'Meeting Planner' Named One of the Top 100 Jobs of 2013

It's good to be a meeting planner. So says U.S. News & World Report, which has ranked "Meeting, Convention & Event Planner" No. 66 on its list of the 100 best jobs of 2013, and No. 14 on its list of the best business jobs.

Although the job has lost some prestige since last year, when it ranked No. 1 on the magazine's list of the best business jobs and No. 16 overall, it remains a highly coveted career, according to U.S. News, which says the jobs on its list are those that offer "a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance and job security."

"An event requires considerable planning of details big and small — from choosing a venue and reviewing contracts to juggling guest lists and issuing name badges," U.S. News explains. "Meeting, event and conference planners will have to figure out their sponsoring organization's needs and requirements in terms of exhibit space, lodging, transportation, telecommunications, audio-visual requirements, print- and web-based materials, and food and beverages, among other necessities. A lot of time will be dedicated to reviewing proposals and contracts, and negotiating with facilities and suppliers. Overall, an event planner should be a very good task juggler and highly flexible."

According to U.S. News, the median annual wage for meeting, convention and event planners was $46,020 in 2010, the most recent year for which there is data. The best-paid 10 percent in the field made approximately $78,530, it said, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $27,410. The highest paid planners work in the metropolitan areas of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Framingham, Mass., and Lowell, Mass.

The top five jobs of 2013, according to U.S. News, are dentist, registered nurse, pharmacist, computer systems analyst and physician. The magazine's top five business jobs, meanwhile, are market research analyst, financial adviser, accountant, compliance officer, and bookkeeping, accounting and audit clerk.

Reported by:  Successful Meetings