Event Planner Salary in North Carolina (2026)
If you plan events in North Carolina, the benchmark to know is $54,990: the state's median annual wage for meeting, convention, and event planners, 10 percent below the US median. The ranges below show what early-career and senior planners actually earn.
North Carolina median: $54,990 per year ($26.44/hour) · 10 percent below the national median of $61,160 · rank 28th of 51 · 4,340 planners employed
Salary range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,670 | First year, small markets, assistant roles |
| 25th | $39,540 | Early career, coordinator titles |
| Median | $54,990 | Mid-career planners |
| 75th | $71,600 | Senior planners, corporate and association work |
| 90th | $99,420 | Leads and specialists in the biggest markets |
Hourly, that runs from $15.71 at the 10th percentile to $47.80 at the 90th, with the median at $26.44. The mean ($60,550) 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 North Carolina compares to nearby states
| State | Median | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $60,930 | higher |
| Tennessee | $52,000 | lower |
| South Carolina | $51,830 | lower |
Self-employed planners in North Carolina: 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 North Carolina market with the pricing calculator, which factors region and experience.
Event planner salary in North Carolina: FAQ
How much do event planners make in North Carolina?
The median salary for meeting, convention, and event planners in North Carolina is $54,990 per year ($26.44 per hour) in the May 2025 federal wage data. The middle half of planners earn between $39,540 and $71,600, and the top 10 percent earn $99,420 or more.
What does an entry level event planner make in North Carolina?
Early-career planners in North Carolina typically start near the lower end of the state's range: the 10th percentile is $32,670 and the 25th percentile is $39,540. Coordinator roles at hotels, venues, and nonprofits are the usual entry doors.
Is North Carolina a good state for event planner pay?
North Carolina ranks 28th of the 50 states and DC for median event planner pay, 10 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 North Carolina?
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, North Carolina 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.