Colorado
Event planning jobs in Denver
Denver has grown into a serious meetings market on the back of a central location, a large convention center and a corporate base that skews toward technology, aerospace and outdoor brands. It is also the mountain-wedding gateway, which gives planners here a second market most cities do not have.
What the work actually pays here
Reported pay for event roles in Denver. Read it as a range, not a promise, the top of a range is a senior planner with a portfolio, not a first job.
| Role | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event coordinator | $42,000 | $49,000 | $57,000 |
| Event manager | $57,000 | $66,000 | $79,000 |
| Event director | $80,000 | $97,000 | $120,000 |
| Wedding planner | $38,000 | $55,000 | $85,000 |
| Meeting and convention planner | $52,000 | $65,000 | $81,000 |
Salary data checked July 24, 2026, source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Meeting, Convention and Event Planners, national median $59,440 (May 2024), 155,800 jobs, 5% projected growth 2024–2034. Metro ranges are IIEM estimates pending OEWS metropolitan verification. (opens in a new tab). Figures are annual, before tax, for employed roles. We do not publish estimated pay.
Who hires in Denver
Employers
- Colorado Convention Centerconvention-center
- Visit Denver(opens in a new tab)non-profit
- Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, Aurorahotel
- University of Denver(opens in a new tab)institution
- Denver Botanic Gardensvenue
Venues worth knowing
- Colorado Convention CenterDowntown, around 580,000 sq ft of exhibit space following its recent rooftop expansion.
- Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention CenterAurora; the largest conference resort in the region, close to the airport.
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre, MorrisonIconic outdoor venue; corporate buyouts and private events sit alongside the concert calendar.
- Mission BallroomModern RiNo venue used for launches, mid-size corporate events and receptions.
The Denver market
Denver's advantage is location. A meeting here is a two-hour flight from most of the country, which is why so many national associations rotate through the Colorado Convention Center, and the recent expansion has pulled in larger shows than the city used to compete for. For a planner, the practical effect is a steady supply of convention-services and DMC roles that do not depend on a single dominant employer.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, checked July 24, 2026
The mountain wedding market is the other half of the picture, and it pays better than the metro numbers suggest. Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge and Estes Park all draw destination weddings with budgets well above the Denver average, and planners who can handle altitude logistics, mountain-pass weather contingencies and vendors an hour apart command a premium. It is also genuinely demanding work: a venue at 9,000 feet changes catering, guest health and load-in in ways that catch out planners who have not done it.
The outdoor-industry corporate base (apparel, equipment, cycling and ski brands) generates a distinct stream of product launches, dealer events and sponsored activations that reward planners comfortable working outside a ballroom.
When Denver hires
Convention business peaks in spring and autumn. Mountain weddings run late June through September, with a second winter season around the ski calendar. April and November are shoulder months in both markets, the mountains are between seasons and the convention calendar thins out.
Filter listings
Clear all filtersEvent director jobs in Denver
Showing 1–1 of 1 listing
| Role | Location | Salary | Level | Posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Director of Event ManagementDenver Center For Perfo | Edgewater, Colorado | $88,000 – $95,000/yr | Director |