State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners is $61,160 a year ($29.41/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% through 2034, with about 15,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 13-1121Business and Financial OperationsLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $61,160
- Projected growth
- +4.8%
- Openings a year
- 15,500
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Catering Director, Conference Planner, Conference Planning Manager, Conference Services Director, Conference Services Manager, Convention Services Director.
How much do Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners make?
10th percentile$36,830
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$46,970
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$61,160
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$78,790
Upper quartile
90th percentile$101,700
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $61,160 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $29.41/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $66,520 |
| People employed | 142,860 |
Versus all US occupations
At $61,160, Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners earn 20% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $10,180 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $101,700 or more while the bottom 10% earn $36,830, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 44% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($76,970), but once local prices are taken into account Vermont leads at $75,859 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,970 | $70,036 | 2,360 |
| Massachusetts | $75,740 | $71,617 | 4,640 |
| New York | $74,730 | $69,245 | 10,330 |
| Hawaii | $74,460 | $67,721 | 550 |
| Vermont | $74,310 | $75,859 | 430 |
| New Jersey | $72,780 | $66,890 | 2,160 |
| California | $71,120 | $64,234 | 20,650 |
| Connecticut | $70,010 | $67,571 | 1,450 |
| Washington | $65,530 | $61,236 | 3,600 |
| Maryland | $63,280 | $60,290 | 2,570 |
Is Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner a growing career?
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners4.8%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.8% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners to change 4.8% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 7,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 15,500 openings are projected each year, 9.9% of the 155,800 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Event planners' services are expected to be in demand by people who want help organizing personal events, such as weddings. In addition, demand for professionally planned meetings and events will stem from businesses and organizations that host events.
How to become a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically need a bachelor’s degree. Some experience related to event planning may be helpful.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as meeting, convention, and event planners.
- Bachelor's Degree40.8%
- Some College Courses37.2%
- High School Diploma7.9%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)7.5%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.6%
What does a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner do?
Coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.
Day-to-day tasks
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Conduct post-event evaluations to determine how future events could be improved.
- Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
- Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
- Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
- Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.
- Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where meeting, convention, and event planners work
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 16% |
|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 12% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12% |
| Administrative and support services | 10% |
| Self-employed workers | 5% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Writing3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Active Learning3.4/5
- Mathematics2.5/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.9/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6/5
- Persuasion3.5/5
- Negotiation3.4/5
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Sales and marketing software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.0
Investigative1.6
Artistic2.5
Socialprimary4.6
Enterprisingprimary7.0
Conventionalprimary5.0
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner: frequently asked questions
How much do Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners make?
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners earn a median of $61,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 20% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.41/hr. The middle half earn between $46,970 and $78,790. The top 10% earn $101,700 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 40.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.8% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 15,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner do?
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings. A core O*NET task: consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners the most?
The highest state medians for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners are District of Columbia ($76,970), Massachusetts ($75,740), New York ($74,730) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Vermont moves to the top at $75,859.
What personality type suits a Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner?
O*NET scores Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.