Career comparison
Event Planner vs. Public Relations Specialist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Public relations specialists earn more at the median ($74,750 vs. $61,160), 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. Public relations specialists shape and protect the public image of organizations and people.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Event Planner | Public Relations Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,160 ($29.41/hr) | $74,750 ($35.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,830 – $101,700 | $44,110 – $135,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.8% (faster than average) | +1.8% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 16,800 | 23,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years or event experience | 4 years |
| Key credential | Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) | Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) |
| Work setting | Planners work in offices, hotels, convention centers and event venues, traveling to sites and working on their feet during events.. | PR specialists work in offices or remotely, with events and media appearances.. |
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
Public Relations Specialist
- Write press releases and statements
- Pitch stories to journalists
- Manage social media and website content
- Prepare spokespeople for interviews
- Plan events and announcements
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, creative work, and a fast pace. They sit in different fields, hospitality, food & tourism and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as organization and communication.
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 public relations specialist if…
- I love writing
- I enjoy building relationships
- I stay calm in a crisis
Still torn? Take the Event Planner fit quiz and the Public Relations Specialist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, event planner or public relations specialist?
Public Relations Specialists earn more at the median: $74,750 versus $61,160 for event planners, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Event Planners typically train faster (4 years or event experience) than public relations specialists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects event planners to grow +5.8% from 2025–35, compared with +1.8% for public relations specialists.