A career in emergency management brings its fair share of excitement, sorrow, fulfillment and promise.

You’ll work hard to prevent an emergency from happening, but you are also prepared when it does. You have the know-how to respond and the ability to clean up if a worst-case scenario unfolds.

Welcome to the world of emergency management. It’s a career choice that encompasses many areas, including healthcare, business, counterterrorism and homeland security, natural disaster relief, government, and civil crisis management.

An undergraduate degree, such as Barry University’s online Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management, can boost your chances of entering this challenging and rewarding profession.

Exciting Career Options

Emergency management career opportunities are wide open and may be found within state and federal agencies, at the municipal level, and in the private sector. According to DegreeQuery.com, emergency management at the federal level may offer opportunities at the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.

The website also offers information on different types of emergency management careers. Salary information is as of December 2019.

Hazardous Materials Coordinator. Accidents such as highway wrecks, warehouse fires, train derailments, and shipping and industrial accidents are a fact of life in most communities. Many people consider hazardous materials a significant threat to local jurisdictions. To deal with the potential threats of hazardous materials such as petroleum, natural gas, synthetic gas and toxic chemicals, research points toward incorporating the expertise of a variety of sources. ZipRecruiter reports an average income of $40,657 annually for a hazardous material coordinator. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth at 11% through 2028.

Public Health Specialist. The specific goal of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement is to protect the health of state, local, tribal and territorial communities in times of bioterrorism incidents, infectious disease outbreaks and emerging public health threats. Funding from this program helps health departments build and strengthen their ability to respond to public health threats and emergencies. Individuals working in this field may have previously been employed as healthcare professionals, public workforce members, emergency management specialists and first responders. ZipRecruiter lists the annual salary for a public health specialist at $59,808. BLS estimates the field will grow 14% through 2028.

Hospital Emergency Preparedness Administrator.  An emergency operations plan is a requirement of every hospital and describes how a hospital will respond to and recover from hazards. The Hospital Emergency Preparedness Coordinator addresses response protocol, capabilities and procedures when the hospital cannot be supported by the community. Other duties include implementing recovery strategies, initiating response phases, authorizing and activating alternate sites for care, treatment and emergency services. ZipRecruiter reports an annual average salary of $132,610, with growth in the field estimated by BLS at 18% through 2028.

Emergency Management Specialist. These individuals work behind the scenes to train emergency personnel, coordinate communication between different disaster relief agencies and plan disaster response strategies. Emergency management specialists also consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, and hospitals to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. ZipRecruiter reports an average annual salary of $63,423. BLS predicts a growth rate of 5% through 2028.

Emergency Management Coordinator. Planning, developing, implementing, and administering policies and programs related to emergency management falls to these professionals. They are usually designated as a city’s lead person in emergency management and as an adviser to the city manager for disaster concerns and issues. ZipRecruiter places their annual salary at $65,632. BLS estimates job growth at 5% through 2028.

These five jobs only scratch the surface of opportunities available in emergency management. Online undergraduate programs such as Barry University’s Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management can give you the skills and knowledge required to be successful in many applications, including disaster preparation, mitigation, response and recovery.

The online program incorporates coursework from public administration, management, health sciences, psychology, sociology, criminal justice and environmental sciences to provide you operational skills that prepare you for a wide range of emergency services and scenarios. The program is especially designed for current emergency management professionals looking for a boost to their careers, and equally serves the needs of individuals preparing for a new career.

Barry University’s FEMA-recognized Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management online program allows you to adapt your knowledge to any number of applications including homeland security, business continuity and international disaster management.

Learn more about Barry University’s online Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management program.

Sources:

Emergency Management Degree: Different Career Paths with an Emergency Management Degree

Degree Query: Top 10 Jobs With a Degree in Emergency Management