Editor
Median wage · national
$77,920
Range: $57K – $106K
Employed
92K
Openings/yr
10K
Typically: bachelor's degree
BUSINESS
Meeting & Event Planner
Meeting & Event Planner earn $72,550 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $57,480 and $92,180. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Meeting & Event Planner
Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.
- Median Wage
- $72,550
- Employed Nationally
- 111K
- Openings / Year
- 10,200
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Annual Giving Coordinator
Annual Giving Officer
Campaign Fundraiser
Capital Campaign Fundraiser
Community Fundraiser
How Much Do Meeting & Event Planners Make?
Meeting & Event Planner earn $72,550 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,480 and $92,180. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$72,550
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$57K–$92K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$57,480
Entry-level
$72,550
Median
$92,180
Experienced
What Do Meeting & Event Planners Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Meeting & Event Planner roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Identify and build relationships with potential donors.
- Secure commitments of participation or donation from individuals or corporate donors.
- Write and send letters of thanks to donors.
- Solicit cash or in-kind donations or sponsorships from individual, business, or government donors.
- Create or update donor databases.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Persuasion
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Writing
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Meeting & Event Planners Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Meeting & Event Planners?
The BLS projects +4.3% employment change for Meeting & Event Planner through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 10,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +4.3%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
10,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
111K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Meeting & Event Planner professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $72,550 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 11,380 | $77,480 | +6.8% |
| 2 | California | 10,570 | $80,810 | +11.4% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 5,940 | $74,370 | +2.5% |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 5,600 | $62,360 | -14.0% |
| 5 | Florida | 5,470 | $62,570 | -13.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Meeting & Event Planner positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 395,227 | $68,257 | 2,611 |
| 2 | Communication & Media | 56,620 | $56,359 | 1,406 |
| 3 | Marketing | 52,820 | $69,303 | 1,164 |
| 4 | Public Relations | 20,666 | $63,560 | 608 |
| 5 | Business Operations Support | 837 | $65,784 | 80 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Meeting & Event Planners
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Meeting & Event Planner, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Meeting & Event Planner pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Meeting & Event Planner Pros & Cons
The data on Meeting & Event Planner shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $72,550 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.3% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $72,550 median while building the experience employers require.
Meeting & Event Planner Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Meeting & Event Planner professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Meeting & Event Planner is $72,550, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $57,480 and $92,180. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Meeting & Event Planner a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $72,550 median, with +4.3% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Meeting & Event Planner?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Business Administration are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $72,550 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Meeting & Event Planner?
The BLS projects +4.3% employment change for Meeting & Event Planner through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 10,200 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 111K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Meeting & Event Planner professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Meeting & Event Planner roles: Speaking, Persuasion, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
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- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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