What Does it Take to Be an Emergency Management Director?
Example of Emergency Management Director Job Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.
Life As an Emergency Management Director: What Do They Do?
- Study emergency plans used elsewhere to gather information for plan development.
- Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizens’ groups to provide information on emergency plans and their implementation processes.
- Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
- Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs to be addressed in disaster planning or provide technical support to others conducting such surveys.
- Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
- Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
Featured schools near , edit
What an Emergency Management Director Should Know
When polled, Emergency Management Directors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Other Emergency Management Director Job Titles
- Disaster Response Director
- Emergency Services Director
- Homeland Security Program Specialist
- Disaster Recovery Specialist
- Civil Defense Director
Emergency Management Director Employment Estimates
There were about 10,100 jobs for Emergency Management Director in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 800 new jobs for Emergency Management Director by 2026. The BLS estimates 900 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Emergency Management Director are Arizona, Utah, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Wyoming, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Emergency Management Director
The average yearly salary of an Emergency Management Director ranges between $40,460 and $141,130.

Emergency Management Directors who work in District of Columbia, California, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Emergency Management Directors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $69,060 |
Alaska | $85,120 |
Arkansas | $47,680 |
California | $118,320 |
Colorado | $87,060 |
Connecticut | $91,120 |
District of Columbia | $119,820 |
Florida | $83,580 |
Georgia | $73,090 |
Hawaii | $81,660 |
Idaho | $86,000 |
Illinois | $81,830 |
Indiana | $52,810 |
Iowa | $69,300 |
Kansas | $55,780 |
Kentucky | $50,490 |
Louisiana | $83,610 |
Maine | $57,200 |
Maryland | $104,770 |
Massachusetts | $92,480 |
Michigan | $72,500 |
Minnesota | $84,990 |
Mississippi | $51,200 |
Missouri | $63,690 |
Montana | $52,740 |
Nebraska | $60,330 |
New Hampshire | $63,780 |
New Jersey | $93,410 |
New Mexico | $95,580 |
New York | $99,960 |
North Carolina | $74,600 |
North Dakota | $69,480 |
Ohio | $75,530 |
Oklahoma | $53,660 |
Oregon | $81,460 |
Pennsylvania | $69,850 |
Rhode Island | $86,710 |
South Carolina | $65,130 |
South Dakota | $49,760 |
Tennessee | $87,350 |
Texas | $89,810 |
Utah | $60,820 |
Vermont | $82,210 |
Virginia | $89,580 |
Washington | $113,860 |
West Virginia | $73,390 |
Wisconsin | $74,140 |
Wyoming | $57,810 |
What Tools do Emergency Management Directors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Emergency Management Directors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphics software
- Statistical software
- McAfee
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Desktop publishing software
- Relational database software
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- MapInfo Professional
- SunGard Assurance
How to Become an Emergency Management Director
What education or degrees do I need to become an Emergency Management Director?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Emergency Management Director?

Emergency Management Directors Sector

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Related Careers
Those interested in being an Emergency Management Director may also be interested in:
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
- Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors
References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs.
Visit School