How much does a meeting, convention, and event planner make?
The median meeting, convention, and event planner in the United States earns $61,160 per year, about $29.41 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all meeting, convention, and event planners earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 13-1121.
Meeting, convention, and event planner salary range
Pay for meeting, convention, and event planners spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,830 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $101,700. The average (mean) wage of $66,520 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,830 | $17.71 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $46,970 | $22.58 | |
| Median (50th) | $61,160 | $29.41 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $78,790 | $37.88 | |
| 90th percentile | $101,700 | $48.90 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for meeting, convention, and event planners (SOC 13-1121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Meeting, convention, and event planner salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Meeting, convention, and event planners earn the most in District of Columbia at $76,970 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $35,760. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,970 | 2,360 |
| Massachusetts | $75,740 | 4,640 |
| New York | $74,730 | 10,330 |
| Hawaii | $74,460 | 550 |
| Vermont | $74,310 | 430 |
| New Jersey | $72,780 | 2,160 |
| California | $71,120 | 20,650 |
| Connecticut | $70,010 | 1,450 |
| Washington | $65,530 | 3,600 |
| Maryland | $63,280 | 2,570 |
| New Hampshire | $63,250 | 510 |
| Colorado | $62,050 | 4,650 |
| Arizona | $61,330 | 3,440 |
| Louisiana | $61,150 | 610 |
| Oregon | $61,120 | 2,020 |
| Virginia | $60,930 | 4,230 |
| Florida | $60,270 | 10,480 |
| Rhode Island | $59,910 | 890 |
| Illinois | $59,840 | 5,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,170 | 3,940 |
| Maine | $57,900 | 490 |
| Minnesota | $57,710 | 3,160 |
| Nevada | $57,610 | 2,060 |
| Texas | $57,470 | 10,730 |
| Missouri | $56,900 | 2,500 |
| Wyoming | $55,550 | 120 |
| Alaska | $54,990 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $54,990 | 4,340 |
| Kansas | $54,840 | 920 |
| Utah | $54,150 | 1,970 |
| Wisconsin | $53,940 | 2,690 |
| Arkansas | $53,040 | 550 |
| Michigan | $52,780 | 3,560 |
| Nebraska | $52,630 | 610 |
| Alabama | $52,180 | 980 |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | 3,260 |
| South Carolina | $51,830 | 1,240 |
| Iowa | $51,750 | 1,120 |
| North Dakota | $51,700 | 300 |
| New Mexico | $50,820 | 350 |
| Indiana | $50,090 | 2,140 |
| Ohio | $49,900 | 4,750 |
| Kentucky | $49,280 | 1,110 |
| Georgia | $49,250 | 5,050 |
| Delaware | $49,020 | 400 |
| Montana | $49,000 | 350 |
| Oklahoma | $48,990 | 1,440 |
| South Dakota | $47,050 | 340 |
| Mississippi | $44,680 | 360 |
| West Virginia | $35,760 | 300 |
State median wages for meeting, convention, and event planners (SOC 13-1121), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for meeting, convention, and event planners
The BLS projects employment of meeting, convention, and event planners to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 172,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 182,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 16,800 openings a year for meeting, convention, and event planners. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a meeting, convention, and event planner
The typical entry-level education for meeting, convention, and event planners is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a meeting, convention, and event planner earns
Firm size, industry, certifications, and years of experience drive the spread. Large firms and major financial centers pay well above small-town or entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $76,970) and the lowest (West Virginia, $35,760) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 142,860 people work as meeting, convention, and event planners in the United States. At $61,160 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Meeting, convention, and event planner salary FAQ
How much does a meeting, convention, and event planner make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a meeting, convention, and event planner is $29.41. The middle half of meeting, convention, and event planners earn between $22.58 and $37.88 per hour.
What is the highest meeting, convention, and event planner salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of meeting, convention, and event planners earn more than $101,700 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a meeting, convention, and event planner make a year?
The median annual salary for a meeting, convention, and event planner is $61,160. The average (mean) wage of $66,520 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a meeting, convention, and event planner a well paid job?
At $61,160 a year, a meeting, convention, and event planner earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 142,860 people work as meeting, convention, and event planners in the United States.
Which state pays meeting, convention, and event planners the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for meeting, convention, and event planners at $76,970 a year. Massachusetts ($75,740) and New York ($74,730) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a meeting, convention, and event planner a good career?
Employment of meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 16,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a meeting, convention, and event planner?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for meeting, convention, and event planners as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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