In the past few years, virtual events took the event planning industry by storm and opened up a whole new gap year for people who know how to organize online events!
Becoming a virtual event planner has in demand over the years, with the advancement of technology and more people prefer to experience things over their screens, such as corporate webinars or even weddings. But what are the top earners in these careers making now?
In this article, we will discuss how much money virtual event planners can make today and what influences their pay along with what to expect for their salary.
The Evolution of Virtual Event Planning
The concept of virtual event planning came to be during the early 2020s, when physical gathering took a backseat owing to world events. A stopgap that has grown into a staple in the events sector.
Both businesses and individuals have felt the advantages of virtual events cheaper venues, larger audience, and the ability to hold the event from any location in the world.
Thus, the demand for virtual event planners talent, people who know how to schedule and manage things on Zoom, Hopin, or a custom virtual platform, became hotter.
They manage everything from technical setup and content coordination through audience engagement and post-event analytics. The nature of their job is the combination of creative, tech-savvy, organizational skills that comes with high flexibility of income.
Average Earnings for Virtual Event Planners
Virtual event planners can earn anywhere from a couple of hundred USD to thousands of dollars, and will depend on various factors, such as your expertise in the field, your location, your client base, as well as the actual complexity of the events you plan. Industry insights and anecdotal data as of latest indicate the following earnings benchmarks:
Remote Event Planners for Hire
Since freelancers like the flexibility of working as a virtual event planner, the space is crowded with this type of worker. Freelancers at entry level, meaning less than two years of experience, generally charge from $25 to $50 an hour or $500 to $1,500 per event, based on its size.
Mid-tier planners If you are being recognized in your field, have a strong portfolio, and about 3 to 5 years of experience, you can be looking for $75 to $150 per hour, and $2000 to $5000 per event.
Trusted veterans with niche expertise (e.g., scaling for thousands at a virtual conference) can charge over $200/hr or $10,000+ per event.
Virtually FT Event Planners
If you work in organisations tech companies, advertising, or event management agencies the pay scale is from $50k to $120k per annum.
Salaries for entry-level positions start at $50,000-$65,000 and for senior roles like Virtual Event Directors exceed $100,000 in metro hubs or with multinational companies.
Add bonuses and performance incentives that are linked to the successful execution of the event and overall compensation can climb even higher.
Agency Owners and Entrepreneurs
The most profitable niche for virtual event planners is establishing their own agencies or consultancies. They typically have multiple clients at the same time and charge project fees between $5,000 and $50,000+ to manage the entire event.
It is very easy for even a small agency to pull in over $200,000 a year, with the best of the best clearing six-figures in net profits after expenses.
Factors Influencing Earnings
How much virtual event planners make really depends on few variables:
- Experience and Expertise: Beginners with basic skills earn less than veterans who can troubleshoot technical glitches, design immersive experiences, or integrate advanced tools like VR or AI-driven interactivity.
- Client Type: Corporate clients with large budgets (e.g., tech companies hosting product launches) pay more than small businesses or individuals planning personal events like virtual birthday parties.
- Event Complexity: A simple webinar requires less effort and pays less than a multi-day virtual summit with breakout sessions, live polls, and international speakers.
- Geographic Location: Planners in high-cost-of-living areas like the U.S., UK, or Australia tend to charge more than those in regions with lower market rates, though the virtual nature of the job allows for global clientele.
- Niche Specialization: Planners focusing on specific industries (e.g., healthcare conferences, gaming expos, or educational workshops) can charge premium rates due to their tailored expertise.
The Role of Technology in Earnings
For planners of virtual events, technology is both a driver of revenue and a tool. Experts in the newest platforms such as virtual reality event spaces and AI-enhanced networking tools can command higher rates and stand out from their peers.
Consider, for example, a planner who creates a 3D virtual trade show with interactive booths that costs $15,000 as opposed to a basic Zoom webinar that pays the coordinator $1,000 for the same allocation of time.
Learning new skills, such as live streaming, audience analytics, or gamification is more closely associated with income potential.
Also Read: How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make
How much actually they are earning?
| City | Entry-Level Earnings (Hourly) | Mid-Tier Earnings (Hourly) | Senior-Level Earnings (Hourly) | Average Annual Salary (Full-Time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | $30 – $50 | $80 – $150 | $200 – $300 | $60,000 – $130,000 |
| London, UK | £25 – £40 (~$32 – $52) | £60 – £120 (~$78 – $156) | £150 – £250 (~$195 – $325) | £50,000 – £100,000 (~$65,000 – $130,000) |
| Los Angeles, USA | $28 – $45 | $75 – $140 | $180 – $280 | $55,000 – $125,000 |
| Toronto, Canada | C$35 – C$55 (~$25 – $40) | C$80 – C$150 (~$58 – $108) | C$200 – C$300 (~$144 – $216) | C$60,000 – C$120,000 (~$43,000 – $87,000) |
| Sydney, Australia | A$35 – A$60 (~$23 – $40) | A$80 – A$160 (~$53 – $106) | A$200 – A$320 (~$132 – $212) | A$70,000 – A$140,000 (~$46,000 – $93,000) |
| Singapore | S$35 – S$55 (~$26 – $41) | S$80 – S$150 (~$60 – $112) | S$200 – S$300 (~$149 – $224) | S$65,000 – S$130,000 (~$48,000 – $97,000) |
| Dubai, UAE | AED 100 – AED 150 (~$27 – $41) | AED 250 – AED 450 (~$68 – $122) | AED 600 – AED 900 (~$163 – $245) | AED 200,000 – AED 450,000 (~$54,000 – $122,000) |
| Paris, France | €25 – €40 (~$27 – $43) | €60 – €120 (~$65 – $130) | €150 – €250 (~$162 – $270) | €50,000 – €110,000 (~$54,000 – $119,000) |
How to Maximize Earnings as a Virtual Event Planner
You may choose from the following latest effective strategies to increase your income.
- Develop a Killer Portfolio: Put Your Hits on Display There could be numbers here that high-paying clients want to see. (Maybe attendance and engagement rates)
- Continuously Upskill: Learn new tools and trends like AI-driven event personalization or blockchain-based ticketing to remain agile.
- Network on the Internet: If you want to work on premium money, search for international clients and work for them on an Internet basis.
- Upsell Services: You can charge more per project by providing post-event report, video editing of a sample of your highlights, or follow-up campaigns with attendees.
Conclusion
In this digital-first world, virtual event planners are establishing themselves with a lucrative niche where they are compensated based on their level of expertise, amount of research, cost of the technology they are using, and other industry demands.
Entry-level planners really need to start at $25-$50 per hour whilst those with more experience and agency owners can command six figures, particularly for large or intricate events.
With advances in technology and the changing expectation of clients, the income potential for virtual event planners is only likely to increase so 2025 and beyond is a great time to tap into such a lucrative career.
So if you are thinking about getting into this field, the secret to a higher paycheck comes from getting some degree of specialty, thinking out of th
