In 2023, the United States faced a record number of billion-dollar natural disasters. Severe storms accounted for the most, followed by tropical cyclones, wildfires, and winter storms, according to USAFacts. When these catastrophes hit, response teams were dispersed to offer physical, financial, and emotional assistance.
Emergency management directors coordinate response efforts to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from events like these as well as many other types of crises, ranging from disease outbreaks to widespread utility outages. They play a critical role in minimizing the impact of emergencies while remaining calm under intense pressure. Their work is a cornerstone of the nation's broader health security efforts, protecting communities from both natural and human-made threats.
Some directors begin their careers with a bachelor’s degree in a related field and relevant experience. However, earning a master’s degree can help aspiring emergency management directors gain advanced crisis leadership and emergency preparedness skills that can open the door to senior-level positions.
What Is an Emergency Management Director?
This role goes by several titles depending on the organization, including health security director, emergency preparedness coordinator, and emergency management director. This overlap in titles reflects how closely the field is tied to health security, as directors are often responsible for coordinating medical resources and response during disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this occupation under the title emergency management director, which is the title referenced in the salary and outlook data throughout this article.
Emergency management directors oversee and coordinate preparedness and response programs for government agencies, medical facilities, private companies, nonprofit organizations, and schools. They manage emergency response teams, which can include nurses, emergency medical technicians, public safety personnel, and disaster recovery workers. These professionals work in offices, but they may also travel to meet with companies, groups, and agencies.
Some of the top skills required to succeed as an emergency management director are communication, information technology, collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, organization, creativity, and leadership skills.
Emergency Management Director Duties
Emergency management directors’ duties can vary depending on the needs of their employers, but their common responsibilities include:
- Managing resources and budgets for emergency response efforts
- Reviewing, suggesting, and revising current emergency plans and policies
- Training team members on policies, emergency response plans, and the use of safety equipment using simulations and other training methods
- Organizing and assessing medical supplies, such as first aid kits
- Applying for federal funding, such as grants
- Inspecting, maintaining, and repairing emergency response facilities
- Coordinating and distributing shared community resources
- Leading communication on emergency response efforts to the media, stakeholders, and the community
- Supporting community health security by coordinating medical resources and response during public health emergencies
Steps to Become an Emergency Management Director
While there is no one way to become an emergency management director, formal education and experience are the most important prerequisites.
1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum education required for this role, and relevant majors include public health, emergency management, business, public safety, and public administration. Directors in the private sector may need a bachelor’s degree in information systems administration or computer science.
Small municipalities may hire directors with a high school diploma who have significant professional experience.
2. Gain Practical Experience
Prospective directors need real-world experience. Volunteering or working in law enforcement, firefighting, public health, or disaster response can provide individuals with suitable practical experience. Some undergraduate programs offer internships with disaster response agencies.
3. Obtain a Professional Certification
Some states require emergency management directors to be certified, while others make this credential voluntary. The International Association of Emergency Managers offers the associate emergency manager (AEM) and the certified emergency manager (CEM) credentials.
The AEM credential requires a reference letter, 100 hours of emergency management training, 100 hours of general management training, and a passing score on a 120-question, multiple-choice certification exam.
The CEM credential requires three years of emergency management work experience, proof of hands-on contributions, and a bachelor’s degree.
4. Pursue Advanced Education
Earning an advanced degree focused on health security can sharpen an aspiring director's ability to lead through complex crises. While not always required, earning a master’s degree can provide aspiring directors with an opportunity to focus their career interests. A degree program like a Master of Science in Health Security program can help individuals explore the dangers of disasters, ways to develop strategic response plans, and how to apply science in fighting public health challenges.
Salary Information
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for emergency management directors was $93,330 as of May 2025. Top-paying sectors include:
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: $136,930
- State, local, and private hospitals: $100,530
- State colleges, universities, and professional schools: $96,680
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals: $84,630
- State government, excluding education and hospitals: $79,190
Job Outlook
Positions for emergency management directors are projected to increase by 4 percent between 2025 and 2035, according to the BLS. About 1,100 openings are projected each year, on average, over the decade. This growth is driven in part by heightened national and local investment in health security following recent public health crises. Growth reflects increased organizational need for emergency assistance and workforce replacement needs.
The BLS lists the following as the largest employer categories for health security directors:
- Local government: 55 percent
- State government: 15 percent
- Hospitals: 5 percent
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: 4 percent
- State colleges, universities, and professional schools: 2 percent
Advance Your Health Security Career With a Master’s Degree
A career as an emergency management director can be both challenging and rewarding. While a bachelor’s degree can provide entry to the field, a graduate degree not only expands an individual’s expertise, it can also improve their salary potential and job opportunities.
Tulane University’s Online Master of Science in Health Security program combines self-paced and live coursework, case studies, and research assignments. Students learn how to draft policies, create response plans, deal with the health security cycle, and recognize the impact of disasters on communities. Learn how Tulane can prepare you for an emergency management career working to help keep people safe in times of crisis.
Learn more about the MS in Health Security
What is Health Security?
Recommended Readings
What Can You Do With a Health Security Degree?
Sources:
Career Girls, Emergency Management Director
Indeed, “What Does an Emergency Management Director Do?”
International Association of Emergency Managers, Certification: Getting Started
National Registry of Environmental Professionals, “Emergency Managers: Everything You Need to Know”
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Emergency Management Directors
USAFacts, “Are Major Natural Disasters Increasing?”
ZipRecruiter, What Is an Emergency Management Director and How to Become One
This article was revised in September 2026 to reflect the most recent median salary data reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and to update program references following Tulane's renaming of its Disaster Management program to Health Security.