Emergency Management Directors
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $93,330/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +3% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 1,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
• Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Emergency Management Directors?
The median pay for Emergency Management Directors is $93,330 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Emergency Management Directors?
Employment for Emergency Management Directors is projected to change +3% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Emergency Management Directors?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Emergency Management Directors?
About 1,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.