Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of events and professional gatherings.
Is meeting, convention, and event planners a good career?
It scores 20/100 and ranks #322 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Tracked in official BLS wage and projection data, so the numbers here are verifiable
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
What meeting, convention, and event planners earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. meeting, convention, and event planners earn between $46,970 and $78,790 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live meeting, convention, and event planners jobs
No live meeting, convention, and event planners openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified meeting, convention, and event planners openings will appear here — each shown against the $61,160 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
No placeholder listings · nothing inventedHow to become a meeting, convention, and event planner
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
Education
Meeting, convention, and event planners typically need a bachelor’s degree. Although some colleges offer programs in meeting and event management, other common fields of degree include business, communications, and social science.
Planners who have studied meeting and event management or hospitality management may start out with greater responsibilities than do those from other academic disciplines. Some colleges offer continuing education courses in meeting and event planning.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
A number of voluntary certifications are available for meeting and convention planners. Although not required, these certifications demonstrate specific knowledge or professional expertise.
Important qualities
Communication skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners exchange information with clients, suppliers, and event staff. They must have excellent written and oral communication skills to express the needs of their clients.
Interpersonal skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must establish and maintain positive relationships with clients and suppliers.
Negotiation skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to secure quality products and services at reasonable prices for their clients.
Organizational skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must multitask, pay attention to details, and meet tight deadlines.
Problem-solving skills. Meeting, convention, and event planners must be able to anticipate potential issues and prepare creative solutions that satisfy clients.
Related occupations
How much do meeting, convention, and event planners make?
The national median wage is $61,160 a year, with the middle half earning between $46,970 and $78,790 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is meeting, convention, and event planners a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 20 of 100 and ranks #322 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +4.8% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a meeting, convention, and event planner?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.
Where do meeting, convention, and event planners earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($76,970). Local pay for every state and metro is below.