Is there a Demand for Event Planners? Let’s look at Current and Future Projections

After a couple of quiet years due to covid, trade shows and other events are facing a long road back to where they were before the covid restrictions.

Some businesses have fallen by the wayside and international travel is nowhere near the efficiency it was prior to 2020.

Still there is some hope on the horizon for event planners, with projections showing a increase in demand of up to 18% to 2030.

Before we dive in to, Is there a demand for event planners, let’s take a quick look at the different types of projects undertaken by an event planner.

What do event planners do exactly?

People and businesses like to have their special days go off without glitches.

Event planners cover a broad cross-section of events, including but not limited to…

• Weddings
• Sporting events / Managing high-profile sportsmen.
• Conferences / Political / Government / Corporate
• Trade Shows / Exhibitions
• Musical events / Concerts

The event planner plans every aspect of an event. This starts from the beginning at the conception of the event and continues until the event takes place. Although their work often goes beyond the big day behind the scenes, as they gather feedback and conclude everything from the project.

Four Events

Event planning can be stressful as there are a lot of bases to be covered.

For example:-

• Meet with clients to understand the purpose of the event
• Planning the scope of the event. (cost, time, location, and program).
• Inspecting places to make sure they meet the client’s requirements
• Meetings with on-site staff to coordinate details
• Monitoring activities to make sure the client and event guests are satisfied
• Reviewing bills and approving payments.

Although it is popular (in the top 50 of career choices), the workload, plus dealing with numerous (sometimes difficult clients), in an effort to get a plan to come together can take its toll on a person.

However, seeing a plan come together brings a lot of satisfaction.

So it can be a balancing act of the good outcomes outweighing the challenges.

Some people thrive on this, others find other careers.

Qualifications for an Event Planner

• Obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. Although this is preferred by major event planning companies, it is by no means an industry-wide requirement. I will show this a little further down.
• Degrees in other fields. Business Management, Human Resources, Travel Agent or Communications and Marketing for example.
• Certifications along with prior work experience.
• Starting out in an entry-level position in a related field.
• You may also seek job shadowing opportunities with a professional event planner to know what it’s like to work behind the scenes at events.

Not everyone is interested in working for the corporates and big ticket conferences.

Other popular niches include.

• Wedding planners
• Small Community Fund Raisers
• Funerals
• Local events.
• Employee Events

There is a lot of scope for people without Bachelor’s degrees and an interest in event planning to get started.

Many in the list above can be done by… stay at home moms for example.

These days there are numerous online colleges.

It is just a matter of finding a reputable one and finding the course suitable for you.

These can be done part-time, while still attending to your normal activities.

To see what is involved in an Event Planning Certificate Course. Click Here

I said I would show an example of how an acquaintance got into event planning without any degree.

This is from when I was living and working in Australia.

A truck driver I got to know had spent much of his working life as a truck driver for shows.

Sideshows. Or fairs depending on where you come from.

He and his wife drove owned a truck and “Merry go Round” type rides.

Traveling from town to town setting up their stands, dismantling them, and setting them up again in the next town.

With no formal education to speak of, they sold their truck and rides and settled into a suburban lifestyle.

His wife (this is pre covid), landed a job with a large corporate and handled some of the big musical tours (Elton John), as well as high-profile sportsmen when they visited Australia.

A desire, a plan, and using her knowledge of logistics took her from a background of a traveling showman to handling some of the biggest overseas names to visit Australia.

Current Job Outlook for Event Planners

Currently (2022) things are looking good with about a 10% increase pa. in demand for event planners

This is above the average of 7% for other occupations.

 As well the limited availability of qualified event planners is driving demand and annual salaries to new highs.

Event planner salary

An entry-level event planner starting with a corporate organization can expect a salary of up to $34,000– $45,000.

You would be degree qualified or have a combination of 2 – 3 years of experience and certification from a reputable organization.

• United States: Between approx. $34,000 USD and $74,000 USD per year. (Source: Payscale)
• Canada: Between approx. $39,000 CAD and $67,000 CAD per year. (Source: Payscale)
• United Kingdom: Between approx. £19,000 GBP and £32,000 GBP per year. (Source: Payscale)
• New Zealand: Between approx. $54,000 NZD and $91,100 NZD per year. (Source: Salary Expert)
• Australia: Between approx. $46,000 AUD and $84,000 AUD per year. (Source: Payscale)

As the earnings vary between countries, so do the earnings vary between different states or territories of various countries.

How much do Freelance Event Planners make?

As of Jul 15, 2022, the average annual income for a Freelance Event Planner in the United States is $60,274 a year.

That works out to be approximately $28.98 an hour, or $5,023/month.

Not too shabby for a freelancer.

Of course, this figure is an average, and earnings will vary from state to state or town to town.

Hawaii is the most profitable state in the US for event planners.

So doing some market research first in the area you want to work or specialize in will be worthwhile.

What type of event planner makes the most money?

This is a little complicated due to the fact that there are so many parts to being an event planner.

However, it is not uncommon for wedding event planners to be making better than $120,000 pa. in the USA.

Future Employment Predictions for Event Planners.

Things look quite good for both, the self-employed or salaried employees in this career.

Employment of meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,400 openings for meeting, convention, and event planners are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics

In Conclusion. Is an event planner a good career?

If you like being busy, like to be organized, personable, and engaging, are a good conversationalist, and are an excellent listener.

Really it is as simple as understanding people and enjoying talking to them.

That is it in a nutshell really.

Compared to some other so-called careers I have reviewed on this site, an event planner stacks up well.

Thanks for reading.

Michael.