Event Planner Salary in Illinois (2026)
The median event planner in Illinois earns $59,840 a year in the latest federal wage data. That puts the state 2 percent below the national median, ranking 19th of the 50 states and DC.
Illinois median: $59,840 per year ($28.77/hour) · 2 percent below the national median of $61,160 · rank 19th of 51 · 5,220 planners employed
Salary range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,810 | First year, small markets, assistant roles |
| 25th | $44,290 | Early career, coordinator titles |
| Median | $59,840 | Mid-career planners |
| 75th | $79,800 | Senior planners, corporate and association work |
| 90th | $104,720 | Leads and specialists in the biggest markets |
Hourly, that runs from $17.22 at the 10th percentile to $50.35 at the 90th, with the median at $28.77. The mean ($65,040) sits above the median, which tells you the top of the market pulls hard: a minority of senior corporate and convention roles carry outsized pay.
How Illinois compares to nearby states
Planner demand in Illinois concentrates where event budgets do: Chicago. Browsing local venues and vendors is the fastest way to feel out a market, and the budget calculator shows what clients there actually spend.
Self-employed planners in Illinois: different math
The figures above cover employed planners only. The federal survey does not measure self-employed planner income, which is where the ceiling is higher. Independent planners price per event: month-of coordination typically runs $1,500 to $3,500, partial planning $2,500 to $6,000, and full planning $4,000 to $12,000 at typical US budgets, with luxury work quoted at 10 to 15 percent of event spend. Adjust for your Illinois market with the pricing calculator, which factors region and experience.
Event planner salary in Illinois: FAQ
How much do event planners make in Illinois?
The median salary for meeting, convention, and event planners in Illinois is $59,840 per year ($28.77 per hour) in the May 2025 federal wage data. The middle half of planners earn between $44,290 and $79,800, and the top 10 percent earn $104,720 or more.
What does an entry level event planner make in Illinois?
Early-career planners in Illinois typically start near the lower end of the state's range: the 10th percentile is $35,810 and the 25th percentile is $44,290. Coordinator roles at hotels, venues, and nonprofits are the usual entry doors.
Is Illinois a good state for event planner pay?
Illinois ranks 19th of the 50 states and DC for median event planner pay, 2 percent below the national median of $61,160. Self-employed planners price per event rather than earning a salary, so local demand and budgets matter as much as the wage data.
Which planning path fits you in Illinois?
Two minutes. Career changer, side income, weddings, or corporate.
Take the free career quizSources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (released April 2026), occupation 13-1121, Illinois estimates; EventPlanning.com 2026 pricing benchmarks. Self-employed income is not captured by the federal survey. See the full national breakdown in our event planner salary guide.