Business Continuity Planners

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $83,050/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$47,880$150,010

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 108,200 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.

Top skills

Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive LearningReading ComprehensionSystems AnalysisSystems Evaluation

Top knowledge areas

English LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingCommunications and MediaAdministrative

Core tasks

• Develop emergency management plans for recovery decision making and communications, continuity of critical departmental processes, or temporary shut-down of non-critical departments to ensure continuity of operation and governance.

• Test documented disaster recovery strategies and plans.

• Develop disaster recovery plans for physical locations with critical assets, such as data centers.

• Establish, maintain, or test call trees to ensure appropriate communication during disaster.

• Identify opportunities for strategic improvement or mitigation of business interruption and other risks caused by business, regulatory, or industry-specific change initiatives.

• Maintain and update organization information technology applications and network systems blueprints.

• Review existing disaster recovery, crisis management, or business continuity plans.

• Analyze impact on, and risk to, essential business functions or information systems to identify acceptable recovery time periods and resource requirements.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Business Continuity Planners?

The median pay for Business Continuity Planners is $83,050 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Business Continuity Planners?

Employment for Business Continuity Planners is projected to change +3% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Business Continuity Planners?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Business Continuity Planners?

About 108,200 openings per year, on average, over the decade.