# Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners

US SOC code 13-1121. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/13-1121

Also called: Event planner, Meeting planner, Convention planner, Conference planner, Trade show planner.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **142,860** US meeting, convention, and event planners, with median pay of **$61,160** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2012, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.pcma.org/about/) of **15,000** from 1956, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for meeting, convention, and event planners: Virtual and hybrid event platforms, 2020 to 2022.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.8% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-1121&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **36.5%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1928
- Latest US employment: 142,860 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $61,160 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [11]
- Outlook: +5.8% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [28]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 12103)
  - Employment, 2020: 21,060. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [8]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 12103 Conference and event planners, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$59,600. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [15]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 12103 Conference and event planners, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1956 | 15,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., PCMA [1] |
| 1972 | 30,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Meeting Professionals International [2] |
| 1990 | 55,000 (estimate) | $28,000 (estimate) | Est., Events Industry Council (employment) [3]; Est., BLS (pay) [9] |
| 2001 | 29,560 | $36,550 | BLS OEWS 2001 [4] |
| 2003 | 32,980 | $39,060 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 34,640 | $39,620 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 40,040 | $41,280 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 42,510 | $42,180 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 45,490 | $43,530 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 47,960 | $44,260 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 51,530 | $44,780 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 56,950 | $45,260 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 64,020 | $46,020 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 70,480 | $45,810 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 73,290 | $46,260 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 77,940 | $46,490 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 87,400 | $46,840 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 95,850 | $47,350 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 102,420 | $48,290 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 110,120 | $49,370 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 117,610 | $50,600 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 109,800 | $51,560 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 98,150 | $49,470 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 112,070 | $52,560 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 122,130 | $56,920 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 134,670 | $59,440 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [5] |
| 2025 | 142,860 | $61,160 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (97)

### Employment series

1. [PCMA — About PCMA (founding 1956 in Philadelphia, early membership of association meeting professionals)](https://www.pcma.org/about/), Professional Convention Management Association
2. [Meeting Professionals International (MPI) — The History of MPI (founded 1972, 159 charter members)](https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/19470/The-History-of-MPI/), Meeting Professionals International
3. [Events Industry Council — CMP Certification Overview (CMP launched 1985 to professionalize the field)](https://eventscouncil.org/CMP/About-CMP/CMPOverview), Events Industry Council
4. [BLS OES 2001 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes01nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
8. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

9. [BLS -- Historical Occupational Employment Statistics background (pre-2000 professional services wages context)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/oes_emp.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. [BLS OES 2001 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes01nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
12. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
13. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2006, Table 97-563-XCB2006069 (Wage and salary statistics by occupation, NOC-S 2006), income reference year 2005](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&PID=96285), Statistics Canada
14. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
15. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

16. [IAEE -- About the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (founded 1928 as National Association of Exposition Managers; early tools context)](https://www.iaee.com/about/), International Association of Exhibitions and Events
17. [Wikipedia -- IBM Selectric typewriter (introduced 1961, dominated professional office correspondence through the 1970s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter), Wikipedia
18. [Wikipedia -- Sabre (travel reservation system) (1960 launch; hospitality property management system precursor)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabre_%28travel_reservation_system%29), Wikipedia
19. [Wikipedia -- Lotus 1-2-3 (launched January 1983; dominant business spreadsheet of the 1980s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_1-2-3), Wikipedia
20. [Wikipedia -- Cvent (founded 1999; launched the first web-based event management and hotel sourcing platform)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cvent), Wikipedia
21. [Wikipedia -- Eventbrite (launched 2006; web-based ticketing and registration for events)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eventbrite), Wikipedia
22. [Whova -- How to Use AI for Event Planning in 2026 (platform history and capabilities)](https://whova.com/blog/ai-event-planning/), Whova
23. [PCMA -- COVID-19 Impact on Events Research: Top-line Results for Planners (90% of event professionals lost most of their business by March 2020)](https://www.pcma.org/covid-19-impact-events-industry-planners-survey-results/), Professional Convention Management Association
24. [Zoom -- The Evolving Landscape of Virtual and Hybrid Events (Zoom Events platform history)](https://www.zoom.com/en/blog/the-evolving-landscape-of-virtual-and-hybrid-events/), Zoom
25. [Cvent -- CventIQ: AI solutions for events (launched June 2025)](https://www.cvent.com/en/cventiq), Cvent
26. [Amex GBT -- 2026 Global Meetings and Events Forecast: Optimism Hits Five-Year High as AI Leads](https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article139293.html), American Express Global Business Travel
27. [PCMA -- Study: Missed Opportunities to Use AI in Event Planning (2024)](https://www.pcma.org/study-missed-opportunities-use-ai-event-planning/), Professional Convention Management Association

### Forecasts and exposure studies

28. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 13-1121 Meeting, convention, and event planners (2025: 172.1 thousand; 2035: 182.1 thousand; +5.8%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=13-1121&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
29. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 13-1121.00, human-rated β 0.365)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

30. [IAEE -- About IAEE: organized in 1928 as the National Association of Exposition Managers](https://www.iaee.com/about/), International Association of Exhibitions and Events
31. [PCMA -- About PCMA (founded 1956 in Philadelphia)](https://www.pcma.org/about/), Professional Convention Management Association
32. [MPI -- The History of MPI: founded June 12, 1972, with 159 charter members](https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/19470/The-History-of-MPI/), Meeting Professionals International
33. [Wikipedia -- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP): founded 1985 by the Events Industry Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_Meeting_Professional), Wikipedia
34. [Wikipedia -- Cvent (founded 1999; launched web-based event management and hotel sourcing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cvent), Wikipedia
35. [PCMA -- COVID-19 Impact on Events Research: 90% of planners lost most of their business by March 2020](https://www.pcma.org/covid-19-impact-events-industry-planners-survey-results/), Professional Convention Management Association
36. [Amex GBT -- 2026 Global Meetings and Events Forecast: optimism at five-year high, 50% integrating AI](https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article139293.html), American Express Global Business Travel

### Predecessors & successors

37. [BLS OOH -- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners: many enter from hospitality management](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
38. [PCMA -- About PCMA (founded by healthcare association executives who planned their own conventions)](https://www.pcma.org/about/), Professional Convention Management Association
39. [O\*NET 13-1121.00 -- related occupations include Public Relations Specialists (27-3031)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1121.00), O\*NET / BLS

### Present-day analysis

- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [O\*NET 30.3 — Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners (13-1121.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1121.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Cvent — CventIQ: AI Solutions for Events (launch June 2025)](https://www.cvent.com/en/cventiq), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Cvent — Press release: Cvent Acquires Reposite to Expand Vendor Sourcing Ecosystem](https://www.cvent.com/en/press-release/cvent-acquires-reposite-expand-its-global-vendor-and-supplier-sourcing-ecosystem), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PCMA — Study: Missed Opportunities to Use AI in Event Planning (2024)](https://www.pcma.org/study-missed-opportunities-use-ai-event-planning/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Amex GBT — 2026 Global Meetings & Events Forecast: Optimism Hits Five-Year High as AI Leads](https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article139293.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Bizzabo — BizzyAI attendee copilot and x.ai scheduler acquisition](https://www.bizzabo.com/event-management-software), accessed 2026-05-24
- [EventMobi / Event Industry News — AI Report 2025](https://www.eventindustrynews.com/guides/event-industry-news-launches-groundbreaking-ai-report-2025-in-partnership-with-eventmobi), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Tripleseat — Tripleseat Intelligence AI suite launch (2025)](https://www.restaurantnewsresource.com/tripleseat-unveils-ai-suite-to-transform-event-management), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Bizzabo — BizzyAI attendee copilot: personalized registration and session recommendations](https://www.eventindustrynews.com/news/bizzabo-introduces-bizzyai-an-attendee-copilot-built-to-scale-personalized-event-experiences), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Whova — How to Use AI for Event Planning in 2026](https://whova.com/blog/ai-event-planning/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Splash (Cvent) — AI Tools for Event Marketers](https://splashthat.com/blog/ai-tools-for-event-marketers), accessed 2026-05-24
- [vFairs — 23 Ways Event Planners Are Using ChatGPT & AI Tools (2025)](https://www.vfairs.com/blog/ai-in-events/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Cvent — Reposite PlanPilot: AI-powered RFP generation and supplier messaging automation](https://www.reposite.io/reposite-for-meetingandeventplanners), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.