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.

What Do Emergency Management Directors Do On a Daily Basis?

• Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops related to emergency management to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management specialists.
• 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.
• Inspect facilities and equipment, such as emergency management centers and communications equipment, to determine their operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations.
• Apply for federal funding for emergency-management-related needs and administer and report on the progress of such grants.
• Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizens’ groups to provide information on emergency plans and their implementation processes.
• Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.

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.

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.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Homeland Security Program Specialist
• Emergency Management Coordinator
• Public Safety Director
• Disaster Recovery Specialist
• Emergency Services Director

Is There Going to be Demand for Emergency Management Directors?

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 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 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 & Technology 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 do I Become an Emergency Management Director?

Are there Emergency Management Directors education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Emergency Management Directors Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Emergency Management Directors 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:

• 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.