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What is an emergency management coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Laura Siebeneck Ph.D.

Disasters are inevitable. Emergency situations are out of our control. Therefore, it is important that there are skilled emergency officers present in every municipality and healthcare facility. These people are in charge of mitigating emergency situations and apply the appropriate solutions. One of the key people in an emergency team is an emergency management coordinator.

Emergency management coordinators ensure proper coordination and communication between different teams in charge of emergency response. Aside from managing emergency response at the moment of the emergency, they also work on emergency plans and upskilling the team. They prepare training activities to ensure that everyone knows what to do in times of emergencies.

If you are interested in becoming an emergency management coordinator, you need to be quick on your feet and should be able to make decisions quickly. You should also be updated with the latest information in the industry. In addition, you must be a good team player and should foster teamwork.

What general advice would you give to an emergency management coordinator?

Laura Siebeneck Ph.D.

Professor and Chair, University of North Texas

Acquiring a solid academic foundation in emergency management and developing strong analytical, written, communication, and problem-solving skills is important for success in this field. And more and more, I am noticing that employers are looking for individuals that work well in a team-setting and possess project management skills. The hazards and disasters emergency managers encounter are becoming increasingly complex and being able to collaborate and think creatively to solve these problems is important.
ScoreEmergency Management CoordinatorUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $61,574

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.1

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.50%

Asian 3.92%

Black or African American 8.97%

Hispanic or Latino 11.88%

Unknown 4.99%

White 68.74%

Gender

female 29.67%

male 70.33%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Emergency management coordinator career paths

Key steps to become an emergency management coordinator

  1. Explore emergency management coordinator education requirements

    Most common emergency management coordinator degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.2 %

    Associate

    20.1 %

    Master's

    16.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific emergency management coordinator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    FEMA30.86%
    Emergency Preparedness7.35%
    Incident Management4.74%
    Emergency Response4.54%
    Public Safety4.45%
  3. Complete relevant emergency management coordinator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency management coordinators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an emergency management coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency management coordinator resumes.
  4. Research emergency management coordinator duties and responsibilities

    • Identify facilities and personnel resources within the state to achieve rapid effective dispensing of SNS.
    • Implement the FEMA NIMS compliance program, provide training and maintain records of completion for require employees.
    • Report to EOC or emergency scene as needed.
    • Keep a record of staff certifications to be NIMS compliant.
  5. Get emergency management coordinator experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an emergency management coordinator. The most common roles before becoming an emergency management coordinator include emergency medical technician, police officer team lead and paramedic.
  6. Prepare your emergency management coordinator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your emergency management coordinator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an emergency management coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable emergency management coordinator resume templates

    Build a professional emergency management coordinator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your emergency management coordinator resume.
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    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
    Emergency Management Coordinator Resume
  7. Apply for emergency management coordinator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an emergency management coordinator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first emergency management coordinator job

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Average emergency management coordinator salary

The average emergency management coordinator salary in the United States is $61,574 per year or $30 per hour. Emergency management coordinator salaries range between $33,000 and $113,000 per year.

Average emergency management coordinator salary
$61,574 Yearly
$29.60 hourly

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How do emergency management coordinators rate their job?

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Emergency management coordinator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros

The company I work for is it very small company but very generous to its employees. Has great benefits that start out right away wonderful training programs. And does a great service for our community.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Cons

Sometimes you do not get top cover. Political leadership may not be interested in engaging in preparedness and only wants to act once an incident becomes high profile. And, if an operation goes south, you may find yourself standing alone to face criticism resulting from poor political decisions.

Pros

50 years of challenging, rewarding and evolving experiences with every kind of threat that one could imagine. Made great friends and lasting relationships. Can see and reflect upon real change and influence on the practice area.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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