What the 2026 Salary Survey Reveals About Careers in the Live Events Industry

The live events industry continues to evolve, and with it the expectations of both employers and professionals working across the sector. The Live Recruitment Salary Survey 2026 provides a snapshot of salary benchmarks, hiring trends, and what candidates now expect when considering new opportunities within the industry.

Covering a wide range of roles from operations and project management to marketing, sales, production, design and venues the report highlights how the employment landscape is shifting as businesses compete to attract and retain skilled talent.

A Candidate-Led Market

One of the clearest takeaways from the survey is that the events industry is operating in an increasingly candidate led market. Vacancy levels remain strong, and experienced professionals often have multiple opportunities available to them at once.

Because of this, recruitment has become a two-way process. Employers are no longer just assessing candidates; they must also clearly demonstrate their culture, opportunities for growth, and the overall value of the role if they want to secure top talent.

While salaries have stabilised after the rapid increases seen in recent years, expectations have not dropped. Instead, candidates are placing more emphasis on the overall employment package, including benefits, flexibility, and long-term career opportunities.

Salary Benchmarks Across Event Roles

The survey outlines salary ranges across many areas of the events industry.

Within operations and project management roles, entry-level positions such as Graduate Project Executives or Project Coordinators typically earn between £28,000 and £30,000.

As professionals progress into mid-level roles such as Project or Event Manager, salaries typically rise to around £35,000–£45,000, reflecting responsibilities such as managing suppliers, coordinating logistics, overseeing budgets and delivering events from brief through to onsite delivery.

At a more senior level, Senior Event Managers can expect salaries of £40,000–£50,000, particularly when managing complex or large-scale projects and leading delivery teams.

Leadership roles, such as Project or Event Directors, typically fall between £60,000 and £75,000, reflecting responsibilities that include client management, overseeing internal teams, and managing budgets and project delivery at a strategic level.

Opportunities Across Different Areas of the Industry

The report also highlights how diverse the live events sector is, with salary benchmarks spanning roles in:

• Client services and account management

• Sales and business development

• Technical and AV roles

• Production and creative roles

• Exhibition and experiential build

• Venue-based event management

• Marketing and communications

  
  

This diversity reflects the wide range of career pathways available within the live events ecosystem.

For example, in marketing roles within event organisations, Marketing Executives typically earn between £30,000 and £38,000, while Senior Marketing Managers may earn £50,000 to £70,000, depending on experience and responsibilities.

Meanwhile, technical roles such as AV Technicians may earn around £30,000–£35,000, increasing to £35,000–£45,000 for senior technicians with broader technical expertise.

Flexibility, Culture and Benefits Matter More Than Ever

Beyond salary, the survey makes it clear that candidates are evaluating the entire employment experience.

Hybrid working has become widely established, with many organisations offering two to three days per week in the office alongside remote flexibility.

Candidates are also paying close attention to work-life balance, wellbeing initiatives, and company culture factors that can often influence a career decision just as much as salary itself.

Benefits packages have also expanded, with organisations increasingly offering:

• Enhanced holiday allowances

• Wellbeing programmes

• Flexible working hours

• Parental leave support

• Training and development opportunities Live Recruitment - Salary Surve…

These benefits are becoming essential in an industry traditionally known for demanding schedules and high-pressure environments.

A Competitive Future for Talent in Live Events

The Live Recruitment Salary Survey highlights an industry that remains vibrant, competitive and full of opportunity. However, it also shows that organisations must adapt to the changing expectations of the workforce.

For employers, attracting the best talent now requires more than simply offering a competitive salary. Culture, flexibility, benefits and long-term development opportunities are increasingly central to building strong teams.

For professionals working in live events or considering a career within the industry  the message is clear: the sector offers a wide range of career pathways, with growing demand for experienced and adaptable talent across many different roles.