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What is an emergency preparedness coordinator and how to become one
An emergency preparedness coordinator, sometimes called an emergency management coordinator, works on contingency plans that will protect a community in case of an emergency. They can work for local governments, healthcare systems, and any other organizations interested in preparing for emergencies. Emergency preparedness coordinators develop plans for keeping people safe during all matters of emergencies. They make sure that a community has the resources in place to react to an emergency, such as shelter locations. They train key employees in emergency preparedness and safety regulations, for example in dealing with Hazmat material safely. After a disaster occurs, they analyze any failures in the response plan in order to get ready for the next one.
But before someone can start applying to vacancies for emergency preparedness coordinators, they usually need a bachelor's or master's degree and some years of experience working with emergency situations, for example as an EMT.
More and more organizations are invested in preparing for emergencies. The demand for emergency preparedness coordinators is set to grow 5% by 2028 and they earn solid average salaries of $60,907 a year.
What general advice would you give to an emergency preparedness coordinator?
Forrest Kuiper
Fire Chief, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Avg. Salary $62,028
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 3%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.50%
Asian 3.98%
Black or African American 8.15%
Hispanic or Latino 12.20%
Unknown 5.00%
White 69.17%
Genderfemale 47.96%
male 52.04%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Emergency preparedness coordinator career paths
Key steps to become an emergency preparedness coordinator
Explore emergency preparedness coordinator education requirements
Start to develop specific emergency preparedness coordinator skills
Skills Percentages Emergency Preparedness 17.49% Emergency Management 6.99% Public Safety 6.42% Disaster Preparedness 5.04% Incident Command System 4.70% Complete relevant emergency preparedness coordinator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency preparedness 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 preparedness coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency preparedness coordinator resumes.Research emergency preparedness coordinator duties and responsibilities
- Identify facilities and personnel resources within the state to achieve rapid effective dispensing of SNS.
- Engage OSHA subject matter experts to ensure EOC operations are OSHA compliant.
- Facilitate interagency cooperation to implement and validate emergency response plans in accordance with NIMS.
- Provide technical assistance to essential personnel emergency crisis management systems, emergency notification systems, software systems utilize by the EOC.
Apply for emergency preparedness coordinator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an emergency preparedness coordinator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first emergency preparedness coordinator job
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Average emergency preparedness coordinator salary
The average emergency preparedness coordinator salary in the United States is $62,028 per year or $30 per hour. Emergency preparedness coordinator salaries range between $32,000 and $116,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do emergency preparedness coordinators rate their job?
Emergency preparedness coordinator reviews
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.
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
