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The role of an Emergency Management Director is vital for coordinating disaster preparedness and response efforts. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $161,105 per year. This figure reflects the significant responsibilities associated with the position, which includes planning, training, and managing resources during emergencies.
Salaries for Emergency Management Directors can significantly differ based on geographic location. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for experienced professionals. In contrast, smaller states or those with fewer resources may present lower average salaries.
The industry also plays a crucial role in salary determination. Emergency Management Directors working in government positions often earn competitive wages, while those in private sectors may see variations based on company size and funding. Exploring various industries can help job seekers find the best opportunities.
With the growing focus on disaster preparedness, job prospects for Emergency Management Directors remain strong. Those interested in this field should consider pursuing relevant education and certifications, which can enhance their qualifications and potentially lead to higher earnings.
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The highest-paying states for emergency management directors are Illinois, New York, and West Virginia. The lowest average emergency management director salary states are New Mexico, Missouri, and Louisiana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $152,076 | $73.11 |
| 2 | Illinois | $164,767 | $79.21 |
| 3 | New York | $157,992 | $75.96 |
| 4 | Delaware | $151,809 | $72.99 |
| 5 | Vermont | $149,420 | $71.84 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $149,533 | $71.89 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $148,482 | $71.39 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $150,727 | $72.46 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $140,856 | $67.72 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $149,154 | $71.71 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $145,700 | $70.05 |
| 12 | Ohio | $144,221 | $69.34 |
| 13 | South Dakota | $141,769 | $68.16 |
| 14 | Nevada | $139,980 | $67.30 |
| 15 | Maine | $140,000 | $67.31 |
| 16 | Alaska | $139,702 | $67.16 |
| 17 | Indiana | $136,149 | $65.46 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $143,032 | $68.77 |
| 19 | Alabama | $128,656 | $61.85 |
| 20 | California | $141,841 | $68.19 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $155,078 | $74.56 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $127,168 | $61.14 |
| 23 | Virginia | $132,475 | $63.69 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $137,126 | $65.93 |
| 25 | Montana | $138,418 | $66.55 |
| 26 | Maryland | $144,229 | $69.34 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $136,719 | $65.73 |
| 28 | Iowa | $133,137 | $64.01 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $130,544 | $62.76 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $124,882 | $60.04 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $129,289 | $62.16 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $137,635 | $66.17 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $125,910 | $60.53 |
| 34 | Georgia | $130,461 | $62.72 |
| 35 | Oregon | $125,627 | $60.40 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $127,672 | $61.38 |
| 37 | Michigan | $127,382 | $61.24 |
| 38 | Arizona | $125,087 | $60.14 |
| 39 | Washington | $124,581 | $59.89 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $126,761 | $60.94 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $111,065 | $53.40 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $113,005 | $54.33 |
| 43 | Kansas | $124,288 | $59.75 |
| 44 | Utah | $126,064 | $60.61 |
| 45 | Idaho | $126,149 | $60.65 |
| 46 | Florida | $119,678 | $57.54 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $79,274 | $38.11 |
| 48 | Texas | $108,630 | $52.23 |
| 49 | Missouri | $111,824 | $53.76 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $116,706 | $56.11 |
| 51 | Colorado | $108,588 | $52.21 |
The highest-paying cities for emergency management directors are Springfield, IL, Albany, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, IL | $190,532 | $91.60 |
| 2 | Albany, NY | $181,758 | $87.38 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $176,732 | $84.97 |
| 4 | Charleston, WV | $171,514 | $82.46 |
| 5 | Concord, NH | $171,457 | $82.43 |
| 6 | Dover, DE | $170,089 | $81.77 |
| 7 | Harrisburg, PA | $166,855 | $80.22 |
| 8 | Hartford, CT | $166,535 | $80.06 |
| 9 | Frankfort, KY | $166,397 | $80.00 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $162,194 | $77.98 |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $161,551 | $77.67 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $159,926 | $76.89 |
| 13 | Carson City, NV | $158,397 | $76.15 |
| 14 | Bismarck, ND | $155,166 | $74.60 |
| 15 | Helena, MT | $154,203 | $74.14 |
| 16 | Cheyenne, WY | $152,570 | $73.35 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $148,238 | $71.27 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $147,795 | $71.06 |
| 19 | McLean, VA | $144,056 | $69.26 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $143,710 | $69.09 |
An emergency management director's salary ranges from $72,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $358,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $358,000 | $29,833 | $172 |
| 75th Percentile | $245,000 | $20,417 | $118 |
| Average | $161,105 | $13,425 | $77 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
The highest paying types of emergency management directors are director of civil defense, co-owner & director, and hazard mitigation officer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Preparedness Coordinator | $62,028 | $5,169 | $29.82 | 30,022 |
| Emergency Planner | $61,090 | $5,091 | $29.37 | 36,135 |
| Emergency Management Coordinator | $61,574 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 92,723 |
Top companies hiring emergency management directors now:
Emergency management director salaries at Saint Francis Health System and St. Joseph's Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average emergency management director salary at companies like St. Joseph Healthcare and Emory Healthcare are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Francis Health System | $264,749 | $127.28 |
| 2 | St. Joseph's Health | $235,944 | $113.43 |
| 3 | St. Joseph Healthcare | $222,353 | $106.90 |
| 4 | Emory Healthcare | $221,254 | $106.37 |
| 5 | New York University | $211,798 | $101.83 |
| 6 | AtlantiCare | $203,353 | $97.77 |
| 7 | H Mart | $189,074 | $90.90 |
| 8 | Red Robin | $184,249 | $88.58 |
| 9 | Mission Regional Medical Center | $179,564 | $86.33 |
| 10 | Tyler Junior College | $167,265 | $80.42 |
| 11 | University of Florida | $164,937 | $79.30 |
| 12 | Under Armour | $154,894 | $74.47 |
| 13 | MUFG EMEA | $154,865 | $74.45 |
| 14 | Clinical Management Consultants | $154,164 | $74.12 |
| 15 | *n/a* | $152,247 | $73.20 |
| 16 | Cisco | $149,084 | $71.67 |
| 17 | Tenet Healthcare | $146,681 | $70.52 |
| 18 | New York State Restaurant Association | $143,956 | $69.21 |
| 19 | Minnesota Limited | $142,995 | $68.75 |
| 20 | Liberty Mutual Insurance | $140,158 | $67.38 |
The average emergency management director salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care | $160,713 | $77.27 |
| 2 | Energy | $155,155 | $74.59 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $128,788 | $61.92 |
| 4 | Finance | $121,634 | $58.48 |
| 5 | Government | $121,296 | $58.32 |
| 6 | Non Profits | $114,120 | $54.87 |
The average emergency management director salary has risen by $40,102 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average emergency management director earned $121,003 annually, but today, they earn $161,105 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for emergency management directors over the last decade.
Compare emergency management director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare emergency management director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $161,000 | $77.45 | +2.2% |
| 2024 | $158,000 | $75.77 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | $157,000 | $75.60 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $154,000 | $73.91 | +3.1% |
| 2021 | $149,000 | $71.61 | +4.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Spray | Director, Emerging Channels | Miami, FL | 06/19/2025 | $145,700 |
| City of Atlanta | Airport Director-Emergency Management IOC | Nunez, GA | 06/10/2025 | $143,208 |
| Citrus County Sheriff's Office | Emergency Management Director (External) | Noma, FL | 06/07/2025 | $90,847 |
| Developmental Associates | Emergency Management Director, Guilford County | Greensboro, NC | 06/06/2025 | $85,904 |
| Guilford County, Nc | Emergency Management Director | Greensboro, NC | 06/06/2025 | $85,904 |
| Volunteer Florida | Emergency Management Deputy Director | Tallahassee, FL | 05/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| The Coca-Cola Company | Director, Emerging Process Technologies | Atlanta, GA | 05/27/2025 | $149,000 |
| TRC Companies, Inc. | Emerging Contaminant Director | Boston, MA | 05/22/2025 | $150,000 |
| City of Atlanta | Airport Director-Emergency Management IOC | Nunez, GA | 05/12/2025 | $143,208 |
| BMO (Bank of Montreal | Managing Director, Group Manager-Emerging Middle Market | Industry, CA | 04/23/2025 | $153,600 |
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