Special Event Planner Salary in the United States

How much does a Special Event Planner make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Special Event Planner in the United States is $110,932 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $124,861
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,204 to $118,223
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,347
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View as table View as graph 25% $101,204 10% $92,347 90% $124,861 75% $118,223 $110,932 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Special Event Planner Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $118,223 $9,852 $2,274 $57
Average $110,932 $9,244 $2,133 $53
25th Percentile $101,204 $8,434 $1,946 $49
Check out Special Event Planner Job Openings in the United States
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Special Technical Operations

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Key Factors That Influence Special Event Planner Salaries

A Special Event Planner'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Special Event Planner Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Special Event Planner'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $107,554
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,230
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $109,311
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $110,662
  • Expert (over 8 years): $112,749
Levels Salary
Entry Level Special Event Planner$107,554
Intermediate Level Special Event Planner$108,230
Senior Level Special Event Planner$109,311
Specialist Level Special Event Planner$110,662
Expert Level Special Event Planner$112,749
$107,554 0 yr
$108,230 < 2 yrs
$109,311 2-4 yrs
$110,662 5-8 yrs
$112,749 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Special Event Planner 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 Special Event Planners. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $122,824.
  • California: $122,358.
  • Massachusetts: $120,727.

Top Paying Cities for Special Event Planners

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: $139,919
  • San Francisco: $138,543
  • Oakland: $135,470

What Skills Can Increase a Special Event Planner's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 7.84% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Vendor Management (Mentioned in 3.64% Job Postings): Controlling costs, driving service excellence, and mitigating risks to gain increased value from their vendors.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 0.74% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 7.84%
Vendor Management 3.64%
Logistics 0.74%
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 Special Event Planner's salary.
  • Business Development: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Meeting Management: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Contract Management: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Development
$135,337
22%
Meeting Management
$132,009
19%
Contract Management
$130,900
18%
Troubleshooting
$122,025
10%
Budget Management
$122,025
10%
Support Services
$122,025
10%
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Special Event Planner Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Special Event Planner'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Special Event Planner

Salaries for a Special Event Planner can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $107,483 in 2023 to around $105,738 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Special Event Planner salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Special Event Planner Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$107,483
2024
$106,777
2025
$105,738
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $107,483
2024 $106,777
2025 $105,738
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Special Event Planner

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Special Event Planner

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Special Event Planner job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

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