Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners salary in the U.S.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners in the U.S. earn a median of $61,160 a year ($29.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 142,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,700 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $66,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for meeting, convention, and event planners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,830 | $17.71 |
| 25th percentile | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Median | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| 75th percentile | $78,790 | $37.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,700 | $48.90 |
| Average (mean) | $66,520 | $31.98 |
Half of meeting, convention, and event planners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,096.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,548.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,352.31 |
| Weekly | $1,176.15 |
| Hourly | $29.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Virgin Islands | $61,580 | 60 |
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,400 | 830 |
Best-paying metro areas for meeting, convention, and event planners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $90,560 | 1,190 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $84,640 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,120 | 3,490 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $78,610 | 9,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,010 | 3,650 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $77,010 | 170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,450 | 5,140 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $73,890 | 510 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $71,720 | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,100 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $70,710 | 910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $69,890 | 2,450 |
| Napa, CA | $68,940 | 190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $68,850 | 7,300 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $68,710 | 460 |
Metro areas with the most meeting, convention, and event planners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 9,050 | $78,610 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,300 | $68,850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,140 | $75,450 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 4,230 | $62,640 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,650 | $78,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,490 | $82,120 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 3,470 | $50,140 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,380 | $62,720 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,240 | $61,260 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 2,680 | $62,320 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,660 | $61,380 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,450 | $69,890 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,430 | $66,060 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,330 | $59,590 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,160 | $61,770 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meeting, convention, and event planners make in the U.S.?
The median salary for meeting, convention, and event planners in the U.S. is $61,160 a year, or $29.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid meeting, convention, and event planners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of meeting, convention, and event planners in the U.S. earn at least $101,700 a year. The top 25% earn $78,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for meeting, convention, and event planners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,830 a year, and a quarter of meeting, convention, and event planners earn $46,970 or less.
How many meeting, convention, and event planners work in the U.S.?
About 142,860 meeting, convention, and event planners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.