Recent surveys by Meetings & Conventions Magazine as well as by PCMA’s Convene have shown that as the job market continues to improve, meeting professionals are realizing a higher salary and taking home nearly 10 percent more than last year.

A M&C Magazine survey states that the average base pay is $67,851 per year.   Compensation for Certified Meeting Professionals continues to inch up – the average salary in the US for CMP’s is $77,986 per year. The number of CMP’s is slightly up from 2012, 34% vs. 32%.

Another statistic shared by M&C’s survey is that 34% of meeting planners are less satisfied with their jobs than last year; 43% reported no change and 19% are more satisfied than they were last year. Average age of meeting professionals: 46 averaging 15 years as a planner working an average of 47 hours per week.

According to Convene, 85 percent of all companies plan to give raises this year, according to the Pay Scale 2013 Compensation Best Practices Report. That's only a slightly rosier picture than the one drawn by meeting-professional respondents to our latest Annual Salary Survey, in which 75 percent said they've either received or expect to receive a pay increase in 2013. Here's a look at the highlights:

Average Salary 2013: $77,711 vs. $71,038 in 2012

CMP Average Salary 2013: $92,019

 Another notable statistic: The average salary for female planners (89% of respondents) was $73,996 while the average salary for male planners (11% of respondents) was $108,482

Job Description of Meeting Professional as defined by Salary.com:

Responsible for all aspects of planning a meeting or special event for an organization. Responsible for all amenities and accommodations at the event as well as any associated contract negotiations. May require a bachelor's degree in area of specialty and 2-4 years of experience in the field or in a related area. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Works under general supervision. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

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