Emergency Management Directors Salary by State
The national median pay for emergency management directors is $93,330 a year. By state, it ranges from $48,650 in Mississippi to $184,350 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $54,210
- 25th percentile
- $67,910
- Median
- $93,330
- 75th percentile
- $126,490
- Top 10%
- $166,430
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 13,500 jobs.
Median pay in 46 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $184,350 | +98% | $89,990 | $195,190 | 150 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $145,550 | +56% | $72,480 | $202,090 | 170 |
| 3 | Washington | $130,780 | +40% | $94,020 | $184,740 | 180 |
| 4 | California | $129,910 | +39% | $90,130 | $199,020 | 1,170 |
| 5 | Colorado | $129,660 | +39% | $88,200 | $166,810 | Not published |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $123,250 | +32% | $81,100 | $195,190 | 220 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $120,990 | +30% | $80,770 | $164,110 | 490 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $113,380 | +21% | $74,880 | $174,880 | 180 |
| 9 | Oregon | $110,720 | +19% | $84,200 | $162,380 | 120 |
| 10 | Maryland | $107,200 | +15% | $68,600 | $176,480 | 150 |
| 11 | Minnesota | $106,880 | +15% | $73,880 | $163,960 | 190 |
| 12 | Nevada | $105,570 | +13% | $69,360 | $206,420 | 60 |
| 13 | Alaska | $101,850 | +9% | $62,140 | $175,270 | 120 |
| 14 | Virginia | $99,860 | +7% | $67,190 | $179,140 | 450 |
| 15 | Idaho | $99,720 | +7% | $77,310 | $137,000 | 80 |
| 16 | Florida | $99,020 | +6% | $55,230 | $164,260 | 720 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $96,550 | +3% | $58,900 | $144,000 | 180 |
| 18 | Ohio | $94,690 | +1% | $54,090 | $193,060 | 250 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $93,840 | +1% | $66,800 | $129,980 | 420 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $93,680 | 0% | $57,910 | $143,460 | 330 |
| 21 | Texas | $93,570 | 0% | $58,320 | $163,820 | 1,210 |
| 22 | New York | $92,570 | −1% | $67,120 | $188,910 | 790 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $89,740 | −4% | $58,650 | $138,610 | 120 |
| 24 | Michigan | $87,880 | −6% | $57,650 | $135,810 | 220 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $87,690 | −6% | $72,160 | $156,310 | 30 |
| 26 | Utah | $84,860 | −9% | $60,950 | $124,870 | 170 |
| 27 | Maine | $84,050 | −10% | $57,590 | $124,970 | 80 |
| 28 | Illinois | $83,820 | −10% | $44,110 | $164,100 | 450 |
| 29 | Georgia | $83,200 | −11% | $50,110 | $152,120 | 430 |
| 30 | Arizona | $81,970 | −12% | $60,280 | $145,990 | 160 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $81,800 | −12% | $55,780 | $139,420 | 370 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $81,550 | −13% | $54,800 | $135,870 | 520 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $77,420 | −17% | $57,470 | $117,560 | 50 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $77,260 | −17% | $50,270 | $114,940 | 240 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $76,640 | −18% | $62,120 | $107,440 | 80 |
| 36 | Missouri | $75,660 | −19% | $37,440 | $148,870 | 310 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $74,730 | −20% | $39,710 | $109,210 | 150 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $74,290 | −20% | $61,620 | $142,820 | 90 |
| 39 | Iowa | $73,700 | −21% | $45,450 | $109,790 | 130 |
| 40 | Kansas | $68,000 | −27% | $48,970 | $113,500 | 140 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $67,180 | −28% | $48,640 | $97,850 | 120 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $64,370 | −31% | $49,920 | $108,610 | 50 |
| 43 | Montana | $62,770 | −33% | $51,290 | $100,640 | 90 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $60,990 | −35% | $39,580 | $106,130 | 310 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $60,460 | −35% | $36,630 | $97,160 | 120 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $50,180 | −46% | $35,280 | $82,240 | 160 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $48,650 | −48% | $38,250 | $96,680 | 230 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Emergency Management Directors salary questions
Which state pays emergency management directors the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $184,350 a year (+98% vs. the national median of $93,330). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays emergency management directors the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $48,650 a year (−48% vs. national).
Where do most emergency management directors work?
Texas has the most jobs, about 1,210, with a median of $93,570.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.