Emergency Management Directors vs General and Operations Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn $16,820 more per year than Emergency Management Directors professionals — that's 19.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Emergency Management Directors$51,260 – $160,420
General and Operations Managers$47,420 – N/A
$47,420$160,420
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Emergency Management Directors | General and Operations Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $51,260 | $47,420 | +$3,840 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,470 | $67,160 | $-2,690 |
| Median (50th) | $86,130 | $102,950 | $-16,820 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,690 | $164,130 | $-44,440 |
| 90th Percentile | $160,420 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $97,700 | $133,120 | $-35,420 |
Employment Numbers
Emergency Management Directors
12,570
employed nationwide
General and Operations Managers
3,584,420
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Emergency Management Directors
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $156,950 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $153,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $139,630 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $138,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $128,860 |
Best Cities for General and Operations Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $162,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $152,090 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $141,280 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Emergency Management Directors or General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $16,820 (19.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Emergency Management Directors?
Emergency Management Directors salaries range from $51,260 (10th percentile) to $160,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $86,130.
What is the salary range for General and Operations Managers?
General and Operations Managers salaries range from $47,420 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $102,950.
How many Emergency Management Directors and General and Operations Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 12,570 Emergency Management Directors positions and 3,584,420 General and Operations Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from General and Operations Managers to Emergency Management Directors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Emergency Management Directors has a median salary of $86,130 while General and Operations Managers earns $102,950. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS