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Event Planner Salary in the US

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What could I earn?
Find out how your salary compares to the average Event Planner salary.
Job Title
Location
Your Salary
​
Average Event Planner Base Salary:
Your salary is the same as the US national salary average.
$29.94
Your Salary
$29.94
$0.00
$29.94
$59.88
Market Average
$29.94

How much does a Event Planner earn on the U.S. national average per hour?

The hourly rate for a Event Planner on the U.S. national average is currently $29.94. This does not include tips, bonuses or other performance-based incentives offered by the establishment they're employed in.

How much does a Event Planner earn on the U.S. national average per month?

The average monthly salary for a Event Planner on the U.S. national average is $5,359.26.

How much does a Event Planner earn on the U.S. national average per week?

Based on the hourly and monthly salaries above, the average Event Planner salary per week on the U.S. national average is currently $1,197.60.

How Can I Earn More Money as a Event Planner on the U.S. national average?

The easiest way to earn more money as a Event Planner is to ask for a raise or a promotion. To do that, you’ll need to be prepared to discuss with your employer about why you deserve a raise.

To help you out, we've got a list of Event Planner interview questions and answers that you can use to come up with your own answers when you’re asking for a raise.

What Skills Are Employers Looking for in a Event Planner on the U.S. national average?

You can see what employers want in a Pastry Chef in Chicago if you take a look at a sample Event Planner job description. In it, you’ll find the most common skills, abilities and experience requirements for this role.

Annual Event Planner Salary

The average salary for an Event Planner in the U.S. is $62,280 per year. This figure was extracted from the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS)' latest guide on Event Planner wages.

Event Planners in 2019 earned an average annual salary of $54,880. Compared to the 2023 average annual salary of $62,280, that's an increase of nearly 14%.

Annual Event Planner Salary

[Source: BLS]

Monthly Event Planner Salary

The average base salary for an Event Planner in the United States is $5,189.

Weekly Event Planner Salary

The weekly salary for an Event Planner in the U.S. is $1,197.

Hourly Event Planner Salary

The average hourly wage for an Event Planner is $29.94. Some Event Planners can earn as little as $16.54 (10th percentile) per hour, while others may earn as much as $47.60 (90th percentile) per hour.

For more Event Planner trends, check out our 2024 statistics on Event Planners.

Event Planner Salary Averages Across the US

The annual salary of Event Planners can fluctuate significantly across the U.S. One factor is the cost of living in different areas.

For instance, Event Planners in New York and the District of Columbia, two locations with a high cost of living, earn significantly higher salaries than Event Planners in West Virginia and Arkansas, both of which have a lower cost of living.

Explore the table below to see what the average salary for Event Planners across the U.S. is:

Factors That Affect Average Event Planner Salary

Besides the cost of living in different areas, an Event Planner's salary is also dictated by the industry they work in, their level of experience and the types of events they're organizing. Let’s take a closer look at these factors that affect Event Planner salaries.

Factors that affect Event Planner salary

Type of industry

According to recent BLS data, "Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing," "Software Publishers" and "Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing" are among the highest-paying industries for Event Planners.

Meanwhile, Event Planners working in "Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions" and as "Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events" earn the lowest.

Level of experience

Clients prefer to hire individuals who have a proven track record of putting on successful events. Therefore, experienced Event Planners usually receive a higher salary than novice Event Planners who are just starting.

To boost your chances of earning a higher salary, here are some certifications you should consider getting:

Event types

Recent trends show that corporate event planning jobs pay the best. Event Planners who plan corporate meetings and seminars, bonding retreats, conferences and charity and nonprofit events typically earn the most.

These types of events are often hosted by tech companies, financial institutions and other large corporations.

Event Planner Salary in Major US Cities

Among these four large U.S. cities, New York City is the top-paying city for Event Planners, followed by Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Event Planner Salary in Major US Cities

[Calculated using Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Talent.com and Salary.com data]

Know the Take-Home Pay for Event Planners

If you're interested in calculating your take-home pay after taxes, our unique Paycheck Calculator allows you to view your salary after federal, state and local taxes.

Simply input your salary, your state and how often you receive the respective amount, and it will automatically calculate your take-home pay.

Paycheck Calculator
Salary
​
Pay frequency
State
Your estimated take home pay:
$60,000
Detailed tax breakdown:
$0%
Total Tax
$100%
Net Pay
Salary
$60,000
Federal Income Tax
- $0
State Income Tax
- $0
Social Security Tax
- $0
Medicare
- $0
Take Home
$60,000
Disclaimer: Please note that this paycheck calculator is designed to provide an estimate and should not be considered as professional tax advice. The actual withholding amounts and taxes owed may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. For accurate and personalized tax advice, we recommend consulting with a tax professional.

Benefits and Perks for Event Planners

Benefits and perks are additional rewards provided to employees on top of their annual salaries. As an Event Planner, these benefits will help you achieve a better work-life balance and maximize your job satisfaction. Here are some benefits and perks most Event Planner jobs offer:

401(k)

401(k) is one of the most common investment options U.S. employers use to help employees save for retirement.

As an Event Planner who spends a lot of time at work, it's crucial to use this benefit to capitalize on compound interest and enjoy flexibility later on in life.

Paid time off (PTO) covers different kinds of time away from work. This usually includes sick leave, parental leave, vacation leave and paid holiday.

According to a Vacation Tracker report, the number of PTO benefits can depend on the state and city you work in.

Employers located in the northeastern part of the country, such as Maine and New Hampshire, typically offer more PTO days compared to those in southern states like Florida and Maryland.

US vacation days averages by region

[Source: Vacation Tracker]

How Much Do Event Planners Earn Compared to Other Similar Roles?

Event Planners earn more than Hosts/Hostesses and Event Coordinators but less than those working as Event Managers.

Job Title

Avg Salary

Event Coordinator

$54,362

Event Manager

$78,729

Hostess

$30,750

Event Planner Salary FAQs

This can vary depending on the establishment you work for and whether you have a specific arrangement with your employer.

If you're working full-time for an employer, you can try negotiating a performance bonus as part of your benefits package. However, you'll first have to demonstrate your skills by planning successful events.

If you’re working as a freelance Event Planner, you’re more likely to receive additional cash compensation, as your pay will be tied to your performance and the success of the event.

You may receive monetary rewards when you meet or exceed specific goals established for the event.

According to BLS, if you earn an average base salary of $99,010 per year, you earn more than 90% of all Event Planners in the U.S.

However, that's just an average, and you can earn even more depending on the industry you work in and whether you receive performance bonuses.

While the average Event Planner salary stands at $62,280 per year, you can make six figures as you gain experience and build a reputation in the industry.

The best way would be to study our Event Planner interview questions and come up with potential answers. To help you out, we've already included some example answers, but you can obviously tailor them to meet your specific abilities and previous working history.

Event Planner Salary Data

We use data directly from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to ensure you get the most recent and relevant information. You can see how we calculate salaries and other data for all positions on our salary methodology page.