Emergency Management Directors pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $181,460 or more. The middle half of emergency management directors in San Diego earn between $104,200 and $146,470.
- $87K10th
- $104K25th
- $117KMedian
- $146K75th
- $181K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $130,730 | $10,894 | $62.85 |
| Median | $117,070 | $9,756 | $56.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,200 | $8,683 | $50.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $146,470 | $12,206 | $70.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Emergency Management Directors pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Emergency management directors in San Diego earn 5% less than the California average ($138,120) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($102,420). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $93,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $130,730 | $117,070 | $86,600 | $181,460 | 60 |
| California | $138,120 | $129,910 | $90,130 | $199,020 | 1,170 |
| United States | $102,420 | $93,330 | $54,210 | $166,430 | 13,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Emergency Management Directors salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $130,730, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $92,554 a year, or $7,713 a month and $3,560 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for emergency management directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $130,730 buys what about $116,841 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Emergency Management Directors salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 6 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($189,540).
- San Jose$189,540
- San Francisco$163,310
- Los Angeles$141,660
- Riverside$138,880
- San Diego$130,730
- Sacramento$116,640
Highest-paying cities for emergency management directors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($189,540).
- San Jose, CA$189,540
- San Francisco, CA$163,310
- Washington, DC$155,300
- Seattle, WA$152,060
- Los Angeles, CA$141,660
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Emergency Management Directors salary in San Diego: questions
How much do emergency management directors make an hour in San Diego?
$62.85 an hour on average, and $56.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level emergency management directors salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the emergency management directors take-home pay in San Diego?
About $92,554 a year ($7,713 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $130,730. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do emergency management directors earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($102,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 11-9161; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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