Tennessee Median
$81,800
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.33
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-12% vs US median
US median $93,330
State Rank
#31 of 47
370 employed here
How much does an Emergency Management Director make in Tennessee?
Emergency Management Directors in Tennessee take home a median of $81,800 annually — roughly $39.33 an hour — which runs 12% below the national median of $93,330.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $55,780 while the top 10% make $139,420 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,930 and $103,390 a year.
Emergency Management Director salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,780 | $26.82 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,930 | $30.74 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $81,800 | $39.33 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $103,390 | $49.71 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,420 | $67.03 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 31st 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 $81,970Pennsylvania $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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee pay ($81,800) 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 Tennessee?
The median Emergency Management Director salary in Tennessee is $81,800 per year, or about $39.33 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $55,780 at the entry level to $139,420 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Emergency Management Directors about 12% less than the national median of $93,330. Tennessee ranks 31st out of 47 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Emergency Management Directors?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $81,800 a year. About 370 Emergency Management Directors are employed in Tennessee. 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 Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), 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.