Emergency and Other Relief Services — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the emergency and other relief services industry earns $66,306 per year ($31.88/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$66,306
Avg Annual Pay
36,332
Total Employees
2,566
Total Establishments
14
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Emergency and Other Relief Workers Earn?

At $66,306/year (equivalent to $31.88/hour for a full-time worker), emergency and other relief services wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.

The typical emergency and other relief services business employs 14 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

24.1%

For the average emergency and other relief services business generating $3.8M/year with 14 employees at $66,306 each, total payroll represents roughly 24.1% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a emergency and other relief servicesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $86,198/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 14 employees = ~$928,284/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $31.88/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $3.8M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Emergency and Other Relief Services revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do emergency and other relief services employees make?
The average emergency and other relief services employee earns $66,306 per year, which is equivalent to $31.88/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the emergency and other relief services industry?
The emergency and other relief services industry employs 36,332 workers across 2,566 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 14 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).