Facilities Managers: Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
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What Tasks Do Facilities Managers Do?
The core tasks performed by facilities managers include:
- Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
- Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
- Oversee construction and renovation projects to improve efficiency and to ensure that facilities meet environmental, health, and security standards, and comply with government regulations.
- Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.
- Participate in architectural and engineering planning and design, including space and installation management.
- Set goals and deadlines for the department.
- Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.
- Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective facilities managers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Building Maintenance Superintendent
- Building Manager
- Building Services Supervisor
- Conference Center Manager
- Facilities Coordinator
- Facilities Director
- Facilities Electrical Engineer
- Facilities Engineer
Job Outlook
There are about 269,949 facilities managers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -0.6% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Facilities Managers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $157,669 |
| Hourly median | $75.80 |
| 10th percentile | $95,285 |
| 25th percentile | $126,477 |
| 75th percentile | $188,861 |
| 90th percentile | $220,053 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Facilities Managers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $130,300 |
| Delaware | $129,540 |
| New York | $128,050 |
| New Jersey | $123,010 |
| Massachusetts | $121,510 |
| Alabama | $119,330 |
| Colorado | $116,830 |
| District of Columbia | $115,710 |
| California | $115,700 |
| Virginia | $115,430 |
| Georgia | $115,030 |
| Wyoming | $109,570 |
| Kansas | $108,580 |
| Minnesota | $108,030 |
| Connecticut | $107,960 |
| Alaska | $107,190 |
| Texas | $105,340 |
| Wisconsin | $105,170 |
| New Mexico | $104,270 |
| Hawaii | $104,220 |
| Oregon | $103,740 |
| Illinois | $103,410 |
| Tennessee | $102,900 |
| New Hampshire | $102,280 |
| North Carolina | $102,120 |
| Rhode Island | $102,090 |
| Nebraska | $99,320 |
| South Dakota | $99,260 |
| Idaho | $99,140 |
| Michigan | $98,760 |
| Nevada | $97,860 |
| Iowa | $97,720 |
| Indiana | $97,700 |
| West Virginia | $97,650 |
| Missouri | $96,640 |
| Kentucky | $96,410 |
| South Carolina | $96,240 |
| Ohio | $96,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,430 |
| Arkansas | $95,210 |
| Maine | $95,020 |
| Oklahoma | $94,330 |
| Utah | $94,310 |
| Maryland | $93,590 |
| Arizona | $92,700 |
| Montana | $92,600 |
| Louisiana | $92,030 |
| Mississippi | $90,960 |
| Florida | $90,860 |
| Vermont | $88,190 |
| Virgin Islands | $87,990 |
| North Dakota | $84,400 |
| Puerto Rico | $75,000 |
| Guam | $63,800 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for facilities managers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $114,887 | 18.6% | 1.16 |
| Middle Atlantic | $113,385 | 18.1% | 1.23 |
| New England | $113,230 | 7.5% | 1.61 |
| Rocky Mountains | $104,945 | 3.1% | 0.81 |
| Southwest | $102,242 | 11.1% | 0.92 |
| Plains States | $101,275 | 6.9% | 1.06 |
| Southeast | $100,638 | 17.8% | 0.74 |
| Great Lakes | $100,137 | 16.4% | 1.22 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Facilities Managers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | WA | $159,530 | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $137,890 | 1,400 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | AL | $137,230 | 30 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $134,750 | 1,750 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $134,570 | 3,180 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | ID | $133,990 | 130 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | AL | $133,880 | 50 |
| Rome, GA | GA | $132,670 | 50 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of facilities managers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 18,990 | $98,430 |
| Manufacturing | 17,210 | $125,640 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 15,780 | $96,470 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 9,670 | $97,620 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 8,350 | $122,240 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 8,120 | $91,050 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 7,030 | $128,970 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 6,930 | $104,990 |
Facilities Managers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of facilities managers reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Facilities Managers
Entry-level facilities managers positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Security Managers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Production Managers (Primary-Long)
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (Primary-Short)
- Construction Managers (Primary-Short)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (Primary-Long)
- Project Management Specialists (Supplemental)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring facilities managers typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
5 programs across 3 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 1 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-3013.00 (Facilities Managers).