Emergency Management Directors
Emergency Management Directors (SOC 11-9161) earn a median $93,330 a year ($44.87 an hour) in the United States, with 13,500 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What emergency management directors do
Emergency management directors plan and direct how communities and organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and crises. The disasters they plan for include natural events such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, as well as technological ones such as a nuclear plant accident or a chemical release, and also wartime and hostage situations. Their tasks include writing emergency plans and procedures, consulting with officials of governments, schools, hospitals, and other groups, maintaining liaisons with municipalities and county departments, and providing preparedness training. During an event they coordinate the response, for example by ordering evacuations or opening public shelters, and write status reports on response and recovery efforts. The occupation differs from firefighters, police, and emergency medical technicians, who respond directly, and from first-line supervisors of those workers. Titles include civil defense director, disaster response director, and civil preparedness officer. They also test and evaluate emergency plans in accordance with state and federal regulations and help prepare damage assessments after a disaster.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: 911 Communications Manager, Change Management Specialist, Civil Defense Director, Civil Preparedness Officer, Disaster Response Director.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $26.06 | $32.65 | $44.87 | $60.81 | $80.02 | $49.24 | 13,500 |
| Annual | $54,210 | $67,910 | $93,330 | $126,490 | $166,430 | $102,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where emergency management directors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $43.26 | $68.13 | $88.63 | $93.84 | $93.84 | $79.52 | 150 | 0.21 | 2.39 |
| Annual | $89,990 | $141,710 | $184,350 | $195,190 | $195,190 | $165,390 | ||||
| New Mexico | Hourly | $34.84 | $47.11 | $69.98 | $82.87 | $97.16 | $67.66 | 170 | 0.19 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $72,480 | $97,990 | $145,550 | $172,370 | $202,090 | $140,730 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $45.20 | $52.28 | $62.87 | $76.04 | $88.82 | $65.59 | 180 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $94,020 | $108,740 | $130,780 | $158,160 | $184,740 | $136,430 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $43.33 | $50.64 | $62.46 | $78.43 | $95.68 | $66.40 | 1,170 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $90,130 | $105,320 | $129,910 | $163,130 | $199,020 | $138,120 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $42.40 | $49.82 | $62.34 | $65.83 | $80.20 | $60.14 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $88,200 | $103,630 | $129,660 | $136,930 | $166,810 | $125,080 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.04 | $33.62 | $44.99 | $62.80 | $78.76 | $49.46 | 1,210 | 0.09 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $58,320 | $69,920 | $93,570 | $130,620 | $163,820 | $102,870 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $43.33 | $50.64 | $62.46 | $78.43 | $95.68 | $66.40 | 1,170 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $90,130 | $105,320 | $129,910 | $163,130 | $199,020 | $138,120 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $32.27 | $37.90 | $44.51 | $59.86 | $90.82 | $54.66 | 790 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $67,120 | $78,830 | $92,570 | $124,500 | $188,910 | $113,700 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $26.56 | $34.64 | $47.61 | $66.26 | $78.97 | $51.30 | 720 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $55,230 | $72,060 | $99,020 | $137,820 | $164,260 | $106,710 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $26.34 | $29.97 | $39.21 | $49.63 | $65.32 | $42.16 | 520 | 0.09 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $54,800 | $62,350 | $81,550 | $103,220 | $135,870 | $87,700 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $63.78 | $69.52 | $83.43 | $94.32 | $147.86 | $91.12 | 50 | 0.04 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $132,650 | $144,610 | $173,540 | $196,180 | $307,540 | $189,540 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.26 | $55.06 | $78.47 | $93.84 | $93.84 | $74.66 | 310 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $89,990 | $114,520 | $163,220 | $195,190 | $195,190 | $155,300 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $51.11 | $59.40 | $77.49 | $93.84 | $102.66 | $78.52 | 150 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $106,300 | $123,540 | $161,180 | $195,190 | $213,520 | $163,310 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $52.28 | $62.17 | $74.67 | $82.81 | $98.69 | $73.11 | 90 | 0.05 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $108,730 | $129,310 | $155,320 | $172,240 | $205,280 | $152,060 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $47.52 | $54.55 | $65.83 | $65.83 | $76.21 | $62.36 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $98,830 | $113,450 | $136,930 | $136,930 | $158,530 | $129,720 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $35.66 | $38.92 | $48.55 | $61.85 | $85.75 | $58.34 | 630 | 0.07 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $74,170 | $80,950 | $100,980 | $128,650 | $178,360 | $121,350 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.26 | $55.06 | $78.47 | $93.84 | $93.84 | $74.66 | 310 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $89,990 | $114,520 | $163,220 | $195,190 | $195,190 | $155,300 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $30.78 | $38.09 | $46.47 | $65.79 | $82.82 | $51.99 | 300 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $64,020 | $79,230 | $96,650 | $136,830 | $172,260 | $108,130 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $44.41 | $50.79 | $62.51 | $78.57 | $105.09 | $68.10 | 300 | 0.05 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $92,370 | $105,640 | $130,020 | $163,430 | $218,580 | $141,660 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $31.87 | $37.56 | $52.47 | $69.01 | $88.15 | $55.54 | 280 | 0.09 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $66,290 | $78,120 | $109,140 | $143,550 | $183,350 | $115,530 | ||||
Top industries employing emergency management directors
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 55.6% of emergency management directors nationally (7,500 jobs) at a median $84,780 a year ($40.76 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (14.9%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (5.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 7,500 | 55.6% | $84,780 | $40.76 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 2,010 | 14.9% | $79,190 | $38.07 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 670 | 5.0% | $100,530 | $48.33 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 370 | 2.7% | $101,450 | $48.77 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services NAICS 624200 | 340 | 2.5% | $109,210 | $52.51 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (13,500). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $76,730 for emergency management directors in May 2021 and $93,330 in May 2025, with employment of 10,320 and 13,500.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $76,730 | $36.89 | 10,320 |
| May 2022 | $79,180 | $38.07 | 11,290 |
| May 2023 | $83,960 | $40.37 | 11,910 |
| May 2024 | $86,130 | $41.41 | 12,570 |
| May 2025 | $93,330 | $44.87 | 13,500 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
47 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $88.63 | $184,350 | $89,990 | $195,190 | 150 | 0.21 | 2.39 |
| 2 | New Mexico profile | $69.98 | $145,550 | $72,480 | $202,090 | 170 | 0.19 | 2.22 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $62.87 | $130,780 | $94,020 | $184,740 | 180 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 4 | California profile | $62.46 | $129,910 | $90,130 | $199,020 | 1,170 | 0.06 | 0.74 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $62.34 | $129,660 | $88,200 | $166,810 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $59.25 | $123,250 | $81,100 | $195,190 | 220 | 0.06 | 0.70 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $58.17 | $120,990 | $80,770 | $164,110 | 490 | 0.12 | 1.33 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $54.51 | $113,380 | $74,880 | $174,880 | 180 | 0.11 | 1.23 |
| 9 | Oregon profile | $53.23 | $110,720 | $84,200 | $162,380 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.70 |
| 10 | Maryland profile | $51.54 | $107,200 | $68,600 | $176,480 | 150 | 0.06 | 0.63 |
| 11 | Minnesota profile | $51.39 | $106,880 | $73,880 | $163,960 | 190 | 0.07 | 0.75 |
| 12 | Nevada profile | $50.75 | $105,570 | $69,360 | $206,420 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.48 |
| 13 | Alaska profile | $48.97 | $101,850 | $62,140 | $175,270 | 120 | 0.38 | 4.40 |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $48.01 | $99,860 | $67,190 | $179,140 | 450 | 0.11 | 1.26 |
| 15 | Idaho profile | $47.94 | $99,720 | $77,310 | $137,000 | 80 | 0.09 | 1.02 |
| 16 | Florida profile | $47.61 | $99,020 | $55,230 | $164,260 | 720 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| 17 | Louisiana profile | $46.42 | $96,550 | $58,900 | $144,000 | 180 | 0.09 | 1.07 |
| 18 | Ohio profile | $45.53 | $94,690 | $54,090 | $193,060 | 250 | 0.05 | 0.52 |
| 19 | North Carolina profile | $45.12 | $93,840 | $66,800 | $129,980 | 420 | 0.08 | 0.97 |
| 20 | South Carolina profile | $45.04 | $93,680 | $57,910 | $143,460 | 330 | 0.14 | 1.63 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $44.99 | $93,570 | $58,320 | $163,820 | 1,210 | 0.09 | 0.99 |
| 22 | New York profile | $44.51 | $92,570 | $67,120 | $188,910 | 790 | 0.08 | 0.94 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | $43.14 | $89,740 | $58,650 | $138,610 | 120 | 0.12 | 1.38 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $42.25 | $87,880 | $57,650 | $135,810 | 220 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 25 | Rhode Island profile | $42.16 | $87,690 | $72,160 | $156,310 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.76 |
| 26 | Utah profile | $40.80 | $84,860 | $60,950 | $124,870 | 170 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| 27 | Maine profile | $40.41 | $84,050 | $57,590 | $124,970 | 80 | 0.13 | 1.50 |
| 28 | Illinois profile | $40.30 | $83,820 | $44,110 | $164,100 | 450 | 0.07 | 0.84 |
| 29 | Georgia profile | $40.00 | $83,200 | $50,110 | $152,120 | 430 | 0.09 | 1.02 |
| 30 | Arizona profile | $39.41 | $81,970 | $60,280 | $145,990 | 160 | 0.05 | 0.56 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $39.33 | $81,800 | $55,780 | $139,420 | 370 | 0.11 | 1.28 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $39.21 | $81,550 | $54,800 | $135,870 | 520 | 0.09 | 1.00 |
| 33 | New Hampshire profile | $37.22 | $77,420 | $57,470 | $117,560 | 50 | 0.07 | 0.84 |
| 34 | Wisconsin profile | $37.15 | $77,260 | $50,270 | $114,940 | 240 | 0.08 | 0.96 |
| 35 | North Dakota profile | $36.84 | $76,640 | $62,120 | $107,440 | 80 | 0.18 | 2.06 |
| 36 | Missouri profile | $36.37 | $75,660 | $37,440 | $148,870 | 310 | 0.10 | 1.20 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | $35.93 | $74,730 | $39,710 | $109,210 | 150 | 0.08 | 0.88 |
| 38 | Hawaii profile | $35.72 | $74,290 | $61,620 | $142,820 | 90 | 0.15 | 1.71 |
| 39 | Iowa profile | $35.43 | $73,700 | $45,450 | $109,790 | 130 | 0.09 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $32.69 | $68,000 | $48,970 | $113,500 | 140 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $32.30 | $67,180 | $48,640 | $97,850 | 120 | 0.26 | 2.97 |
| 42 | Wyoming profile | $30.95 | $64,370 | $49,920 | $108,610 | 50 | 0.17 | 1.97 |
| 43 | Montana profile | $30.18 | $62,770 | $51,290 | $100,640 | 90 | 0.17 | 1.95 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $29.32 | $60,990 | $39,580 | $106,130 | 310 | 0.18 | 2.12 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $29.07 | $60,460 | $36,630 | $97,160 | 120 | 0.17 | 1.92 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $24.12 | $50,180 | $35,280 | $82,240 | 160 | 0.12 | 1.37 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $23.39 | $48,650 | $38,250 | $96,680 | 230 | 0.20 | 2.30 |
Part of Management Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 11-9161 Emergency Management Directors.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 11-9161, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 11-9161.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.