Event Planning was just named as the top business job of 2012 which is great news for everyone interested in our industry.

If you are looking for a profession that is ranked as the best business job by U.S. News & World Report based on employment opportunities, growth and salary potential, then look no further than becoming a meeting, convention and event planner!

The event planning industry is expecting employment growth of 43.7% over the next eight years, thus adding 31,300 more jobs. The median annual wage for meeting planners is $45,260 in 2010 with the top 10% bringing in approximately $76,840. It was also noted that the highest paid planners tend to reside in major cities.

Important Skills for Event Planners

Important skills for event planners are the ability to multitask, stay organized, pay close attention to detail, and solve problems. There are many moving parts and difficulties in coordinating all vendors and venues so staying on your feet and always assessing the situation will get you far.

As Mike Shea (director of South by Southwest conference) put it, event planning is a fast paced and demanding job during the planning process but after the event is over is extremely rewarding. We completely agree with Mike!

If you’re interested in more details, we have dedicated a page on how to become an event planner.