Event Planner Salary in Kentucky (2026)
The median event planner in Kentucky earns $49,280 a year in the latest federal wage data. That puts the state 19 percent below the national median, ranking 43rd of the 50 states and DC.
Kentucky median: $49,280 per year ($23.69/hour) · 19 percent below the national median of $61,160 · rank 43rd of 51 · 1,110 planners employed
Salary range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,310 | First year, small markets, assistant roles |
| 25th | $38,810 | Early career, coordinator titles |
| Median | $49,280 | Mid-career planners |
| 75th | $62,930 | Senior planners, corporate and association work |
| 90th | $80,110 | Leads and specialists in the biggest markets |
Hourly, that runs from $15.05 at the 10th percentile to $38.51 at the 90th, with the median at $23.69. The mean ($53,060) 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 Kentucky compares to nearby states
Self-employed planners in Kentucky: 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 Kentucky market with the pricing calculator, which factors region and experience.
Event planner salary in Kentucky: FAQ
How much do event planners make in Kentucky?
The median salary for meeting, convention, and event planners in Kentucky is $49,280 per year ($23.69 per hour) in the May 2025 federal wage data. The middle half of planners earn between $38,810 and $62,930, and the top 10 percent earn $80,110 or more.
What does an entry level event planner make in Kentucky?
Early-career planners in Kentucky typically start near the lower end of the state's range: the 10th percentile is $31,310 and the 25th percentile is $38,810. Coordinator roles at hotels, venues, and nonprofits are the usual entry doors.
Is Kentucky a good state for event planner pay?
Kentucky ranks 43rd of the 50 states and DC for median event planner pay, 19 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 Kentucky?
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, Kentucky 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.