Career comparison
Event Planner vs. Travel Agent
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. $50,160), while travel agents usually get to work faster (1–3 months of training). Event planners plan and run conferences, weddings, meetings and celebrations. Travel agents plan and book trips, cruises and vacations for clients.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Event Planner | Travel Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,160 ($29.41/hr) | $50,160 ($24.11/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,830 – $101,700 | $34,610 – $76,660 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.8% (faster than average) | +0.2% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 16,800 | 5,900 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4 years or event experience | 1–3 months |
| Key credential | Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) | Certified Travel Associate (CTA) |
| Work setting | Planners work in offices, hotels, convention centers and event venues, traveling to sites and working on their feet during events.. | Travel agents work in offices or from home, mostly at computers and on the phone, with occasional familiarization trips.. |
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
Travel Agent
- Interview clients about trip goals and budgets
- Research destinations and options
- Book flights, hotels, cruises and tours
- Explain travel documents and requirements
- Handle changes and cancellations
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people and creative work. They sit in different fields, hospitality, food & tourism and sales & retail, but share transferable skills such as organization and customer service.
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 travel agent if…
- I love travel
- I enjoy planning details
- I like helping people
Still torn? Take the Event Planner fit quiz and the Travel Agent fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, event planner or travel agent?
Event Planners earn more at the median: $61,160 versus $50,160 for travel agents, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Travel Agents typically train faster (1–3 months) than event planners (4 years or event experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects event planners to grow +5.8% from 2025–35, compared with +0.2% for travel agents.