How long does wedding planner training take in Rhode Island?

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 Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island Office of 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 Rhode Island (2026)

Q: How much do wedding planners earn in Rhode Island?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), wedding planners in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,910. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is about 1.94 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for wedding planners in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island currently employs approximately 890 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

Rhode Island meeting, convention, and event planners earn a median annual wage of $59,910 ($28.80/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 890 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.0% below the national median of $61,160 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,910 ($28.80/hr)
25th percentile: $45,760 per year
75th percentile: $65,570 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $96,140 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,400 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 890
Versus national median: -2.0% below the U.S. median of $61,160
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.94 - this occupation is more concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

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

Rhode Island employs about 890 wedding planners earning a median $59,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most wedding planners train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Rhode Island.

Key Facts

Median wage (Rhode Island): $59,910/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Rhode Island: 890 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.94x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.8% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Wedding Planner Schools in Rhode Island

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	Raritan Valley Community College	69.8	Contact school for pricing	$57,072	33%	Yes*	188 mi
2	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	65.4	$8,772 - $26,944	$56,927	47%	Yes*	182 mi
3	Bergen Community College	63.9	Contact school for pricing	$51,761	Not reported	Yes*	150 mi
4	Bucks County Community College	60.0	$5,683 - $13,963	$52,637	30%	Yes*	213 mi
5	NHTI-Concord's Community College	56.4	Contact school for pricing	$55,056	Not reported	Yes*	99 mi
6	Northampton County Area Community College	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$49,408	22%	Yes*	216 mi
7	Connecticut State Community College	47.6	Contact school for pricing	$50,130	21%	Yes*	64 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.

Rhode Island employs approximately 890 wedding planners according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,910 ¹. The state’s concentration of wedding planner jobs is 1.94x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Rhode Island, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Wedding Planner Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	1,030	$59,910	$62,850	$36,400	$97,880

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 (Rhode Island): $59,910 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Wedding Planner in Rhode Island

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

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 Rhode Island? The median annual wage for wedding planners in Rhode Island is $59,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,400 and experienced professionals can earn $96,140 or more ¹.

How to Become a Wedding Planner in Rhode Island

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 890 wedding planners ¹. Nationally, wedding planner employment is projected to grow 4.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do wedding planners earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for wedding planners in Rhode Island is $59,910, which is $470 above the national median of $59,440 according to BLS data ¹.

In Rhode Island

Best Trade Schools in Rhode Island (2026)

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

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)