Emergency Management Directors
Machines can already do 37% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Emergency Management Directors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 37% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 13,500 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $93,330 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 75% for contact with people.
- Also called: 911 Communications Manager, Emergency Management Coordinator, Emergency Management Director, Emergency Management System Director (EMS Director).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events | 9% | 35% to 65% | |
| Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment | 8% | 10% to 27% | |
| Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs | 7% | 25% to 50% | |
| Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations | 7% | 30% to 54% | |
| Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, response efforts, or plan implementation | 7% | 45% to 80% | |
| Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops related to emergency management to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management specialists | 7% | 45% to 80% | |
| Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency | 6% | 25% to 50% | |
| Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters | 6% | 52% to 80% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills emergency management directors use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Loss Prevention Managers63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $141,900
- Coaches and Scouts48% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,320
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $56,870
- Instructional Coordinators59% of tasks by 2035 · US median $77,440
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Emergency Management Directors?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of emergency management directors?
Machines can do 37% of the tasks of emergency management directors today and 64% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 11-9161.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Emergency Management Directors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/emergency-management-directors/