There are many different types of emergency management jobs ranging from disaster planning specialists to emergency medical technicians. Getting your Associates degree from an accredited institution can get you an entry-level job as an assistant or an apprentice, but you’ll need to pursue a Bachelors or a Masters Degree in Emergency Management if you want to move up to a higher-paying position in the future. Choose a high-ranking program with emphasis on your area of interest. For example, Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy is a good option for students who specifically want to study humanitarian crisis assistance. On the other hand, students who are interested in working for a government agency should look into FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Because EMI is overseen by the federal government, it’s a great start for students who want to work in the public sector.
5 Popular Emergency Management Jobs
Fortunately, for qualified candidates, there are many different types of Emergency Management Jobs to choose from and the field is expanding, so not only are these jobs rewarding in that they protect our citizens and communities, but there is also a comfortable amount of job security associated with them. Following are five popular Emergency Management Jobs and their descriptions.
1. Emergency Management Specialist
Emergency management specialist is one of the fastest growing career fields within the emergency management industry. Emergency management specialists work behind the scenes to train emergency personnel, coordinate communication between different disaster relief agencies and plan disaster response strategies. Due to an increase in national security threats and devastating natural disasters, well-educated emergency specialists are in high demand. The average salary for entry-level jobs is around $28,000. Experienced emergency specialists can make $90,000 or more.
2. Homeland Security Officer
Homeland security is another growing emergency management career field. Professionals who work in homeland security focus on prevention and preparedness. They can be responsible for securing the nation’s points of entry and vulnerable areas, intercepting threats and developing disaster response programs. The average salary for homeland security officers who work in federal emergency management is around $70,000. Homeland security professionals who advance to management positions are usually paid a higher salary.
3. Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator
The healthcare industry is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and qualified professionals like hospital emergency preparedness administrators are high in demand. The position involves creating prevention and response plans for all types of hospital emergencies including electric outages, natural disasters, hazardous spills and hostage situations. Emergency management professionals who want to work in this field must have at least a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience in the healthcare industry. Salaries range from $90,000 to $115,000 depending on experience and education.
4. Emergency Dispatcher
While emergency dispatchers do not handle critical situations directly, they are just as important as the first responders they work with. Ambulance, fire and police dispatchers field emergency calls and direct emergency response personnel to their closest locations. They play a very important role in getting first responders to the scene as quickly as possible. The average salary for a dispatcher is $36,500.
5. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency medical technician has always been one of the most popular emergency management jobs in the world. While it’s a high-stress profession, it can be very rewarding. Emergency medical technicians respond to medical emergency calls. They deal with a variety of challenging situations on a daily basis. The national average salary for emergency medical technicians is $30,000. While other emergency management jobs do pay more, it’s possible to make a lot more money as a head emergency medical technician for a private facility.