How Much Does an Event Manager Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$61,160
Event managers in the U.S. earn a median of $61,160 a year, or $29.41 an hour. Half of event managers earn more than $61,160 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $101,700.
Pay percentiles for event managers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.71 | $36,830 |
| 25th | $22.58 | $46,970 |
| 50th (median) | $29.41 | $61,160 |
| 75th | $37.88 | $78,790 |
| 90th | $48.90 | $101,700 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (SOC 13-1121). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for event managers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $76,970 | $37.01 | +26% |
| Massachusetts | $75,740 | $36.42 | +24% |
| New York | $74,730 | $35.93 | +22% |
| Hawaii | $74,460 | $35.80 | +22% |
| Vermont | $74,310 | $35.73 | +22% |
| New Jersey | $72,780 | $34.99 | +19% |
| California | $71,120 | $34.19 | +16% |
| Connecticut | $70,010 | $33.66 | +14% |
| Washington | $65,530 | $31.50 | +7% |
| Maryland | $63,280 | $30.42 | +3% |
| United States | $61,160 | $29.41 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many event managers are there?
BLS counts about 142,860 event managers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners”. The most jobs are in California (20,650), Texas (10,730) and Florida (10,480).
The mean (average) annual wage is $66,520, higher than the median of $61,160.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,097
- Biweekly
- $2,352
- Weekly
- $1,176
- Daily (8 hours)
- $235
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do event managers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for event managers is $29.41. The middle 50% earn between $22.58 and $37.88 an hour.
Which state pays event managers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for event managers at $76,970, +26% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for event managers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of event managers earn less than $36,830 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.