Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate events ranging from small gatherings to large conventions. Nationally, this occupation employs about 156,000 people, indicating a well-established field with a sizable workforce. The typical entry point is a bachelor’s degree, which can make this role attractive to recent graduates planning a people-focused, organized career path. A projected employment growth rate of 4.8% and about 16,000 annual openings suggest an ongoing flow of opportunities, whether for new entrants or experienced professionals seeking advancement or relocation. Success in this career relies on a mix of project management, customer service, and strong interpersonal and communication skills, combined with creativity, adaptability, and analytical thinking. For individuals who enjoy coordinating details, solving problems, and leading efforts that bring people together, meeting, convention, and event planning can offer a structured yet dynamic long-term career option across multiple locations and settings.
Meeting, convention, and event planners have a national median annual salary of $59,440. This provides a baseline for evaluating offers across regions and employers. Earnings potential varies by location, with several states and metro areas offering substantially higher median salaries. For example, states such as Massachusetts, New York, and California show higher median earnings than the national figure, and some metro areas in these states report even higher medians. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area has a median salary of $90,560, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports $78,610, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $82,120. These differences highlight the importance of geographic choice in long-term income planning. Overall, professionals in this field can use the national median as a reference point and then target locations where salaries better align with their financial goals and cost-of-living preferences.
Meeting, convention, and event planners have national employment of about 156,000, indicating a sizable field with established roles across the country. Projected employment growth is 4.8%, showing that the occupation is expected to expand over the projection period. In addition to growth, there are an estimated 16,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect both new positions and the need to replace workers who change jobs or leave the occupation. Together, the growth rate and the volume of openings suggest a consistent flow of opportunities for both new graduates and experienced professionals. For someone considering training or a degree aligned with this career, the combination of growth and openings can support long-term planning. Job seekers already in the field can also use these figures to gauge the potential for mobility, advancement, or relocation while staying within the same occupation.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for meeting, convention, and event planners. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out with higher median salaries—$71,120, $75,740, and $74,730 respectively—and strong CareerGPS opportunity scores above 65. California also has the largest employment level at 20,650, offering a broad range of positions, while New York and Massachusetts provide smaller but still notable employment bases. Colorado and Washington show mid-$60,000 median salaries and opportunity scores in the mid-50s, suggesting additional regional choices. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA offers the highest listed median salary at $90,560 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42, though with a relatively small employment base of 1,190. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro combines a high opportunity score of 77.27 with 9,050 jobs. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each blending solid salaries with meaningful employment levels.
The typical education level for meeting, convention, and event planners is a bachelor’s degree. This requirement positions the role as a professional career path that often begins after completing a four-year degree program. Beyond formal education, success in this occupation is closely tied to a broad mix of competencies. Key skills include project management, which supports organizing and executing events from start to finish, and customer service, which helps maintain strong relationships with clients and attendees. Creativity and innovation, along with adaptability, support handling varied and changing event needs. Problem solving and decision making, combined with critical and analytical thinking, are important for navigating challenges. Leadership and interpersonal skills help planners coordinate people and resources, while speaking and listening and writing and reading ensure clear communication. Individuals who can blend their bachelor’s-level education with these skills are well-positioned to pursue and grow in this career.
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