Career comparison
Event Planner vs. Funeral Director
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Event planners earn more at the median ($61,160 vs. $55,010), while event planners usually get to work faster (4 years or event experience of training). Event planners plan and run conferences, weddings, meetings and celebrations. Funeral directors guide families through funerals and care for those who have died.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Event Planner | Funeral Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,160 ($29.41/hr) | $55,010 ($26.45/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,830 – $101,700 | $33,350 – $88,620 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.8% (faster than average) | +3.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 16,800 | 3,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 4 years or event experience | 2–4 years including apprenticeship |
| Key credential | Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) | State funeral director license |
| Work setting | Planners work in offices, hotels, convention centers and event venues, traveling to sites and working on their feet during events.. | Funeral directors work in funeral homes, cemeteries, churches and family homes, often on call.. |
What each job does
Event Planner
- Meet clients to define goals and budgets
- Research and book venues
- Negotiate contracts with vendors
- Coordinate catering, AV and transportation
- Manage registration and attendees
Funeral Director
- Meet with families to plan services
- Arrange burial, cremation and transportation
- File death certificates and permits
- Prepare obituaries
- Coordinate with clergy, cemeteries and vendors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people. They sit in different fields, hospitality, food & tourism and beauty, fitness & personal care, but share transferable skills such as organization and compassion.
Which should you choose?
Choose event planner if…
- I love organizing details
- I stay calm when things go wrong
- I enjoy working with people
Choose funeral director if…
- I’m compassionate and calm
- I can handle emotional situations
- I’m organized with details
Still torn? Take the Event Planner fit quiz and the Funeral Director fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, event planner or funeral director?
Event Planners earn more at the median: $61,160 versus $55,010 for funeral directors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Event Planners typically train faster (4 years or event experience) than funeral directors (2–4 years including apprenticeship).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects event planners to grow +5.8% from 2025–35, compared with +3.0% for funeral directors.