Top 15 cities for emergency management directors by average salary
| San Jose, CA | $189,540 |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $163,310 |
| Washington, DC | $155,300 |
| Seattle, WA | $152,060 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $141,660 |
| Riverside, CA | $138,880 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $135,810 |
| Boston, MA | $134,620 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $132,160 |
| San Diego, CA | $130,730 |
| Portland, OR | $129,930 |
| Denver, CO | $129,720 |
| Buffalo, NY | $129,250 |
| Worcester, MA | $128,720 |
| Miami, FL | $124,080 |
Map: Emergency Management Directors salary by metro area
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Emergency Management Directors salary by state
Washington, D.C. pays emergency management directors the most statewide, $165,390 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | $165,390 | $184,350 | 150 | 1 | $155,300 | $155,300 |
| New Mexico | $140,730 | $145,550 | 170 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| California | $138,120 | $129,910 | 1,170 | 6 | $189,540 | $116,640 |
| Washington | $136,430 | $130,780 | 180 | 1 | $152,060 | $152,060 |
| Massachusetts | $131,520 | $123,250 | 220 | 2 | $134,620 | $128,720 |
| Colorado | $125,080 | $129,660 | n/a | 1 | $129,720 | $129,720 |
| Oregon | $119,710 | $110,720 | 120 | 1 | $129,930 | $129,930 |
| Connecticut | $118,870 | $113,380 | 180 | 1 | $115,840 | $115,840 |
| Nevada | $118,170 | $105,570 | 60 | 1 | $135,810 | $135,810 |
| New Jersey | $118,090 | $120,990 | 490 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Maryland | $117,800 | $107,200 | 150 | 1 | $119,410 | $119,410 |
| New York | $113,700 | $92,570 | 790 | 5 | $129,250 | $95,220 |
| Virginia | $112,810 | $99,860 | 450 | 2 | $110,170 | $100,860 |
| Minnesota | $111,800 | $106,880 | 190 | 1 | $123,130 | $123,130 |
| Alaska | $111,240 | $101,850 | 120 | 1 | $109,620 | $109,620 |
| Alabama | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $108,210 | $108,210 |
| Rhode Island | $107,470 | $87,690 | 30 | 1 | $107,410 | $107,410 |
| Idaho | $107,170 | $99,720 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Florida | $106,710 | $99,020 | 720 | 6 | $132,160 | $93,130 |
| Ohio | $103,520 | $94,690 | 250 | 1 | $92,820 | $92,820 |
| Texas | $102,870 | $93,570 | 1,210 | 5 | $115,530 | $97,690 |
| Louisiana | $98,950 | $96,550 | 180 | 2 | $111,270 | $107,830 |
| North Carolina | $98,680 | $93,840 | 420 | 3 | $111,830 | $102,940 |
| South Carolina | $97,190 | $93,680 | 330 | 2 | $108,160 | $84,550 |
| Nebraska | $96,940 | $89,740 | 120 | 1 | $104,610 | $104,610 |
| Illinois | $96,410 | $83,820 | 450 | 1 | $100,660 | $100,660 |
| Michigan | $93,750 | $87,880 | 220 | 1 | $110,130 | $110,130 |
| Maine | $93,350 | $84,050 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $93,100 | $81,970 | 160 | 1 | $95,070 | $95,070 |
| Georgia | $92,770 | $83,200 | 430 | 1 | $107,850 | $107,850 |
| Hawaii | $91,460 | $74,290 | 90 | 1 | $90,770 | $90,770 |
| Tennessee | $88,970 | $81,800 | 370 | 3 | $103,310 | $89,820 |
| Utah | $88,350 | $84,860 | 170 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Pennsylvania | $87,700 | $81,550 | 520 | 4 | $111,900 | $86,700 |
| New Hampshire | $86,130 | $77,420 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $83,400 | $75,660 | 310 | 3 | $103,710 | $81,860 |
| North Dakota | $81,330 | $76,640 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $80,510 | $77,260 | 240 | 1 | $95,890 | $95,890 |
| Iowa | $76,810 | $73,700 | 130 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kansas | $75,840 | $68,000 | 140 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Kentucky | $74,990 | $74,730 | 150 | 1 | $81,680 | $81,680 |
| Montana | $71,200 | $62,770 | 90 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wyoming | $71,090 | $64,370 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $70,400 | $60,990 | 310 | 2 | $84,530 | $70,330 |
| South Dakota | $70,270 | $67,180 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| West Virginia | $67,620 | $60,460 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Mississippi | $61,150 | $48,650 | 230 | 1 | $52,430 | $52,430 |
| Arkansas | $58,450 | $50,180 | 160 | 1 | $65,400 | $65,400 |
Emergency Management Directors salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $189,540 | $173,540 | $91.12 | 50 |
| San Francisco, CA | $163,310 | $161,180 | $78.52 | 150 |
| Washington, DC | $155,300 | $163,220 | $74.66 | 310 |
| Seattle, WA | $152,060 | $155,320 | $73.11 | 90 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $141,660 | $130,020 | $68.10 | 300 |
| Riverside, CA | $138,880 | $136,270 | $66.77 | 90 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $135,810 | $136,510 | $65.29 | 30 |
| Boston, MA | $134,620 | $126,570 | $64.72 | 160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $132,160 | $135,910 | $63.54 | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $130,730 | $117,070 | $62.85 | 60 |
| Portland, OR | $129,930 | $119,870 | $62.47 | 50 |
| Denver, CO | $129,720 | $136,930 | $62.36 | n/a |
| Buffalo, NY | $129,250 | $97,350 | $62.14 | n/a |
| Worcester, MA | $128,720 | $133,690 | $61.89 | 30 |
| Miami, FL | $124,080 | $130,020 | $59.66 | 200 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $123,130 | $111,950 | $59.20 | 110 |
| New York, NY | $121,350 | $100,980 | $58.34 | 630 |
| Baltimore, MD | $119,410 | $105,230 | $57.41 | 60 |
| Sacramento, CA | $116,640 | $107,430 | $56.08 | 270 |
| Hartford, CT | $115,840 | $111,350 | $55.69 | 110 |
| Houston, TX | $115,530 | $109,140 | $55.54 | 280 |
| Beaumont, TX | $115,130 | $118,370 | $55.35 | 40 |
| Austin, TX | $112,090 | $100,920 | $53.89 | 120 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $111,900 | $103,120 | $53.80 | 170 |
| Durham, NC | $111,830 | $100,830 | $53.77 | 30 |
| New Orleans, LA | $111,270 | $103,810 | $53.49 | 50 |
| Syracuse, NY | $110,510 | $97,960 | $53.13 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $110,170 | $97,990 | $52.97 | 60 |
| Detroit, MI | $110,130 | $109,140 | $52.95 | 60 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $110,010 | $110,550 | $52.89 | 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | $109,620 | $88,970 | $52.70 | 60 |
| Birmingham, AL | $108,210 | $88,510 | $52.03 | 50 |
| Charleston, SC | $108,160 | $94,330 | $52.00 | 50 |
| Dallas, TX | $108,130 | $96,650 | $51.99 | 300 |
| Atlanta, GA | $107,850 | $103,830 | $51.85 | 190 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $107,830 | $106,220 | $51.84 | 30 |
| Providence, RI | $107,410 | $97,610 | $51.64 | 40 |
| Raleigh, NC | $107,300 | $104,620 | $51.59 | 70 |
| Omaha, NE | $104,610 | $104,880 | $50.29 | 40 |
| Kansas City, MO | $103,710 | $93,260 | $49.86 | 70 |
| Nashville, TN | $103,310 | $93,260 | $49.67 | 120 |
| Charlotte, NC | $102,940 | $101,300 | $49.49 | 90 |
| Tampa, FL | $102,030 | $98,830 | $49.06 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO | $101,810 | $83,390 | $48.95 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $100,860 | $92,940 | $48.49 | 110 |
| Chicago, IL | $100,660 | $101,130 | $48.40 | 240 |
| Orlando, FL | $100,150 | $93,190 | $48.15 | 80 |
| Rochester, NY | $99,960 | $85,220 | $48.06 | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | $97,690 | $89,200 | $46.97 | 100 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $95,890 | $90,780 | $46.10 | 30 |
| Albany, NY | $95,220 | $82,640 | $45.78 | 120 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $95,070 | $85,760 | $45.71 | 110 |
| Sarasota, FL | $93,130 | $100,150 | $44.78 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $92,820 | $88,040 | $44.63 | 50 |
| Allentown, PA | $92,670 | $88,890 | $44.55 | 30 |
| Honolulu, HI | $90,770 | $71,000 | $43.64 | 60 |
| Knoxville, TN | $90,520 | $85,480 | $43.52 | 50 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $90,000 | $90,170 | $43.27 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN | $89,820 | $86,670 | $43.18 | 70 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $86,700 | $76,940 | $41.68 | 110 |
| Columbia, SC | $84,550 | $71,110 | $40.65 | 90 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $84,530 | $71,330 | $40.64 | 80 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $81,860 | $70,750 | $39.36 | 50 |
| Louisville, KY | $81,680 | $78,050 | $39.27 | 40 |
| Tulsa, OK | $70,330 | $65,460 | $33.81 | 60 |
| Little Rock, AR | $65,400 | $56,890 | $31.44 | 30 |
| Jackson, MS | $52,430 | $42,970 | $25.21 | 100 |
Related jobs
- Construction ManagersU.S. average $124,360
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryU.S. average $116,100
- Education Administrators, PostsecondaryU.S. average $126,540
- Education Administrators, All OtherU.S. average $101,900
- Architectural and Engineering ManagersU.S. average $181,540
- Food Service ManagersU.S. average $74,880
- Medical and Health Services ManagersU.S. average $140,970
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersU.S. average $83,710
Emergency Management Directors salary: questions
Where do emergency management directors make the most money?
In San Jose, CA, with an average of $189,540 a year, among the 67 metro areas we cover.
What is the average emergency management directors salary in the U.S.?
$102,420 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $93,330, so half of emergency management directors earn more than that and half less.
What salary should emergency management directors ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of emergency management directors nationwide earn between $67,910 (25th percentile) and $126,490 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays emergency management directors the most?
Washington, D.C., with a statewide average of $165,390 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is emergency management directors pay the lowest?
Jackson, MS, at $52,430 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-9161.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.