Emergency Management Directors earn a median of $93,330 per year ($44.87/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 3.9% through 2035, with about 1,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-9161
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Emergency Management Director in four numbers
- Median pay
- $93,330a year, or $44.87/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $54KTop 10% $166K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.9%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,10014,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514K
- Projected 203514.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14K Projected 2035 14.5K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school4.6%
- Some college9.1%
- Associate's4.6%
- Bachelor's59.1%
- Post-bacc certificate9.1%
- Master's13.6%
Highest education held by emergency management directors Segment Value High school 4.6% Some college 9.1% Associate's 4.6% Bachelor's 59.1% Post-bacc certificate 9.1% Master's 13.6%
Also advertised as: 911 Communications Manager, Emergency Management Coordinator, Emergency Management Director, Emergency Management System Director (EMS Director), Emergency Manager, Emergency Planner.
Pay
How much do Emergency Management Directors make?
Every emergency management director in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$93,330
Middle half earn $67,910 to $126,490
- 10th
- $54,210
- 25th
- $67,910
- 75th
- $126,490
- 90th
- $166,430
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $54,210 |
| 25th | $67,910 |
| Median | $93,330 |
| 75th | $126,490 |
| 90th | $166,430 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $93,330
- Median hourly wage
- $44.87/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $102,420
- People employed
- 13,500
Versus all US occupations
At $93,330, Emergency Management Directors earn 83% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $42,350 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 26% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $166,430 or more while the bottom 10% earn $54,210, a gap of 3.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 68% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $184,350, and still leads at $167,742 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Emergency Management Directors the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $184,350 | $167,742 | 150 |
| 2New Mexico | $145,550 | $157,843 | 170 |
| 3Washington | $130,780 | $122,209 | 180 |
| 4California | $129,910 | $117,332 | 1,170 |
| 5Colorado | $129,660 | $125,820 | N/A |
| 6Massachusetts | $123,250 | $116,541 | 220 |
| 7New Jersey | $120,990 | $111,199 | 490 |
| 8Connecticut | $113,380 | $109,430 | 180 |
| 9Oregon | $110,720 | $107,120 | 120 |
| 10Maryland | $107,200 | $102,135 | 150 |
Job outlook
Is Emergency Management Director a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Emergency Management Directors | +3.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Emergency Management Directors to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,100 openings are projected each year, 7.9% of the 14,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The importance of preparing for and minimizing the risks from emergencies will help sustain demand and employment opportunities for emergency management directors. These workers will be needed to help businesses and organizations continue to provide essential services during and after emergencies.
The outlook for public-sector employment of these managers is often related to budget constraints. Some local and state governments rely on federal financial assistance to fund their emergency management agencies. As a result of these budget constraints, some counties may not hire full-time, stand-alone emergency management directors, choosing instead to shift the job responsibilities to the fire chief, police chief, or other government employees.
Getting in
How to become an Emergency Management Director
Emergency management directors typically need a bachelor’s degree and many years of work experience in emergency response, disaster planning, or public administration.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as emergency management directors.
- Bachelor's Degree59.1%
- Master's Degree13.6%
- Some College Courses9.1%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate9.1%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 59.1% |
| Master's Degree | 13.6% |
| Some College Courses | 9.1% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.1% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Emergency Management Director do?
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.
Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies, often in coordination with public safety officials, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
Day-to-day tasks
- Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
- Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
- Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
- Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.
- Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
- Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters.
- Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, response efforts, or plan implementation.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most emergency management directors work full time. In addition, most are on call at all times and may need to work overtime to respond to emergencies and to support emergency management operations. Others may work evenings and weekends to meet with various community groups in preparing their emergency response plans.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where emergency management directors work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals55%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals15%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private5%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services4%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 55% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 15% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 4% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Active Learning3.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation4.3
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Coordination4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Instructing3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Persuasion3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 4.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Instructing | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Emergency Management Director?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Emergency Management Director |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising5.1
- Conventional4.7
- Investigative4.5
- Social4.0
- Realistic3.5
- Artistic1.8
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Emergency Management Director
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Architecture and Engineering
Health and Safety Engineer, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
$115,160median a year
Most earn $68K to $171K
+5.4%Bachelor's - Management
- Business and Financial Operations
More management careers
Median annual pay, with emergency management directors highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Emergency Management Director$93,330
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Emergency Management Director | $93,330 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Emergency Management Director appears on
Questions
Emergency Management Director: frequently asked questions
How much do Emergency Management Directors make?
Emergency Management Directors earn a median of $93,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 83% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $44.87/hr. The middle half earn between $67,910 and $126,490. The top 10% earn $166,430 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Emergency Management Director?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Emergency Management Directors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 59.1% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Emergency Management Director a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.9% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Emergency Management Director do?
Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. A core O*NET task: consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Geographic information system.
Which states pay Emergency Management Directors the most?
The highest state medians for Emergency Management Directors are District of Columbia ($184,350), New Mexico ($145,550), Washington ($130,780) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Emergency Management Director?
O*NET scores Emergency Management Directors highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.