Emergency management directors
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Emergency management directors in the United States earn a median salary of $93,330 per year — about $45 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 13K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +3%.
AI & Automation Risk
The role involves significant digital knowledge work, such as analyzing hazards, drafting complex response plans, and managing federal funding applications, all of which are highly susceptible to AI augmentation. However, the core of the job requires high-stakes real-time decision-making, physical presence at command centers during disasters, and intense interpersonal coordination with government officials and the public, providing a buffer against full automation.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $173,540 | Above avg (110.4) | $157,159 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $163,220 | Above avg (108.9) | $149,903 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $155,320 | Above avg (111.1) | $139,760 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $161,180 | Above avg (115.6) | $139,413 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $135,910 | Average (99.5) | $136,615 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $136,510 | Average (100.2) | $136,217 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $118,370 | Below avg (90.0) | $131,455 |
| Worcester, MA | $133,690 | Average (102.5) | $130,400 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $136,930 | Above avg (105.8) | $129,445 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $136,270 | Above avg (106.4) | $128,023 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $110,550 | Below avg (93.9) | $117,708 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $106,220 | Below avg (90.8) | $117,008 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $126,570 | Above avg (108.3) | $116,907 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $130,020 | Above avg (113.6) | $114,488 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $104,880 | Below avg (91.9) | $114,110 |