What is an Emergency Management Director?

Occupation Description 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.

Emergency Management Director Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
• Propose alteration of emergency response procedures based on regulatory changes, technological changes, or knowledge gained from outcomes of previous emergency situations.
• 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.
• Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
• Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Emergency Management Director?

These are the skills Emergency Management Directors say are the most useful in their careers:

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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.

Types of Emergency Management Director Jobs

• Emergency Management System Director (EMS Director)
• Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist
• Hostage Negotiator
• Emergency Management Consultant
• Disaster Response Director

Job Demand for Emergency Management Directors

In the United States, there were 10,100 jobs for Emergency Management Director in 2016. 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.

Average Emergency Management Directors Salary

The typical yearly salary for Emergency Management Directors is somewhere 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 each U.S. state?

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

Becoming an Emergency Management Director

Individuals working as an Emergency Management Director have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become an Emergency Management Director?

Where Emergency Management Directors Work

Below are examples of industries where Emergency Management Directors work:

Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming an Emergency Management Director might also be interested in the following careers:

• First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
• Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Directors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.