Prevailing Wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Prevailing wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data and applies to every sponsored position under H-1B, E-3, and PERM. Whether your title is Conference Planner, Catering Director, or Conference Services Manager, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Entry-level planners with limited experience, typically working under close supervision on assigned events with defined scope. DOL treats this as the starting point for workers new to the occupation, often recent graduates or those transitioning into professional event coordination.
Qualified planners with moderate experience who work with some independence on routine conventions or corporate events. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, reflecting the mid-career professionals employers most frequently sponsor.
Experienced planners who independently manage complex, multi-stakeholder events, often mentoring junior staff or leading event teams. DOL expects demonstrated proficiency across logistics, vendor negotiation, and client management without requiring close supervisory oversight.
Fully competent senior planners or directors, such as a Conference Services Director, who set departmental strategy, manage large teams, and oversee high-profile or international conventions. DOL reserves this level for those exercising broad professional judgment across the occupation.
Prevailing Wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Watch how hotel and venue employers title roles
Hospitality employers sometimes file Conference Services Manager or Catering Director positions under a broader operations SOC rather than SOC 13-1121, which can mean a lower prevailing wage floor and weaker protections for the sponsored worker.
Factor out event-day bonuses before comparing offers
Some event planning employers structure compensation with performance bonuses tied to specific conventions or contracted events. DOL's prevailing wage calculation covers base salary only, so bonuses do not count toward meeting the required floor on your LCA.
Compare metros where convention volume is high
Cities with large convention centers and hotel corridors, such as the New York metro area and San Jose, carry significantly higher prevailing wage floors than smaller markets. Planners targeting high-paying metros should verify the worksite city on the LCA matches where they will actually work.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have sponsored planners
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners under H-1B or other visa types, so you can focus your search on companies with an established track record rather than guessing at sponsorship willingness.
Jobs for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-1121.00 alongside Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Catering Director Prevailing Wage
Catering Director Prevailing Wage
Catering Director positions fall under SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Conference Planner Prevailing Wage
Conference Planner Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Conference Planner for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Conference Planning Manager Prevailing Wage
Conference Planning Manager Prevailing Wage
Conference Planning Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Conference Services Director Prevailing Wage
Conference Services Director Prevailing Wage
Conference Services Director positions fall under SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Conference Services Manager Prevailing Wage
Conference Services Manager Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Conference Services Manager for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Convention Services Director Prevailing Wage
Convention Services Director Prevailing Wage
Convention Services Director is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Convention Services Manager (CSM) Prevailing Wage
Convention Services Manager (CSM) Prevailing Wage
Convention Services Manager (CSM) positions fall under SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Event Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Event Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Event Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Events Manager Prevailing Wage
Events Manager Prevailing Wage
Events Manager is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Special Events Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Special Events Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Special Events Coordinator positions fall under SOC 13-1121.00 (Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to calculate prevailing wages for SOC 13-1121. The OFLC then maps those figures to four experience levels using a set wage-distribution formula. Employers must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean, and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 applies to entry-level roles with close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified planners working with moderate independence, and it is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced professionals managing complex events independently. Level 4 is reserved for senior directors exercising broad strategic judgment. Your employer selects the level; it must accurately reflect your actual job duties and supervisory structure.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same event planner role vary so much between cities?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so local labor market conditions drive the figures. Metros with dense convention economies and higher costs of living, such as San Jose and New York, produce higher survey medians. Importantly, the worksite address listed on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, not the employer's headquarters, so remote or multi-site arrangements require careful attention.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An offer below the applicable prevailing wage means the employer cannot obtain a certified LCA from OFLC, which is a prerequisite for filing an H-1B petition with USCIS or completing a PERM application. If a deficient LCA is somehow filed and the discrepancy is discovered, USCIS can deny the petition. DOL also has authority to audit LCA compliance and order back-pay remedies for affected workers.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners in a specific U.S. city?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code and geographic area, selecting the metro that matches your worksite. Enter SOC 13-1121 and choose the relevant metropolitan statistical area to see all four wage levels. For finding employers who have sponsored this role, Migrate Mate lets you filter by occupation and location to see companies with documented H-1B or visa sponsorship history.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners right now.
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