Another major factor when looking at event planner hourly rates is your specialty. Just as tax attorneys can expect to make more money than public defenders, your event planner subtype will help determine your earning potential. We went on Salary.com to find the average hourly rates for each type of event planner. Keep in mind that these are just an average, without accounting for the factors we mentioned above. Average event planner hourly rates by specialty: Wedding Planners $18/hour Corporate Planners $30/hour Catering Services Planners $20/hour Private Party Planners $28/hour General Event Planners $23/hour