This page collects the numbers that describe the event planning industry in 2026: how many planners are working, what they earn, what they charge, what certification costs, and where the industry is heading. Salary figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 survey, the newest federal data available. Fee benchmarks come from our own published pricing research. We update this page quarterly.
You are welcome to cite any statistic here. A link back to this page is appreciated.
Key event planning statistics for 2026
- There are 142,860 event planners employed in the United States (BLS, May 2025). This count excludes self-employed planners.
- The median event planner salary is $61,160 a year, or $29.41 per hour.
- The top 10 percent of employed planners earn more than $101,700 a year.
- Independent planners typically charge $2,300 to $5,500 per event, or $50 to $150 per hour.
- Full wedding planning averages about $5,500; month-of coordination averages about $1,800.
- The median salary rose 2.9 percent from May 2024 to May 2025 ($59,440 to $61,160).
- Employment of event planners is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations (BLS).
- About 2 million weddings take place in the US each year, and roughly 3 in 10 couples hire some form of professional planner.
- The average American wedding costs roughly $33,000 to $36,000, depending on the survey and year.
- Business events generate more than $1 trillion a year in direct spending worldwide (Events Industry Council).
- No US state requires a license to work as an event planner. Certification is voluntary and ranges from $297 to $2,998.
How many event planners are there?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 142,860 meeting, convention, and event planners on US payrolls in May 2025. That is the wage-and-salary count only. The BLS employment projections program, which includes the self-employed, put the total at 155,800 in 2024. The gap between those two federal counts largely reflects planners who work for themselves, and it understates them: independent planners who run their business as a side income often do not appear in either figure.
California employs more planners than any other state at 20,650, followed by Texas (10,730), Florida (10,480), and New York (10,330). Industry surveys consistently find that women make up roughly three-quarters or more of the profession.
Event planner salary statistics
The May 2025 federal survey puts the median event planner salary at $61,160 a year. The mean is $66,520, pulled higher by the top of the field.
| Percentile | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,830 |
| 25th percentile | $46,970 |
| Median (50th) | $61,160 |
| 75th percentile | $78,790 |
| 90th percentile | $101,700 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 13-1121.
These figures cover employed planners only. Independent planners earn per event rather than per year, so their income depends on volume and service tier; an established full-service wedding planner grossing $80,000 or more a year is common in major metros. Our event planner salary guide breaks the employed numbers down further, and our wedding planner salary guide covers the independent side.
Event planner salary by state
Pay varies widely by state. The District of Columbia leads at $76,970, and West Virginia sits at the bottom of the state table at $35,760.
| Rank | State | Median salary | Planners employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $76,970 | 2,360 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,740 | 4,640 |
| 3 | New York | $74,730 | 10,330 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $74,460 | 550 |
| 5 | Vermont | $74,310 | 430 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $72,780 | 2,160 |
| 7 | California | $71,120 | 20,650 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $70,010 | 1,450 |
| 9 | Washington | $65,530 | 3,600 |
| 10 | Maryland | $63,280 | 2,570 |
We publish a dedicated salary page for every state with available data; the full list is on the salary guide.
What event planners charge
Employed planners draw a salary. Independent planners set fees, and the market for those fees is well established. These benchmarks come from our published pricing research across service types:
| Service | Typical 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Per-event fee, most event types | $2,300 to $5,500 |
| Hourly consulting | $50 to $150 per hour |
| Month-of wedding coordination | $1,500 to $3,500 (about $1,800 average) |
| Partial wedding planning | About $3,200 average |
| Full wedding planning | $4,000 to $12,000 (about $5,500 average) |
Percentage-based pricing also survives at the high end: full-service planners handling large budgets commonly charge 10 to 20 percent of total event spend. The math behind these numbers, and how to apply it to your own market, is in our guide to charging for event planning services.
Wedding industry statistics
- Around 2 million couples marry in the United States each year (CDC marriage data).
- The average wedding costs roughly $33,000 to $36,000 nationally. Major metros run well above that; planner fees scale with the market.
- About 3 in 10 couples hire a professional planner in some capacity, most commonly month-of or day-of coordination.
- Spring and fall remain the peak seasons, which is why working planners treat the calendar as an inventory problem: Saturdays in May and October sell out first.
- The bar is one of the largest single line items after the venue; our wedding alcohol cost guide covers the per-guest math.
Certification statistics
No US state licenses event planners, so every credential in this industry is voluntary. Prices span an order of magnitude:
| Credential | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CEP Foundations (EventPlanning.com) | $297 | Open enrollment, online exam, verifiable registry |
| CPCE | $590 | Catering focus; roughly 330 active holders |
| CSEP | $700 | Plus $300 renewal every 3 years; requires 5 years of experience |
| CMP | $910 | The corporate-meetings standard; roughly 12,000 holders |
| PCMA certificate | $995 | Plus $179 per year subscription |
| QC Event School | $2,998 | Course bundle rather than an exam-based credential |
University certificate programs cost more still; NYU's runs about $4,600. Prices as published by each issuer, verified June 2026. Our certification comparison covers what each one actually gets you, and the full cost picture is in what certification costs.
Job outlook and growth
The BLS projects employment of event planners to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average across all occupations. The median salary grew 2.9 percent in the most recent year of data, from $59,440 in May 2024 to $61,160 in May 2025.
Two structural forces sit behind the growth. Corporate event budgets rebuilt fully after the pandemic years, with hybrid formats settling in as a permanent option rather than a replacement. And the barrier to entering the profession stays low: no license, no degree requirement, and startup costs measured in hundreds of dollars, which keeps the independent side of the industry growing faster than the payroll numbers show.
The wider events industry
Event planning sits inside a much larger economy. The Events Industry Council has measured global direct spending on business events at more than $1 trillion a year, supporting tens of millions of jobs worldwide across venues, catering, production, and travel. In the US, the industry spans everything from the 2 million annual weddings to conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, nonprofit galas, and social events, each with its own vendor ecosystem. Our vendor directory tracks that ecosystem across 10 major metros.
Frequently asked questions
How many event planners are there in the United States?
142,860 event planners were employed in the US as of May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Including the self-employed, the total is over 155,000.
What is the average event planner salary in 2026?
The median is $61,160 a year based on the newest federal data (May 2025). The top 10 percent earn more than $101,700, and the bottom 10 percent earn less than $36,830.
How much do event planners charge?
Most independent planners charge $2,300 to $5,500 per event or $50 to $150 per hour. Full wedding planning runs $4,000 to $12,000, and month-of coordination runs $1,500 to $3,500.
Is event planning a growing industry?
Yes. The BLS projects 5 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average occupation, and the median salary rose 2.9 percent in the latest year of data.
Do you need a license to be an event planner?
No. No US state licenses event planners. Certification is voluntary, and prices range from $297 to $2,998 depending on the credential.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation 13-1121)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, meeting, convention, and event planners (2024 to 2034 projections)
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics, marriage data
- Events Industry Council, Global Economic Significance of Business Events
- The Knot Real Weddings Study, wedding cost averages
- EventPlanning.com pricing research and published fee benchmarks; certification prices as published by each issuer, verified June 2026
Thinking about the career behind these numbers? Our 2-minute career quiz matches your goals to a planner path, and the salary guide shows what each path pays.