NOC 12103: Conference and event planners
What conference and event planners do
Conference and event planners plan, organize and coordinate conferences, conventions, meetings, seminars, exhibitions, trade shows, festivals and other events. They are employed by tourism associations, trade and professional associations, convention and conference centres, governments and by conference and event planning companies, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Meet with trade and professional associations and other groups to promote and discuss conference, convention and trade show services
- Meet with sponsors and organizing committees to plan the scope and format of events, to establish and monitor budgets and to review administrative procedures and progress of events
- Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, conference and other facilities, catering, signage, displays, translation, special needs requirements, audio-visual equipment, printing and security
- Organize registration of participants, prepare programs and promotional material, and publicize events
- Plan entertainment and social gatherings for participants
- Hire, train and supervise support staff required for events
- Ensure compliance with required by-laws
- Negotiate contracts for services, approve suppliers' invoices, maintain financial records, review final billing submitted to clients for events and prepare reports.
Job titles under NOC 12103
22 job titles are classified here, including conference and meeting planner, conference planner, conference services officer.
- conference and meeting planner
- conference coordinator
- conference organizer
- conference planner
- conference services officer
- convention and special events planner
- convention coordinator
- convention planner
- convention planning services officer
- event coordinator
- event planner
- exhibition coordinator
- festival organizer
- meeting coordinator
- meeting planner
- social events coordinator
- special events coordinator
- special events organizer
- special events planner
- special events program planner
- trade show organizer
- trade show planner
Employment requirements
- A university degree or college diploma in business, tourism or hospitality administration is usually required.
- Several years of experience in hospitality or tourism administration or in public relations are usually required and may substitute for formal education requirements.
- Certification relating to special events, meetings or conference management may be required.
Conference and event planners wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $17.65/hr | $28.37/hr | $47.53/hr |
Toronto ON | $17.60/hr | $27.47/hr | $56.41/hr |
Montréal QC | $21.75/hr | $28.75/hr | $43.08/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $20.00/hr | $27.00/hr | $42.80/hr |
Calgary AB | $19.00/hr | $27.26/hr | $38.13/hr |
Edmonton AB | $20.00/hr | $26.75/hr | $38.57/hr |
Ottawa ON | $22.45/hr | $32.79/hr | $45.99/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $20.00/hr | $25.64/hr | $37.36/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $21.43/hr | $30.00/hr | $43.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $19.00/hr | $30.00/hr | $47.95/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $21.63/hr | $32.69/hr | $34.62/hr |
London ON | $17.60/hr | $26.44/hr | $33.65/hr |
Halifax NS | $16.50/hr | $26.50/hr | $29.81/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $18.00/hr | $29.12/hr | $38.46/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $18.00/hr | $21.00/hr | $25.00/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $23.50/hr | $25.00/hr | $48.70/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.74/hr | $26.13/hr | $37.98/hr |
Nova Scotia | $16.50/hr | $24.79/hr | $29.81/hr |
New Brunswick | $15.65/hr | $23.00/hr | $36.75/hr |
Quebec | $21.43/hr | $30.00/hr | $43.00/hr |
Ontario | $17.60/hr | $27.47/hr | $47.95/hr |
Manitoba | $17.31/hr | $25.64/hr | $40.43/hr |
Saskatchewan | $20.00/hr | $25.00/hr | $46.15/hr |
Alberta | $20.00/hr | $26.75/hr | $38.57/hr |
British Columbia | $20.00/hr | $28.85/hr | $42.80/hr |
Using NOC 12103 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 22 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Administrative officers (NOC 13100)
- Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (NOC 10022)
- Executive assistants (NOC 12100)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (NOC 11202)
- Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical) (NOC 64101)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for conference and event planners?
Conference and event planners are NOC 2021 unit group 12103. Example job titles in this group include conference and meeting planner, conference planner, conference services officer, convention coordinator.
What TEER is NOC 12103?
NOC 12103 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do conference and event planners earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $28.37/hr, about $55,000 a year full-time, with a range of $17.65/hr to $47.53/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.