How long does wedding planner training take in New Jersey?

Most paths into the wedding planner field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for wedding planners in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Wedding Planner in New Jersey (2026)

Q: How much do wedding planners earn in New Jersey?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), wedding planners in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $72,780. Employment concentration in New Jersey is roughly 0.55 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for wedding planners in New Jersey?

New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,160 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey meeting, convention, and event planners earn a median annual wage of $72,780 ($34.99/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,160 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 19.0% above the national median of $61,160 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $72,780 ($34.99/hr)
25th percentile: $61,120 per year
75th percentile: $89,550 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $121,090 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,790 per year
Workers employed in New Jersey: 2,160
Versus national median: 19.0% above the U.S. median of $61,160
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.55 - this occupation is less concentrated in New Jersey than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

New Jersey employs about 2,160 wedding planners earning a median $72,780 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most wedding planners train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in New Jersey.

Key Facts

Median wage (New Jersey): $72,780/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in New Jersey: 2,160 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.55x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.8% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Wedding Planner Schools in New Jersey

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Pennsylvania College of Technology	71.8	Contact school for pricing	$66,316	Not reported	Yes*	148 mi
2	Raritan Valley Community College	69.8	Contact school for pricing	$57,072	33%	Yes*	20 mi
3	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	65.4	$8,772 - $26,944	$56,927	47%	Yes*	118 mi
4	Bergen Community College	63.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,761	Not reported	Yes*	25 mi
5	Bucks County Community College	60.0	$5,683 - $13,963	$52,637	30%	Yes*	43 mi
6	Howard Community College	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$57,920	25%	Yes*	167 mi
7	Northampton County Area Community College	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$49,408	22%	Yes*	53 mi
8	SUNY Broome Community College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$48,966	23%	Yes*	133 mi
9	Connecticut State Community College	47.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,130	21%	Yes*	116 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

New Jersey employs approximately 2,160 wedding planners according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $72,780 ¹. Nationally, wedding planner employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 15,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a wedding planner in New Jersey, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Wedding Planner Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), meeting, convention, and event planners wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	9,050	$78,610	$87,260	$48,840	$132,960
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	2,010	$62,530	$66,890	$40,570	$99,100
Atlantic City-Hammonton	200	$62,870	$64,510	$45,050	$79,990
Trenton-Princeton	170	$77,010	$78,780	$49,890	$105,980
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	160	$58,220	$60,540	$38,430	$80,810

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (New Jersey): $72,780 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Wedding Planner in New Jersey

How to become a wedding planner in New Jersey? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for wedding planners in New Jersey.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do wedding planners earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for wedding planners in New Jersey is $72,780 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,790 and experienced professionals can earn $121,090 or more ¹.

How to Become a Wedding Planner in New Jersey

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most New Jersey training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in New Jersey that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to wedding planners in New Jersey before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for wedding planners in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,160 wedding planners ¹. Nationally, wedding planner employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in New Jersey? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in New Jersey.

How much do wedding planners earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for wedding planners in New Jersey is $72,780, which is $13,340 above the national median of $59,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In New Jersey

Best Trade Schools in New Jersey (2026)

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)