Emergency Management Director Salary in Illinois (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Emergency Management Directors in Illinois, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Illinois Median
$83,820
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.30
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $93,330
State Rank
#28 of 47
450 employed here

How much does an Emergency Management Director make in Illinois?

Emergency Management Directors in Illinois take home a median of $83,820 annually — roughly $40.30 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $93,330.

Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $44,110 while the top 10% make $164,100 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,910 and $125,530 a year.

Emergency Management Director salary range in Illinois

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$44,110$21.21
25th percentile (early career)$61,910$29.76
50th percentile (median)$83,820$40.30
75th percentile (experienced)$125,530$60.35
90th percentile (top earners)$164,100$78.89

How Illinois compares

Illinois ranks 28th out of 47 states and territories for Emergency Management Director pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1District of Columbia$184,350
2New Mexico$145,550
3Washington$130,780
4California$129,910
5Colorado$129,660

Working as an Emergency Management Director in Illinois

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 Illinois pay ($83,820) 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 Illinois?
The median Emergency Management Director salary in Illinois is $83,820 per year, or about $40.30 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $44,110 at the entry level to $164,100 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Emergency Management Directors about 10% less than the national median of $93,330. Illinois ranks 28th out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Emergency Management Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $83,820 a year. About 450 Emergency Management Directors are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Emergency Management Director salary report

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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.