There’s a popular saying that goes “no two people pay the same price for an airline ticket,” and the same rings true about a meeting and event planner. No two Event Planners in NYC are paid the same salary even when their job descriptions and responsibilities may be exactly the same.
Salary is not a topic people often speak about freely–even though they undoubtedly should. So, as you enter the events industry as a meeting and event planner, it’s super important that you’re aware of what to expect in terms of the salary you may or should be offered. There are a few event planner salary factors we feel you should consider. In reality, it comes down to the very same factors as any other job: location, industry, and the size of the company.
3 Salary Factors Event Planners Should Consider
Location. Location. Location.
Geography plays a major role in how much you will get paid. When you work as an Event Planner in NYC, life is more expensive than in the rural areas of New York, which means that salaries tend to be higher to accommodate the cost of living. Larger cities have a greater employee base to pull from, so corporations will offer higher salaries in order to be competitive compared to other offers. Usually, that’s why busy event planners in large cities often get paid higher salaries.
Company Information (Industry and Company Size)
How expansive is the company you’re applying to work for? Larger companies offer higher salaries than smaller ones do. The bigger the company, the bigger the payroll budget will be. This isn’t always true, but we feel it’s a good rule of thumb. Also, the type of industry can impact the salary offer. For profit companies have the ability to offer more than, say, a position in public education.
Years of Experience
C’mon this one is obvious, so yes, the more years of experience you have, the more money you’ll earn. Entry-level event planner positions earn way less than an experienced planner. If you’re new to the game, you can get your foot in the door by focusing your efforts on learning and growing more. By doing so, you’ll gain the needed experience quickly.
Level of Education
Generally, professionals who have a degree often get a higher salary in other industries, but that isn’t always the case for Event Planners in NYC. In the events industry, experience is valued more than degrees since there are limited educational programs for event planners.
Hands-on experience and the event niche you choose is more valuable. Earning an industry-recognized certification can help push you up the pay scale. When you become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) it will help you land a higher salary, because it’s a widely recognized certification. Don’t believe us, get online and do the research while also reaching out to others industry professionals and ask them which certifications they’ve found is most effective.
Industries to Look at – By the Numbers
We want you to take a closer look at the salary breakdown for event planners based on industry.
Top Industries for an Event Planner Job
|
INDUSTRY |
ANNUAL MEAN WAGE |
|
Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Orgs |
$58,880 |
|
Traveler Accommodation |
$49,190 |
|
Other Support Services |
$56,490 |
|
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
$51,050 |
|
Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events |
$46,560 |
Industries Who Are Paying Event Planners the Most
|
INDUSTRY |
ANNUAL MEAN WAGE |
|
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
$82,770 |
|
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
$79,530 |
|
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage |
$75,840 |
|
Activities Related to Credit Intermediation |
$73,990 |
|
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
$72,740 |
Conclusion
As you move through your career, your salary will fluctuate. The most crucial component to remember is that even though your salary will go up and down, don’t be scared to negotiate. Also, it’s absolutely acceptable to discuss salary questions with a mentor in the events industry! Attend the Event Planner Expo to network with events industry vets that can help guide your career.
