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What is an emergency services director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

There's no time to argue about staffing or procedures during an emergency. All of the logistical workings of an emergency services department, such as an emergency room in a hospital or a fire department, need to be worked out ahead of time. The emergency services director is usually in charge of making sure that an organization runs smoothly so that other personnel can focus on doing their jobs.

An emergency services director basically takes care of all of the behind the scenes work of an emergency department. They hire new staff, schedule staff so there are no shortages, and oversee the other workers. They develop procedures so that all staff are on the same page and able to work efficiently. The director also manages the budget.

It isn't easy to do the job of an emergency services director. They have a lot of responsibility and often work long hours to make sure that the job gets done. It also isn't easy to become one. They usually need to have years of experience as an emergency services worker and sometimes even an advanced degree in a field such as nursing.

What general advice would you give to an emergency services director?

Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN

Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/Coach

A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.
ScoreEmergency Services DirectorUS Average
Salary
8.5

Avg. Salary $135,799

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 7.40%

Black or African American 11.04%

Hispanic or Latino 14.85%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.70%

Gender

female 42.36%

male 57.64%

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
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Emergency services director career paths

Key steps to become an emergency services director

  1. Explore emergency services director education requirements

    Most common emergency services director degrees

    Bachelor's

    51.5 %

    Master's

    19.9 %

    Associate

    18.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific emergency services director skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patient Care16.63%
    Patients13.53%
    Emergency Services10.52%
    Acls6.98%
    Employee Engagement5.57%
  3. Complete relevant emergency services director training and internships

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

    • Manage a team of 33 FTE's and 20 per diem staff members
    • Activate and manage the EOC for emergencies relate to weather, flooding, hurricanes, national security events, etc.
    • Manage the strategic oversight and operational performance for the department.
    • Manage PPS details efficiently to ensure high quality clinical care while maximizing reimbursement for the facility.
  5. Get emergency services director experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become an emergency services director. The most common roles before becoming an emergency services director include staff nurse, registered nurse team lead and nurse manager.
  6. Prepare your emergency services director resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your emergency services director 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 services director 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 services director resume templates

    Build a professional emergency services director 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 services director resume.
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
    Emergency Services Director Resume
  7. Apply for emergency services director jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an emergency services director 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 services director job

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Average emergency services director salary

The average emergency services director salary in the United States is $135,799 per year or $65 per hour. Emergency services director salaries range between $81,000 and $227,000 per year.

Average emergency services director salary
$135,799 Yearly
$65.29 hourly

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Emergency services director reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Antigienic people, irresponsible people, lazy employees


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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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