Emergency Management Directors vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: $93K vs $80K Median Pay

Emergency Management Directors vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: what changes?

Consider Emergency Management Directors if you want to plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e. Consider Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling if you would rather plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Emergency Management Directors (5 years or more) and Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Emergency Management Directors and Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Emergency Management Directors

National median pay (2025): $93,330
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: 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.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,100

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Emergency Management Directors brief

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

National median pay (2025): $79,520
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Plan, organize, or lead group activities for customers, such as exercise routines, athletic events, or arts and crafts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 5,100

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief

How the national numbers differ

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on annual openings

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is at 5,100 annual openings, compared with 1,100 annual openings for Emergency Management Directors.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling is at 6% projected growth, compared with 3.9% projected growth for Emergency Management Directors.

Emergency Management Directors has the edge on median pay

Emergency Management Directors is at $93,330, compared with $79,520 for Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling.

49.2/ 100

Emergency Management Directors

60.8/ 100

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Emergency Management Directors vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

Dimension	Emergency Management Directors	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
Median pay (2025)	$93,330	$79,520
Pay percentile	78.3 percentile	71.5 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	3.9%	6%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	1,100	5,100
2025 employment	14,000	43,900
How you qualify	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more	Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 4	Job Zone 4
Related work experience	Prior related experience: 5 years or more.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Emergency Management Directors brief Read Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling brief

Emergency Management Directors vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Emergency Management Directors

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

How the national numbers differ

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on annual openings

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling has the edge on projected growth

Emergency Management Directors has the edge on median pay

Emergency Management Directors vs Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

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