Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Emergency Management Director is a professional role within the function in the Management job family.
Typical experience: 12 to 18 years at the Director level, per widely used corporate career-level norms (Radford, Mercer, and SHRM career-level frameworks). Actual expectations vary by function, industry, and company size.
Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
Top skills:Service OrientationSpeakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingSocial PerceptivenessReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Emergency Management Director pay by experience level
Entry level$56,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$70,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$96,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$131,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$172,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,000
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Emergency Management Director salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
9,740 workers
$98,500
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
7,500 workers
$97,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
2,010 workers
$89,500
Hospitals
710 workers
$113,500
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
670 workers
$114,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
600 workers
$151,000
Educational Services
580 workers
$110,000
Hospitals, Privately Owned
570 workers
$114,500
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
370 workers
$114,500
Social Assistance
350 workers
$109,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Executive exemption
Managerial roles at this level typically qualify for the Executive exemption because they customarily direct the work of two or more full-time employees and have authority over hiring, firing, or promotion decisions. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Emergency Management Director pays 26% below the average across 58 roles in the Management job family (family average $144,000).
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Emergency Management Director make?
The average base salary for a Emergency Management Director in the United States is $106,000 per year, or about $50.96 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $70,500 and $131,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $144,000 across 58 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Emergency Management Director pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
