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Meeting/Event Planner I Salary in the United States

How much does a Meeting/Event Planner I make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Meeting/Event Planner I in the United States is $57,569 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, a Meeting/Event Planner I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,030
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,449 to $63,568
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,877
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Meeting/Event Planner I Salaries

A Meeting/Event Planner I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Meeting/Event Planner I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Meeting/Event Planner I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Meeting/Event Planner I (0-2 years): $57,569
  • Meeting/Event Planner II (2-4 years): $64,922
  • Meeting/Event Planner III (4-7 years): $89,220
  • Meeting/Event Planner IV (7+ years): $109,226
  • Meeting/Event Supervisor (7+ years): $92,141
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Meeting/Event Planner I0-2 years$57,569
Meeting/Event Planner II2-4 years$64,922
Meeting/Event Planner III4-7 years$89,220
Meeting/Event Planner IV7+ years$109,226
Meeting/Event Supervisor7+ years$92,141
View as Graph

How Do Meeting/Event Planner I Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Meeting/Event Planner Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $63,740.
  • California: $63,499.
  • Massachusetts: $62,652.

Top Paying Cities for Meeting/Event Planner Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $72,612
  • San Francisco: $71,817
  • Oakland: $70,303

What Skills Can Increase a Meeting/Event Planner I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 13.84% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Event Marketing (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): Event marketing is the experiential marketing of a brand, service, or product through promotional events. It typically involves direct interaction with a brand's representatives. It should not be confused with event management, which is a process of organizing, promoting and conducting events. Trade shows are an example of event marketing.
  • Customer Engagement (Mentioned in 1.39% Job Postings): Customer engagement is a business communication connection between an external stakeholder (consumer) and an organization (company or brand) through various channels of correspondence. This connection can be a reaction, interaction, effect or overall customer experience, which takes place online and offline. The term can also be used to define customer-to-customer correspondence regarding a communication, product, service or brand. However, the latter dissemination originates from a business-to-consumer interaction resonated at a subconscious level. Online customer engagement is qualitatively different from offline engagement as the nature of the customer’s interactions with a brand, company and other customers differ on the internet. Discussion forums or blogs, for example, are spaces where people can communicate and socialise in ways that cannot be replicated by any offline interactive medium. Online customer engagement is a social phenomenon that became mainstream with the wide adoption of the internet in the late 1990s, which has expanded the technical developments in broadband speed, connectivity and social media. These factors enable customer behaviour to regularly engage in online communities revolving, directly or indirectly, around product categories and other consumption topics. This process leads to a customer’s positive engagement with the company or offering, as well as the behaviours associated with different degrees of customer engagement.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 13.84%
Event Marketing 1.72%
Customer Engagement 1.39%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Meeting/Event Planner I's salary.

  • Supply Chain: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Merchandising: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Supply Chain $66,780
16%
Merchandising $63,902
11%
Project Management $62,750
9%
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Meeting/Event Planner I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Meeting/Event Planner I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $64,336. While startup companies pay approximate $54,421.

Meeting/Event Planner I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $54,421
Growth Stage 51~500 $57,556
Established 501~5000 $62,124
Enterprise 5000+ $64,336

Meeting/Event Planner I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Meeting/Event Planner I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Meeting/Event Planner positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Meeting/Event Planner I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Meeting/Event Planner I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$70,234$34.022%
Internet$67,931$33.018%
Insurance$64,477$31.012%
Energy & Utilities$63,326$30.010%
Healthcare$62,175$30.08%

How Education impacts a Meeting/Event Planner I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Meeting/Event Planner I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Meeting/Event Planner I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,261 and $64,901.

Meeting/Event Planner I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Meeting/Event Planner I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 11.8%
Associates 7.6%
Bachelors 72.4%
Masters 7.0%
Doctorate 0.9%
View as Graph

Meeting/Event Planner I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Meeting/Event Planner I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$51,449
Average $57,569/year
$63,568
$4,287
Average $4,797/month
$5,297
$989
Average $1,107/week
$1,222
$25
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $63,568 $5,297 $1,222 $31
Average $57,569 $4,797 $1,107 $28
25th Percentile $51,449 $4,287 $989 $25

Meeting/Event Planner I Salary Growth & Career Path

Meeting/Event Planner I

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Advancement

For a Meeting/Event Planner I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Meeting/Event Planner II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $64,922 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Meeting/Event Planner I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Meeting/Event Planner I

Here are companies hiring for Meeting/Event Planner I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Meeting/Event Planner I

1. Where can a Meeting/Event Planner I earn the most?

A Meeting/Event Planner I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Meeting/Event Planner I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Meeting/Event Planner I is $72,612.

2. What is the highest pay for Meeting/Event Planner I?

The highest pay for Meeting/Event Planner I is $69,030.

3. What is the lowest pay for Meeting/Event Planner I?

The lowest pay for Meeting/Event Planner I is $45,877.

4. What are the responsibilities of Meeting/Event Planner I?

Plans and organizes live and virtual meetings and events for an organization or external clients. Implements an event strategy to achieve financial, operational, and outreach objectives. Gathers meeting or event requirements and researches and recommends adequate channels or venues. Coordinates meeting logistics, including attendee registration, transportation, accommodations, meals, and technology. Conducts rehearsals and system checks of all equipment and connectivity. Maintains relationships with vendors for event support services. Coordinates budgets and ensures that events stay within cost projections. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Meeting/Event Planner I?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Meeting/Event Planner I roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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