California Median
$129,910
per year
Hourly Rate
$62.46
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+39% vs US median
US median $93,330
State Rank
#4 of 47
1,170 employed here
How much does an Emergency Management Director make in California?
Emergency Management Directors in California take home a median of $129,910 annually — roughly $62.46 an hour — which runs 39% above the national median of $93,330.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $90,130 while the top 10% make $199,020 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $105,320 and $163,130 a year.
Emergency Management Director salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,130 | $43.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $105,320 | $50.63 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $129,910 | $62.46 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $163,130 | $78.43 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,020 | $95.68 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 47 states and territories for Emergency Management Director pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Emergency Management Director salary in other states
District of Columbia $184,350New Mexico $145,550Washington $130,780Colorado $129,660Massachusetts $123,250New Jersey $120,990Connecticut $113,380Oregon $110,720Maryland $107,200Minnesota $106,880Nevada $105,570Alaska $101,850Virginia $99,860Idaho $99,720Florida $99,020Louisiana $96,550Ohio $94,690North Carolina $93,840South Carolina $93,680Texas $93,570New York $92,570Nebraska $89,740Michigan $87,880Rhode Island $87,690Utah $84,860Maine $84,050Illinois $83,820Georgia $83,200Arizona $81,970Tennessee $81,800Pennsylvania $81,550New Hampshire $77,420Wisconsin $77,260North Dakota $76,640Missouri $75,660Kentucky $74,730Hawaii $74,290Iowa $73,700Kansas $68,000South Dakota $67,180Wyoming $64,370Montana $62,770Oklahoma $60,990West Virginia $60,460Arkansas $50,180Mississippi $48,650
Working as an Emergency Management Director in California
Nationally, about 14,000 people work as Emergency Management Directors in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($129,910) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Emergency Management Director make in California?
The median Emergency Management Director salary in California is $129,910 per year, or about $62.46 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $90,130 at the entry level to $199,020 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Emergency Management Directors about 39% more than the national median of $93,330. California ranks 4th out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Emergency Management Directors?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $129,910 a year. About 1,170 Emergency Management Directors are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Emergency Management Director salary report
Related salaries
$69,390
median pay · 238,000 employed
$125,470
median pay · 39,000 employed
$80,390
median pay · 209,000 employed
$104,590
median pay · 180,000 employed
$126,060
median pay · 246,000 employed
$114,990
median pay · 380,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.