Side-by-side distribution
Bartender
$16.90/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 28.1%
- Live roles
- 1,063
Event Planner
$70,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 24.9%
- Live roles
- 631
Highest-paying jobs
Seasonal Bartender
Bartender - Part Time
Bartender
Bartender
Kai Bar - Bartender
Seasonal Bartender (May - October 2026)
Seasonal Bartender (May to October 2026)
Bartender - Flex
Banquet Bartender
Combination Bartender/Server - Casual
Highest-paying jobs
Marketing - Senior Manager/Manager, Event Production, Events & Experiences
Senior Manager, Programs & Event Design
Senior Event Planner, Global Events & Activations
Sr. Event Marketing Manager, Field Programming
Event Marketing Manager
Business Development Manager, Event Commerce (Remote - US)
Senior Event Strategy Manager
Event Marketing Manager
AI Innovation Lab Event Coordinator
Field Event Manager, EMEA
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Pyramid Global Hospitality
|
$24,419 | 44 |
ASM Global
|
$35,152 | 33 |
Dave & Buster's
|
$21,455 | 16 |
Soho House & Co.
|
$42,803 | 15 |
| AG Arcis Golf | $48,308 | 12 |
JOEY Restaurants
|
$37,336 | 12 |
Stonebridge Companies
|
$32,240 | 11 |
Life Time
|
$34,320 | 10 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Dave & Buster's
|
$28,600 | 9 |
Fogo de Chão
|
$54,080 | 8 |
|
Pyramid Global Hospitality
|
$63,750 | 6 |
First Global Management Services, Inc.
|
$75,386 | 5 |
American Express Global Business Travel
|
$79,000 | 4 |
Michaels
|
$31,720 | 4 |
| L( LA28 (Web) | $143,000 | 3 |
Maritz
|
$70,000 | 3 |
Event Planner salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $154,600 | 8 |
| Denver | $114,700 | 3 |
| Los Angeles | $112,583 | 9 |
| Chicago | $112,500 | 3 |
| New York | $95,500 | 29 |
| Boston | $65,000 | 4 |
Bartender vs Event Planner: which pays more?
The median for Bartender is $16.90/hr per year (typically $12.40/hr–$19.02/hr), versus $70,000 for Event Planner ($51,220–$102,469). That puts Event Planner about 99% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Bartender and Event Planner are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.