Emergency Management Specialist Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Numerous schools provide programs in relevant topics such as public administration, public safety, the technical or physical sciences and urban planning.
The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) is operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The EMI Independent Study program consists of self-paced courses developed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and also for the general public.
Training and Education
Work experience in a related occupation is often necessary for working in the field. About 49% of employees have earned a degree. Some college, below a 4-year degree, is sufficient for 33% of emergency management specialists. Workers with only a high school education represent about 18% of all.
Job Overview
Emergency management specialists oversee crisis management activities and disaster response. Emergency management specialists help out with earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, hazardous material spills and other types of disasters. They also make emergency plans and procedures. Emergency management specialists offer disaster preparedness training for natural, technological, and wartime disasters.
Job Requirements
Some employers may require emergency management specialists to have a degree in public safety, public administration, the technical or physical sciences, urban planning or a related subject. Also, in some states particular emergency management positions require certification.
Nature of Work
- Provide operating procedures to be used for disasters or emergencies
- Apply for federal funding for emergency management related needs
- Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizen groups
- Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities
Area Job Conditions
Employees appear most common in Kennewick (Washington), Harrisburg (Pennsylvania), and Jackson (Mississippi), and least common in Santa Ana (California), Denver (Colorado), and Dallas (Texas).
Oakland (California), Denver (Colorado), and Norwich (Connecticut) offer the highest pay. Gulfport (Mississippi), Louisville (Kentucky), and Des Moines (Iowa) offer the lowest salaries.
Part-Time and Self Employment
Government statistics report that 10% of emergency management specialists are employed part-time.
Career Videos
Emergency Management Specialists by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $57,000 | 90 | +213% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $48,000 | 30 | +252% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $63,000 | 150 | +45% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $45,000 | 50 | +170% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | $85,000 | 40 | -30% |
| Riverside | $65,000 | 50 | -30% |
| Sacramento | $69,000 | 80 | +62% |
| San Diego | $71,000 | 70 | -6% |
| San Francisco | $80,000 | 50 | -10% |
| San Luis Obispo | $72,000 | 30 | +489% |
| Santa Ana | $75,000 | 50 | -41% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $76,000 | 40 | -43% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $62,000 | 60 | +150% |
| Hartford | $66,000 | 80 | +150% |
| Norwich | $78,000 | 50 | +672% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $76,000 | 250 | +94% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | $61,000 | 60 | +9% |
| Orlando | $63,000 | 40 | -31% |
| Tallahassee | $45,000 | 60 | +597% |
| Tampa | $56,000 | 40 | -41% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $57,000 | 120 | -9% |
| Augusta | 40 | +264% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $51,000 | 50 | +109% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $50,000 | 160 | -25% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $46,000 | 50 | +1% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $42,000 | 40 | +124% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $36,000 | 40 | +17% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $50,000 | 40 | +99% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $58,000 | 160 | +121% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $73,000 | 110 | +15% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $69,000 | 60 | +53% |
| Warren | $73,000 | 40 | -38% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $68,000 | 70 | -30% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $39,000 | 50 | +791% |
| Jackson | 130 | +847% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $57,000 | 70 | +22% |
| St Louis | $46,000 | 150 | +99% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $47,000 | 40 | +363% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | 60 | +17% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $53,000 | 70 | +139% |
| Edison | $51,000 | 200 | +249% |
| Newark | $53,000 | 190 | +239% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $55,000 | 50 | +108% |
| New York | $60,000 | 260 | -9% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $64,000 | 40 | -19% |
| Durham | $44,000 | 90 | +508% |
| Greensboro | $47,000 | 40 | +97% |
| Hickory | $44,000 | 40 | +364% |
| Raleigh | $43,000 | 100 | +255% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $41,000 | 40 | -31% |
| Columbus | $63,000 | 170 | +228% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $63,000 | 80 | +156% |
| Tulsa | $61,000 | 40 | +67% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $73,000 | 60 | +4% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $43,000 | 40 | +117% |
| Harrisburg | $47,000 | 200 | +1060% |
| Pittsburgh | $49,000 | 80 | +26% |
| Scranton | $46,000 | 50 | +259% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $69,000 | 50 | +60% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $58,000 | 40 | +153% |
| Columbia | $44,000 | 50 | +161% |
| Greenville | $56,000 | 50 | +202% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $73,000 | 120 | +557% |
| Nashville | $48,000 | 100 | +136% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $64,000 | 50 | -57% |
| Fort Worth | $61,000 | 50 | +4% |
| Houston | $63,000 | 130 | -10% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $59,000 | 70 | +102% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $70,000 | 100 | +202% |
| Virginia Beach | $58,000 | 120 | +187% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $72,000 | 70 | +1443% |
| Seattle | $65,000 | 80 | +0% |
| Tacoma | $56,000 | 110 | +654% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $52,000 | 40 | +120% |
| Milwaukee | $59,000 | 80 | +70% |