such as travel, lodging, security, and equipment rentals.

Employers prefer applicants with at least an associate's degree in marketing, communications, project management, or any related field with at least three years of relevant experience. Applicants must be conversant with Microsoft Office, email platforms, and customer relationship management systems. You must possess organization, negotiation, time management, communication, and interpersonal skills. Their average salary is $49,554 yearly. It falls between $34,000 and $71,000.

What general advice would you give to a trade show coordinator?

Duane Sunwold

Instructor, Spokane Community College

Look for employment in Private Clubs, Supermarket Baking, Resorts, Casinos

ScoreTrade Show CoordinatorUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,487

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 5.98%

Black or African American 10.46%

Hispanic or Latino 16.75%

Unknown 4.72%

White 61.84%

Gender

female 68.99%

male 31.01%

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

Key steps to become a trade show coordinator

Explore trade show coordinator education requirements

Most common trade show coordinator degrees

Bachelor's

68.9 %

Associate

16.6 %

High School Diploma

6.3 %

Start to develop specific trade show coordinator skills

Skills	Percentages
Event Logistics	15.58%
Booth Space	13.83%
Event Planning	6.56%
Show Services	4.26%
Booth Set-Up	4.15%

Complete relevant trade show coordinator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New trade show coordinators 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 trade show coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real trade show coordinator resumes.

Research trade show coordinator duties and responsibilities

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Prepare your trade show coordinator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your trade show coordinator 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 trade show coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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