Emergency Management Specialist

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.

O*NET definition of Emergency Management Directors (SOC 11-9161) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

All business operations specialists not listed separately.

O*NET definition of Business Operations Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-1199).

Education workers say the job requires

Share of surveyed workers in Emergency Management Directors (SOC 11-9161) naming each level as required to be hired, 22 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Emergency management directors typically need a bachelor's degree and many years of work experience in emergency response, disaster planning, or public administration.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Emergency Management Directors”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Emergency Management Directors (SOC 11-9161)

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Business Operations Specialists, All Other (SOC 13-1199)

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

State government pay plans

Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Emergency Management Specialist in 19 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.

Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Sources: 19 official state pay plans, linked in each row.

1. 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.4.6
2. Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.4.5
3. Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.4.4
4. Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.4.4
5. Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.4.4
6. 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.4.3
7. Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.4.1
8. Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters.4.1
9. Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.4.1
10. Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, response efforts, or plan implementation.4.0

The 10 most important of 21 core tasks for Emergency Management Directors, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.