How much does a emergency management director make?
The median emergency management director in the United States earns $86,130 per year, about $41.41 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all emergency management directors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 11-9161.
Emergency management director salary range
Pay for emergency management directors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $51,260 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $160,420. The average (mean) wage of $97,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,260 | $24.64 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $64,470 | $30.99 | |
| Median (50th) | $86,130 | $41.41 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $119,690 | $57.54 | |
| 90th percentile | $160,420 | $77.12 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for emergency management directors (SOC 11-9161), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Emergency management director salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Emergency management directors earn the most in District of Columbia at $185,810 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $47,850. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $185,810 | 130 |
| Washington | $129,110 | 200 |
| California | $126,210 | 1,080 |
| Massachusetts | $115,200 | 180 |
| New Mexico | $111,980 | 140 |
| Colorado | $109,710 | 160 |
| New Jersey | $108,780 | 400 |
| Oregon | $106,870 | 110 |
| Maryland | $104,270 | 150 |
| Connecticut | $103,390 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $99,600 | 180 |
| Alaska | $98,420 | 100 |
| Florida | $95,360 | 620 |
| Louisiana | $93,970 | 190 |
| Texas | $90,650 | 1,070 |
| New York | $90,130 | 750 |
| Rhode Island | $88,960 | 30 |
| Nebraska | $86,580 | 130 |
| Virginia | $85,690 | 410 |
| Ohio | $85,580 | 260 |
| North Carolina | $85,490 | 460 |
| Idaho | $85,280 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $82,780 | 300 |
| Nevada | $82,140 | N/A |
| Maine | $81,450 | 90 |
| North Dakota | $81,280 | 40 |
| Vermont | $80,850 | 40 |
| Illinois | $80,590 | 460 |
| Utah | $79,750 | 180 |
| Arizona | $79,740 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $79,150 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $78,720 | 410 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,190 | 450 |
| Michigan | $78,160 | 230 |
| Kentucky | $77,230 | 150 |
| Georgia | $75,280 | 480 |
| Missouri | $74,560 | 200 |
| New Hampshire | $72,630 | 60 |
| Montana | $71,360 | 60 |
| Wyoming | $66,340 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $65,710 | 120 |
| Iowa | $65,640 | 120 |
| Alabama | $65,570 | 230 |
| Indiana | $63,540 | 400 |
| Kansas | $62,830 | 190 |
| West Virginia | $61,780 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $59,990 | 280 |
| Arkansas | $49,000 | 150 |
| Mississippi | $47,850 | 240 |
State median wages for emergency management directors (SOC 11-9161), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for emergency management directors
The BLS projects employment of emergency management directors to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 14,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 14,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,100 openings a year for emergency management directors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an emergency management director
The typical entry-level education for emergency management directors is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an emergency management director earns
Company size, industry, and metro area drive most of the pay gap. Executives and managers at large firms in major markets sit near the top of the range, while smaller organizations and rural areas pay lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $185,810) and the lowest (Mississippi, $47,850) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 12,570 people work as emergency management directors in the United States. At $86,130 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Emergency management director salary FAQ
How much does an emergency management director make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an emergency management director is $41.41. The middle half of emergency management directors earn between $30.99 and $57.54 per hour.
What is the highest emergency management director salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of emergency management directors earn more than $160,420 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an emergency management director make a year?
The median annual salary for an emergency management director is $86,130. The average (mean) wage of $97,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an emergency management director a well paid job?
At $86,130 a year, an emergency management director earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 12,570 people work as emergency management directors in the United States.
Which state pays emergency management directors the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for emergency management directors at $185,810 a year. Washington ($129,110) and California ($126,210) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an emergency management director a good career?
Employment of emergency management directors is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an emergency management director?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for emergency management directors as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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