Emergency Management Director Salary
Emergency Management Directors earn a median $93,330 a year nationally. Management Occupations
What emergency management directors 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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 1,100
Employment of emergency management directors is projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 1,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Emergency Management Director take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,703
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,786
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,353
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$74,488
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,210 | $26.06 | $45,738 |
| 25th percentile | $67,910 | $32.65 | $56,605 |
| Median (50th) | $93,330 | $44.87 | $74,488 |
| 75th percentile | $126,490 | $60.81 | $97,722 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,430 | $80.01 | $125,021 |
Emergency Management Director salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $184,350 | −0.8% | $124,568 | $89,990 – $195,190 | 150 |
| New Mexico | $145,550 | +30.0% | $104,948 | $72,480 – $202,090 | 170 |
| Washington | $130,780 | +1.3% | $100,654 | $94,020 – $184,740 | 180 |
| California | $129,910 | +2.9% | $90,519 | $90,130 – $199,020 | 1,170 |
| Colorado | $129,660 | +18.2% | $94,892 | $88,200 – $166,810 | — |
| Massachusetts | $123,250 | +7.0% | $89,565 | $81,100 – $195,190 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $120,990 | +11.2% | $88,429 | $80,770 – $164,110 | 490 |
| Connecticut | $113,380 | +9.7% | $83,932 | $74,880 – $174,880 | 180 |
| Oregon | $110,720 | +3.6% | $77,863 | $84,200 – $162,380 | 120 |
| Maryland | $107,200 | +2.8% | $79,515 | $68,600 – $176,480 | 150 |
| Minnesota | $106,880 | +7.3% | $78,276 | $73,880 – $163,960 | 190 |
| Nevada | $105,570 | +28.5% | $83,098 | $69,360 – $206,420 | 60 |
| Alaska | $101,850 | +3.5% | $80,481 | $62,140 – $175,270 | 120 |
| Virginia | $99,860 | +16.5% | $74,154 | $67,190 – $179,140 | 450 |
| Idaho | $99,720 | +16.9% | $74,806 | $77,310 – $137,000 | 80 |
| Florida | $99,020 | +3.8% | $78,491 | $55,230 – $164,260 | 720 |
| Louisiana | $96,550 | +2.7% | $74,243 | $58,900 – $144,000 | 180 |
| Ohio | $94,690 | +10.6% | $73,623 | $54,090 – $193,060 | 250 |
| North Carolina | $93,840 | +9.8% | $71,611 | $66,800 – $129,980 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $93,680 | +13.2% | $70,270 | $57,910 – $143,460 | 330 |
| Texas | $93,570 | +3.2% | $74,656 | $58,320 – $163,820 | 1,210 |
| New York | $92,570 | +2.7% | $69,532 | $67,120 – $188,910 | 790 |
| Nebraska | $89,740 | +3.6% | $68,758 | $58,650 – $138,610 | 120 |
| Michigan | $87,880 | +12.4% | $67,169 | $57,650 – $135,810 | 220 |
| Rhode Island | $87,690 | −1.4% | $67,848 | $72,160 – $156,310 | 30 |
| Utah | $84,860 | +6.4% | $65,676 | $60,950 – $124,870 | 170 |
| Maine | $84,050 | +3.2% | $63,445 | $57,590 – $124,970 | 80 |
| Illinois | $83,820 | +4.0% | $63,793 | $44,110 – $164,100 | 450 |
| Georgia | $83,200 | +10.5% | $63,666 | $50,110 – $152,120 | 430 |
| Arizona | $81,970 | +2.8% | $64,655 | $60,280 – $145,990 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $81,800 | +3.9% | $66,376 | $55,780 – $139,420 | 370 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,550 | +4.3% | $63,697 | $54,800 – $135,870 | 520 |
| New Hampshire | $77,420 | +6.6% | $63,295 | $57,470 – $117,560 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $77,260 | −2.4% | $60,468 | $50,270 – $114,940 | 240 |
| North Dakota | $76,640 | −5.7% | $62,511 | $62,120 – $107,440 | 80 |
| Missouri | $75,660 | +1.5% | $59,438 | $37,440 – $148,870 | 310 |
| Kentucky | $74,730 | −3.2% | $58,905 | $39,710 – $109,210 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $74,290 | — | $56,977 | $61,620 – $142,820 | 90 |
| Iowa | $73,700 | +12.3% | $58,529 | $45,450 – $109,790 | 130 |
| Kansas | $68,000 | +8.2% | $53,673 | $48,970 – $113,500 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $67,180 | +2.2% | $56,091 | $48,640 – $97,850 | 120 |
| Wyoming | $64,370 | −3.0% | $53,901 | $49,920 – $108,610 | 50 |
| Montana | $62,770 | −12.0% | $50,422 | $51,290 – $100,640 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $60,990 | +1.7% | $48,986 | $39,580 – $106,130 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $60,460 | −2.1% | $48,774 | $36,630 – $97,160 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $50,180 | +2.4% | $40,755 | $35,280 – $82,240 | 160 |
| Mississippi | $48,650 | +1.7% | $40,056 | $38,250 – $96,680 | 230 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling Manager | $93,220 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $95,200 | Bachelor's degree | +1.6% |
| Postmaster and Mail Superintendent | $96,660 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.3% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $89,900 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.4% |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | Master's degree | +1.8% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,870 | Master's degree | -0.3% |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $80,390 | Bachelor's degree | +7.2% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Funeral Home Manager | $78,790 | Associate's degree | +4.1% |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | Bachelor's degree | +9.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a emergency management director make?
The national median salary for emergency management directors is $93,330 a year ($44.87 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $54,210 and the top 10% earn over $166,430. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays emergency management directors the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $184,350.
How many emergency management directors are there in the U.S.?
About 13,500 people work as emergency management directors nationwide.