If you’re interested in joining the event venue industry as a venue manager, then you need to know what to expect. What’s the role of the venue manager? What duties does a venue manager have? What does the average venue manager's salary look like?
We’ll answer all that and more in this article. Learn everything there is to know about this sought-after job title and decide if becoming a venue manager is the right option for you!
The Role of a Venue Manager
Venues don’t run themselves. There’s a lot of work that goes into prepping and managing these event spaces. That’s why venue owners hire venue managers.
A venue manager is responsible for managing all aspects of the venue. Venue management includes directing internal teams, hiring and training new recruits, and venue supervision. In general, they’re responsible for maintaining smooth day-to-day venue operations.
Their role is critical for successful venue businesses. Without a venue manager to connect and guide the venue operations, things fall into disarray and chaos – neither of which is conducive to good business.
A good venue manager is worth their weight in gold and they’re highly sought after in the service industry. The high demand for the venue manager job title influences the average venue manager salary.
Venue Manager Responsibilities
We mentioned a few responsibilities in the above section, but they barely cover all a venue manager does. So, let’s examine all the duties a venue manager has.
Hire and Train New Employees
Venue managers are responsible for tracking venue operations. This includes noting when and where the venue needs new employees. The venue manager hires new employees and makes sure they receive the right training.
Venue Coordination
Venues are run by several internal teams. These teams are responsible for different parts of the venue and work independently of one another. The venue managers act as the bridge between the different venue sectors and coordinate operations.
Supervise Day-to-Day Operations
Managing a venue requires a lot of work. It’s the venue manager’s responsibility to ensure all these day-to-day operations go off without a hitch. If there are problems, it’s their job to find solutions for those problems.
Take Care of Marketing
To get more customers, a venue needs effective marketing and promotions. If the venue has dedicated marketing, the venue manager only has to oversee operations.
However, if there is no marketing team, promotions fall on the venue manager. They’re responsible for creating and posting marketing campaigns and attracting more customers.
Maintain Accounting
Similar to marketing, if there is an official accountant, the venue manager only has to supervise the accounting. If there is no accountant, managing the venue finances falls onto the venue manager. Even if there is an accountant, it’s expected that the venue manager be financially literate.
Personnel Management
Besides hiring and training new employees, the venue manager is responsible for managing internal teams. This includes managing employee schedules, conflict resolution, and conducting employee performance reviews.
Facilities Maintenance
Keeping a venue in good shape is critical for business. Venue managers regularly check the venue facilities and coordinate with maintenance teams to stay on top of the venue’s health. If there are serious issues, the venue manager is responsible for contacting relevant parties and negotiating payments.
Venue Security
Lastly, venue managers are responsible for venue security. This includes hiring experienced security and ensuring all security devices, like cameras, are in good working order.
We’ve briefly covered the main responsibilities of a venue manager here there is so much more that goes into this job. So we highly recommend doing further research on what a venue manager does to make a more informed choice.
Average Venue Managers Salary
Venue managers are responsible for a lot of the work that goes into managing a venue. They’re highly skilled individuals and hold high authority positions. A good venue manager is guaranteed to improve venue operations and increase revenue.
Because of their importance, venue manager salaries tend to be on the higher side. The national average venue manager salary ranges from $58,681 a year to as high as $115,659 a year. That’s $28 to $56 an hour respectively.
As you can see, there’s a big difference between the national average. Most of the information above is volunteered on different websites through surveys. These websites' target audiences differ, which influences the results significantly.
Either way, the average venue manager's salary is similar to or higher than the average US citizen's salary of $59,384. As you gain experience, you can ask for a higher salary, just like in any other industry.
Entry-Level Positions or Smaller Venues
When you’re just starting in the industry, you won’t receive the average venue manager salary. Instead, you’ll have an entry-level salary, which will increase based on your performance and experience.
As for what to expect, the average salary for entry-level venue managers is around $29,000 per year. This salary is on the low end of the spectrum. It’s also common to receive a smaller salary like this when working at smaller venues.
High-End Salary Range
This type of salary comes as you add more years of experience to your resume. It’s also more common with luxury venues that experience high venue demand. Here, you can expect a salary between $115,000 to $130,000 per year.
Influencing Factors in Salary Variations
The average venue manager's pay varies greatly. From as low as $29,000 to as high as $130,000, how much you earn during your career depends on a variety of factors. Let’s examine the most prominent determining factors for venue manager salaries.
Location
Where you’re managing a venue can affect your venue manager’s salary. States and areas with a higher cost of living tend to pay higher venue manager salaries. For example, you’ll be paid more in San Jose as a venue manager than you would somewhere more rural in California.
Venue Customers
This ties into the above point. The more wealthy the venue customers are, the more money the venue makes and the better its reputation has to be. A venue with a good reputation and wealthy customers will naturally pay its venue manager a higher average salary.
Experience
Your venue manager salary also heavily depends on your experience. The more experience you have as a venue manager, the better your venue-managing skills. And the better your skills, the more revenue the venue makes. More experience equals a higher venue manager salary. Make sure to note the date you started to correctly track your years of experience.
Education
Similar to experience, higher education can affect venue manager salaries. Venue managers with qualifications in hospitably or management can expect to receive a slightly higher average salary.
Company Size
As a general rule, the larger the company size, the higher the average salary. It’s especially true for high authority positions like being a venue manager. If the company size is large, they’re more willing to spend money on a venue manager who can maintain venue revenue. On the flip side, a smaller company size equals less revenue and less pay.
Comparison With Other Industry Jobs
The event venue industry is large. There are dozens of jobs related to venue management. To see which job title is the best for you, let’s examine and compare other industry jobs.
- Venue Marketer: Venue marketers are in charge of all the marketing and promotions of a venue. They have a higher salary average than venue managers and are in high demand. They make around $94,654 per year.
- Assistant Venue Managers: Assistant venue managers are a step below venue managers. It’s a great position to gain a few years of experience before shifting to a full-blown venue manager. The average assistant venue manager makes $35,547.
- Venue Operations Manager: A venue operations manager is similar to a venue manager and the pay mimics this. The average venue operations manager makes $50,239 annually.
- Venue Promoter: A venue promoter is in charge of the venue's entertainment. They arrange live bands, stage acts, and other types of artists for venues. The average salary for a venue promoter is $45,967.
Conclusion
One of the more critical roles in the event venue industry is the venue manager. Similar to a venue operations manager, the venue manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of venue spaces. A good venue manager is integral for any venue hoping to increase its revenue and improve its reputation.
Because venue managers are so important, their salaries tend to be on the higher end. The average venue manager salary ranges from $58,681 per year to as high as $115,659. The exact amount you earn depends on a few factors, including the venue location, venue size, and years of experience you have under your belt.
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