Salary Outlook
The Labor Department reports the median annual wage for meeting, convention, and event planners was $46,020 in 2010. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $78,530, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $27,410. According to the BLS, the highest-paid in the profession work in the metropolitan areas of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Framingham, Mass., and Lowell, Mass.
| Job Salary | Year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | $45,820.00 |
| 2004 | $51,710.00 |
| 2006 | $49,770.00 |
| 2008 | $56,130.00 |
| 2010 | $48,780.00 |
Average Meeting, Convention & Event Planner Pay vs. All Business Jobs
This job earns a salary in the mid-40s, which is comparable to the salaries of insurance agents and executive assistants. Other jobs that include lots of problem solving and require a knack for dealing with people (in other words, the responsibilities a meeting planner must juggle) have varied salaries. For example, an HR training specialist earns $54,310, while a business operations manager might make almost $100,000 per year.
| Job Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $116,010.00 |
| Business Operations Manager | $95,150.00 |
| HR Specialist | $54,310.00 |
| Insurance Agent | $47,450.00 |
| Meeting, Convention & Event Planner | $46,020.00 |
See Complete List of Best Business Jobs
Best Paying Cities for Meeting, Convention & Event Planners
The highest paid in the meeting, convention & event planner profession work in the metropolitan areas of Poughkeepsie, NY, Framingham, MA, and Lowell, MA. The Washington, DC area also pays well, as does the city of Newark, NJ.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Average Salary: $70,790 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a meeting, convention & event planner working in Poughkeepsie, NY is $70,790, which is $24,770 more than the average pay in the profession.
Framingham, MA
Average Salary: $65,690 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a meeting, convention & event planner working in Framingham, MA is $65,690, which is $19,670 more than the average pay in the profession.
Lowell, MA
Average Salary: $64,520 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a meeting, convention & event planner working in Lowell, MA is $64,520, which is $18,500 more than the average pay in the profession.
Washington, DC
Average Salary: $62,610 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a meeting, convention & event planner working in Washington, DC is $62,610, which is $16,590 more than the average pay in the profession.
Newark, NJ
Average Salary: $62,160 | See Job Openings
The annual median wage of a meeting, convention & event planner working in Newark, NJ is $62,160, which is $16,140 more than the average pay in the profession.
