Event Coordinator vs Event Director: What’s the Difference?
You’re looking to hire an event professional, but are not sure of the exact title, description of responsibilities, or how much to pay them. Time is of the essence in events, so I’ll help you answer this question: Are you looking for an Event Coordinator or Event Director?
Welcome to the conversation! Recently, I posted an off-the-cuff perspective on LinkedIn that generated a lot of responses. Thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments and dozens of re-posts all discussing the same thing: should someone with decades of experience in events be called a Coordinator?
The conversation surrounding event Coordinator vs event Planner or event Director roles is nothing new, and has become more difficult to distinguish as the years pass and the world changes so rapidly. Many event professionals agreed with my assessment, while a few shared that they did not care as much about the title, rather the compensation that goes with it.
While I agree that being treated and compensated fairly is paramount to a great working relationship, the potential problem with affording the title of coordinator across expertise levels is a blurred value proposition, and therefore the potential to be offered less pay. I decided to do some research to see if there were marked differences in pay being offered, as well as expertise expected.
Salary Difference: Event Coordinator vs. Event Planner vs. Event Director
For this example, I looked at Event Coordinator vs. Event Director Salaries, as of August 2025 in the same market (Los Angeles) on salary.com and Glassdoor.
Event Coordinators earn an average salary of around $70,500, with the majority earning between $63,000 and $77,000. This translates to an average hourly rate of $34 for freelance event coordinators. (Salary.com)
Event Planners earn an average salary of around $98,887, according to Glassdoor.com, while Indeed shows varying ranges.
Event Directors earn an average salary of around $189,850, with the majority earning between $166,000 and $205,000. This translates to an average hourly rate of $91 for freelance Event Directors or Director of Events. (Salary.com)
Job Scope Difference: Event Coordinator vs. Event Planner vs. Event Director
Event Directors are charged with the high-level, strategic, impact-driven goals for the event, as well as Client and Stakeholder management, budget oversight, and over-arching event operations. (Salary.com)
Event Planners are visionaries, similar to Director-level hires, who will be able to oversee the high-level aspects of the event, and some may also take on the coordination tasks themselves, depending upon the size of the organization and the scope of the event.
Event Coordinators, on the other hand, should be expected to carry out the vision of their Event Director or Planner as they handle specific logistical tasks, manage vendors, directly supervise onsite operations and troubleshoot any issues as they arise. They are skilled in time and project management, and must be able to track details against goals to report to their management and the Director or Head of Events.
The Conclusion: Event Coordinator vs. Event Planner vs. Event Director
It seems like Event Planner is a term that’s used more colloquially rather than in job descriptions, while Event Coordinator and Director show a massive gap in earning potential, expectations of everyday job duties, and upward mobility. It’s easy to see why it would be difficult for some, especially those who have not had decades of experience in events, to ascertain the difference between these titles. Honestly, even the data was sometimes variable, with some industries and concentrations showing ‘Coordinator’ roles making more than ‘Planner’ roles!
So, should you hire an Event Coordinator or an Event Director?
If you are looking for someone to conceptualize or co-create the entire vision for your event, including looking strategically at your key stakeholders, any budget constraints, and your overall business goals, you’re looking for an Event Director or Head of Events. If your team created and holds the vision for your events, stakeholders and organizational goals, you’ll likely want an enthusiastic Event Coordinator who can help put together the details to make that vision come to life.