Event Manager Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$59,000
national median salary
$46,000 to $77,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $61,160 for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (SOC 13-1121) across the United States, based on 142,860 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$36,830
25th percentile
$46,970
Median
$61,160
75th percentile
$78,790
90th percentile
$101,700
Workers surveyed
142,860
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$59,440
May 2025 release
$61,160
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (SOC 13-1121) rather than Event Managerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 13-1121Highest Paying
$83,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$61,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$46,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 13-1121. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Event Manager salary in the United States at $59,000 in 2026, within a range of $46,000 to $77,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $83,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Event scale and client caliber are the primary pay determinants.
Event Manager salary by city.
Skills that increase Event Manager pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Event Managers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,260 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,260 per year
≈ +$7,670 per year
≈ +$7,080 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$6,490 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,900 per year
≈ +$5,310 per year
What you should know.
Event scale and client caliber are the primary pay determinants. Managers producing large corporate conferences, trade shows, or galas with budgets exceeding $500,000 earn 20 to 30% more than those coordinating smaller events. Venue-side roles typically pay less than agency or corporate event positions.
Event coordinators begin at $38,000 to $50,000. Event managers earn $58,000 to $80,000. Senior event managers handling flagship events reach $78,000 to $100,000. Directors of events earn $95,000 to $135,000, with VPs of experiential marketing exceeding $140,000 at large agencies.
Bonuses of 5 to 15% tied to event profitability and client satisfaction are standard. Overtime during peak event seasons can add 10 to 20% to annual earnings. Some agencies offer commission on new business generated through event referrals.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Event Managers typically earn $53,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Event Manager pay.
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