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What is an emergency preparedness specialist and how to become one

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

Natural disaster accidents are somewhat unavoidable. Unfortunately, they cost people their lives and properties.

Health professionals are responsible for preparing ahead by having an emergency preparedness team to handle challenges that arise with these disasters.

An emergency preparedness specialist is an emergency health professional who works with other team members to plan and prepare ahead of natural disasters. In case there is an accident or fire outbreak, emergency preparedness specialists come together to devise methods and plan on how to help the victims. They also train other emergency professionals and public health workers on how to handle emergencies.

As an emergency preparedness specialist, you can make as much as $29.48 per hour or $61,312 per year.

Critical thinking, outstanding organizational skills, excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills, etc., are skills an emergency preparedness specialist must possess.

What general advice would you give to an emergency preparedness specialist?

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 Preparedness SpecialistUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $60,996

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.1

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.69%

Asian 2.59%

Black or African American 10.33%

Hispanic or Latino 12.69%

Unknown 5.36%

White 67.35%

Gender

female 39.44%

male 60.56%

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 preparedness specialist career paths

Key steps to become an emergency preparedness specialist

  1. Explore emergency preparedness specialist education requirements

    Most common emergency preparedness specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.8 %

    Associate

    14.8 %

    Master's

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific emergency preparedness specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Emergency Preparedness15.31%
    Public Health8.02%
    Emergency Operations6.46%
    Emergency Management6.32%
    Incident Management5.99%
  3. Complete relevant emergency preparedness specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New emergency preparedness specialists 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 specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real emergency preparedness specialist resumes.
  4. Research emergency preparedness specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Identify facilities and personnel resources within the state to achieve rapid effective dispensing of SNS.
    • Develop and revise comprehensive, NIMS compliant plans.
    • Train staff on new and emerging HAZMAT trends and tasks.
    • Conduct detailed EPA reports, labor, equipment cost/rental and recommendations.
  5. Apply for emergency preparedness specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an emergency preparedness specialist 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 preparedness specialist job

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Average emergency preparedness specialist salary

The average emergency preparedness specialist salary in the United States is $60,996 per year or $29 per hour. Emergency preparedness specialist salaries range between $30,000 and $121,000 per year.

Average emergency preparedness specialist salary
$60,996 Yearly
$29.32 hourly

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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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