Kentucky Median
$74,730
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-20% vs US median
US median $93,330
State Rank
#37 of 47
150 employed here
How much does an Emergency Management Director make in Kentucky?
Emergency Management Directors in Kentucky take home a median of $74,730 annually — roughly $35.93 an hour — which runs 20% below the national median of $93,330.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $39,710 while the top 10% make $109,210 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $44,990 and $93,100 a year.
Emergency Management Director salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,710 | $19.09 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $44,990 | $21.63 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $74,730 | $35.93 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $93,100 | $44.76 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,210 | $52.50 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 37th 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 $130,780California $129,910Colorado $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 $75,660Hawaii $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($74,730) 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 Kentucky?
The median Emergency Management Director salary in Kentucky is $74,730 per year, or about $35.93 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $39,710 at the entry level to $109,210 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Emergency Management Directors about 20% less than the national median of $93,330. Kentucky ranks 37th out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Emergency Management Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $74,730 a year. About 150 Emergency Management Directors are employed in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.