Event Planner job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$61,160

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (O*NET-SOC 13-1121.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions. importance 4.6 of 5
2. Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment. importance 4.5 of 5
3. Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security. importance 4.4 of 5
4. Arrange the availability of audio-visual equipment, transportation, displays, and other event needs. importance 4.3 of 5
5. Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details. importance 4.3 of 5
6. Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements. importance 4.3 of 5
7. Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details. importance 4.3 of 5
8. Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise. importance 4.1 of 5
9. Negotiate contracts with such service providers and suppliers as hotels, convention centers, and speakers. importance 4.1 of 5
10. Evaluate and select providers of services according to customer requirements. importance 4.1 of 5
11. Plan and develop programs, agendas, budgets, and services according to customer requirements. importance 4.0 of 5
12. Hire, train, and supervise volunteers and support staff required for events. importance 4.0 of 5
13. Conduct post-event evaluations to determine how future events could be improved. importance 4.0 of 5
14. Direct administrative details, such as financial operations, dissemination of promotional materials, and responses to inquiries. importance 3.8 of 5
15. Meet with sponsors and organizing committees to plan scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets, or to review administrative procedures and event progress. importance 3.8 of 5
16. Read trade publications, attend seminars, and consult with other meeting professionals to keep abreast of meeting management standards and trends. importance 3.3 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work, Making Decisions and Solving Problems, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Communicating with People Outside the Organization and Working with Computers.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Organize registration of event participants.
• Develop event topics and choose featured speakers.
• Promote conference, convention and trades show services by performing tasks such as meeting with professional and trade associations, and producing brochures and other publications.
• Design and implement efforts to publicize events and promote sponsorships.
• Obtain permits from fire and health departments to erect displays and exhibits and serve food at events.

Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Communications and Media, Administrative and Administration and Management.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe InDesign. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists no typical on-the-job training once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become an event planner.

The most common answer among event planners surveyed by O*NET is a bachelor's degree (41%).

Job title: Event Planner
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring an Event Planner to coordinate activities of staff, convention personnel, or clients to make arrangements for group meetings, events, or conventions.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve 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.
- Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
- Inspect event facilities to ensure that they conform to customer requirements.
- Maintain records of event aspects, including financial details.
- Monitor event activities to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws, satisfaction of participants, and resolution of any problems that arise.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in reading comprehension, active listening and speaking
- Working knowledge of Customer and Personal Service and English Language
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $61,160 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $29.41. BLS estimates about 142,860 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,800 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full event planner salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real event planner posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only event planner work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (reading comprehension and active listening); event planner interview questions turns them into practice questions.