Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Meeting, Convention and Event Planners
Meeting, Convention and Event Planners coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
Table of contents
What they do
Meeting, Convention and Event Planners coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve the payment.
- Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing, and event security.
- Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Meeting, Convention and Event Planners confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details. They monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, the satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.
A typical day for a Meeting, Convention and Event Planner will also include:
- Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
- Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
- Direct administrative details, such as financial operations, dissemination of promotional materials, and responses to inquiries.
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve the payment.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Meetings, conventions, and Event Planners also organize the registration of event participants. They may also inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
On a weekly to monthly basis, meetings, Convention and Event Planners arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs. They might also negotiate contracts with such service providers and suppliers as hotels, convention centers, and speakers.
In addition, they meet with sponsors and organizing committees to plan the scope and format of events, establish and monitor budgets, or review administrative procedures and event progress.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them conduct post-event evaluations to determine how future events could be improved.
To some Meeting, Convention and Event Planners, it is also their responsibility to design and implement efforts to publicize events and promote sponsorships.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
72% said they were satisfied with their job and 50% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to solve problems mentally.
Salary is below average.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Meeting, Convention and Event Planners with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $29,240 to $38,460 per year or $14 to $18 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $88,360 | $42 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $67,250 | $32 |
| Median | $51,560 | $25 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $38,460 | $18 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $29,240 | $14 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Meeting, Convention and Event Planners based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Publishers | $87800 | $42.21 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $84950 | $40.84 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $76400 | $36.73 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $73150 | $35.17 |
| Other Information Services | $72680 | $34.94 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $72590 | $34.90 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $70140 | $33.72 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $69900 | $33.61 |
| Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services | $69890 | $33.60 |
| Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $69260 | $33.30 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Meeting, Convention and Event Planners work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Meeting, Convention and Event Planners including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | 9140 | $60620 | $29.15 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 8200 | $54280 | $26.09 |
| Other Support Services | 7680 | $60970 | $29.31 |
| Traveler Accommodation | 6320 | $51890 | $24.95 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 5300 | $63200 | $30.38 |
| Other Personal Services | 4160 | $58870 | $28.30 |
| Local Government | 4040 | $51180 | $24.61 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | 3800 | $51170 | $24.60 |
| Special Food Services | 3140 | $46300 | $22.26 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3140 | $65720 | $31.60 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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