For the past several years, Convene’s Annual Salary Survey has clearly articulated the dollar value of obtaining the CMP designation. In this year’s survey, those respondents without the CMP earned $10,000-plus less than those with the designation: $79,013 vs. $89,627. How might that annual increase add up over the course of one’s career?
Of the age groups that have earned their CMP, only 7 percent of survey respondents aged 20–29 years old have the designation — vs. 29 percent who are aged 40–49, and 27 percent who are 50–59. (Eight percent who are 60 or older have their CMP.)
Let’s assume a 26-year-old earns the CMP and retains the designation throughout a 40-year career as an event professional (and who knows what that’s going to look like in 40 years). Disregarding any other factors, that comes to $400,000 more in earnings over a lifetime. No wonder a number of respondents said the one thing, aside from a raise, that they’ve asked — or would like to ask — from their boss is support for earning the CMP. Because they might not be requesting a raise outright, but by earning the CMP, they’re practically guaranteed one.
Take this brief quiz to gauge your CMP readiness. Are you ready for the CMP?