Emergency Management Directors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $137,470 or more. The middle half of emergency management directors in Columbia earn between $60,810 and $100,530.
- $57K10th
- $61K25th
- $71KMedian
- $101K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,550 | $7,046 | $40.65 |
| Median | $71,110 | $5,926 | $34.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,810 | $5,068 | $29.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,530 | $8,378 | $48.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Emergency Management Directors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Emergency management directors in Columbia earn 13% less than the South Carolina average ($97,190) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($102,420). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $93,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $84,550 | $71,110 | $56,990 | $137,470 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $97,190 | $93,680 | $57,910 | $143,460 | 330 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $84,550, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $65,020 a year, or $5,418 a month and $2,501 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for emergency management directors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $84,550 buys what about $90,271 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Emergency Management Directors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 2 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($108,160).
- Charleston$108,160
- Columbia$84,550
All Emergency Management Directors salaries in South Carolina
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 Columbia: questions
How much do emergency management directors make an hour in Columbia?
$40.65 an hour on average, and $34.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level emergency management directors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the emergency management directors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $65,020 a year ($5,418 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,550.
Do emergency management directors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.66, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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