Event manager

What does an event manager do?

• Agree the goals, audience and budget of each event with clients or organisers.
• Find venues and negotiate with caterers, technical crews and other suppliers.
• Build detailed plans, timelines and backup plans.
• Manage bookings, registration and ticketing.
• Promote events with marketing and social media teams.
• Check permits, insurance and health and safety arrangements.
• Lead the team on the day and review results afterwards.

Where do they work?

Event managers work for event agencies, conference and exhibition centres, hotels, festivals, sports organisations, universities, charities and in-house teams in companies and governments. The job combines office work with time on site. Long days, evenings, weekends and travel are common, especially close to and during events, and some sectors are seasonal. Many event managers work freelance, and online and hybrid events are now part of the job.

What skills do you need?

• Planning and organisation
• Budget management
• Negotiation with suppliers
• Problem solving under pressure
• Communication and customer service
• Health, safety and risk management
• Event and ticketing software
• Marketing and social media

Official skills profile (ESCO)

Essential skills listed for this occupation in ESCO, the European Commission's multilingual classification of skills and occupations.

• review event bills
• negotiate contracts with event providers
• evaluate events
• inspect event facilities
• maintain event records
• organise event participants' registration
• supervise event staff
• monitor event activities
• work with respect for own safety
• coordinate events
• direct event administrative details
• arrange event needs

How do you become an event manager?

Degrees in event management, hospitality, tourism, marketing, business or communications are common, and many include placements. However, employers value hands-on experience highly, so volunteering at festivals, student events, sports days or charity events is one of the best ways in. Typical first jobs include events assistant, events coordinator or venue staff. Voluntary certifications, such as the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), help in the business events sector. Career changers from hospitality, administration, marketing or teaching often move in through junior roles, and language skills are useful for international events.

1. University degree. A degree in event management, hospitality, tourism or marketing covers planning, budgeting, marketing and risk management. Placements with agencies, venues or festivals give you contacts and practical experience. A degree helps with graduate roles in larger organisations, but employers still expect evidence of events you have worked on.
2. Volunteering and entry-level jobs. Many event managers start by volunteering, working as event staff or joining a venue or agency as an assistant. In some countries, apprenticeships in events are also available. This route builds practical skills and contacts quickly, and both matter a lot in this industry.
3. Freelance or career change. People with experience in hospitality, administration, marketing or project management can move into events by organising smaller events first, then building a portfolio and a network. Some start freelance, working for several agencies or clients. Income can be irregular at first, so many keep another job while they build up work.

Degrees that lead to this career

• Hospitality and tourism

  A hospitality and tourism degree teaches how to run hotels, restaurants, travel services, attractions and events as businesses.

  4 linked careers

• Marketing

  A marketing degree teaches how organisations understand customers, develop products and brands, and promote them through advertising, digital channels, sales and public relations.

  5 linked careers

• Business management

  A business management degree teaches how organisations are run, including strategy, marketing, finance, people management and operations.

  6 linked careers

• Journalism and media studies

  A journalism and media studies degree teaches how news and media content is researched, produced and shared, and how media shapes society.

  5 linked careers

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Do you need a licence to work as an event manager?

Event management is not a regulated profession, so you do not need a licence to work as an event manager. However, events themselves often need permits, for example for public gatherings, alcohol sales, food, noise, temporary structures and road closures. These requirements come from local authorities and vary by city and country. Large events must follow crowd safety and fire rules, and some roles require first aid or crowd management training.

How much does an event manager earn?

Pay in the United States

• $61,160Median annual wage, May 2025
• $36,830–$101,700Range from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%
• 142.9KPeople employed in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 13-1121, May 2025. National estimates across all industries; excludes the self-employed.

Earnings of Technicians and associate professionals around the world

Most countries do not publish pay for single job titles. The International Labour Organization collects median monthly earnings for broad occupation groups instead. This career belongs to ISCO-08 major group 3, "Technicians and associate professionals". The table covers the whole group, which includes event manager and many other occupations.

Source: ILOSTAT, median monthly earnings of employees, latest year available. PPP$ adjusts for price differences between countries so figures can be compared. "vs all employees" compares the group's median with the median for all occupations in the same country.

Career progression

1. Events assistant or coordinator
2. Event executive or officer
3. Event manager
4. Senior event manager or head of events
5. Events director or agency owner

Job outlook

People continue to value meeting face to face, so conferences, exhibitions, festivals, weddings and sports events create steady work in many countries. However, the industry is very sensitive to economic downturns and shocks, as the pandemic showed. Skills in online and hybrid events, sustainability, such as reducing waste and travel emissions, and data-driven marketing are increasingly expected. Entry-level jobs are competitive and often involve long hours, so experience and contacts make a real difference.

Questions about becoming an event manager

Do you need a degree to become an event manager?

No. A degree in events, hospitality, marketing or business can help, especially with larger employers, but many event managers do not have one. Employers care most about practical experience, organisation skills and how you handle pressure. Volunteering, part-time event work and a record of successful events can be as valuable as a degree.

How can I get into event management with no experience?

Start by volunteering at festivals, conferences, sports events or charity fundraisers, and help organise events at school, university or in your community. Apply for events assistant, venue staff or coordinator roles. Keep a record of each event, your role and the results. Contacts you make through volunteering often lead to paid work.

What is the difference between an event manager and an event planner?

The titles are often used in the same way. Sometimes an event planner focuses on designing and organising the event beforehand, while an event manager also leads delivery on the day, manages the team and handles problems as they happen. In larger organisations, event managers usually have more responsibility for budgets and staff.

Is event management a stressful job?

It can be. Deadlines are fixed, budgets are tight, and problems such as bad weather, late suppliers or technical failures must be solved quickly. The hours can be long, especially just before and during events. Many people enjoy the variety and the satisfaction of a successful event, but the job suits those who stay calm under pressure.

Related careers

• Hotel manager

  Hotel managers run hotels, resorts and other accommodation, making sure guests are satisfied, staff are well led and the business makes a profit.

  Degree often expected

• Public relations officer

  Public relations (PR) officers manage how an organisation communicates with the public, the media and other groups.

  Degree often expected

• Project manager

  Project managers plan, organise and lead projects so they are finished on time, within budget and to the agreed standard.

  Degree often expected

• Marketing manager

  Marketing managers plan and lead the work that makes people aware of a product, service or organisation and persuades them to choose it.

  Degree often expected

Sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — SOC 13-1121, national estimates, May 2025
2. ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by occupation — ISCO-08 major groups, latest year per country
3. European Commission — ESCO occupation profile — ESCO code 3332.2

How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). How to become an event manager: degrees, skills and salary. https://coursetojob.com/careers/event-manager/ (accessed September 26, 2026)

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