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Commercial Real Estate
CBRE, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield
Facilities Managers
Facilities managers keep buildings, equipment, and people working together. The job mixes hands-on oversight of repairs and upgrades with compliance checks, staff coordination, and project planning, so you are often balancing routine maintenance against urgent problems. The tradeoff is clear: the pay can be solid, but when a system fails or a site falls out of compliance, the responsibility lands on you.
Also known as Facility ManagerBuilding ManagerBuilding Operations ManagerFacilities Operations ManagerFacility Operations Manager
Median Salary
$104,690
Mean $114,520
U.S. Workforce
~141K
13.2K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.8%
151.4K to 157.1K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Facilities Managers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~141K workers, with a median annual pay of $104,690 and roughly 13.2K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 151.4 K in 2024 to 157.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Facilities Coordinator and can progress toward Director of Facilities. High-value skills usually include CMMS & Work Order Systems (Fiix, UpKeep, IBM Maximo), OSHA, Fire Code & Building Compliance, and Microsoft Excel, Budget Tracking & Reporting, paired with soft skills such as Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Core Responsibilities
- Track supplies, restock what the site needs, and make sure materials are stored properly.
- Decide how to handle surplus or unclaimed property and arrange for it to be removed or disposed of correctly.
- Train employees on building procedures, safety rules, and day-to-day routines.
- Inspect the facility for safety, security, and maintenance problems before they turn into bigger issues.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Track supplies, restock what the site needs, and make sure materials are stored properly.
02 Decide how to handle surplus or unclaimed property and arrange for it to be removed or disposed of correctly.
03 Train employees on building procedures, safety rules, and day-to-day routines.
04 Inspect the facility for safety, security, and maintenance problems before they turn into bigger issues.
05 Oversee repairs to machinery, equipment, and electrical or mechanical systems.
06 Plan renovation or construction work with contractors, architects, and engineers, and set goals and deadlines for the team.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, HCA Healthcare
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Education
Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Michigan
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Manufacturing
Ford, 3M, Siemens
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Retail
Walmart, Target, Costco
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is above average, with a median of $104,690 and a mean of $114,520, so experienced managers can earn solid compensation.
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There are about 13.2 thousand annual openings, which means steady demand from retirements, turnover, and replacement hiring.
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The work changes from day to day, mixing building inspections, staff coordination, repairs, and project planning instead of one repetitive task.
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You can move into the role with a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, or strong field experience, so there are multiple entry routes.
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Facilities skills transfer across many settings, from hospitals to offices to campuses, which can make it easier to find work in a new industry.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is not expanding quickly and openings are mostly replacement jobs.
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The job is tied to a physical site, so remote work is rare and you usually need to be on location when something breaks.
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You are accountable for safety, security, and code compliance, so missed inspections or delayed repairs can become expensive fast.
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After-hours calls are common when HVAC, power, plumbing, or access systems fail, which can make the schedule unpredictable.
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Budget pressure can limit what you can fix or improve, and some employers outsource parts of facilities work, which can cap advancement and reduce control.
Career Progression
Facilities Coordinator
0-3 years
$45K-$60K
Handles work orders, vendor calls, inspections, and admin support while learning the building systems and processes.
Facilities Supervisor
3-6 years
$61K-$84K
Leads a small maintenance team, coordinates contractors, and keeps routine repairs and inspections on schedule.
Facilities Manager THIS ROLE
6-10 years
$85K-$120K
Owns building operations, safety, repairs, budgets, and staff coordination; this tier includes the median salary for the role.
Senior Facilities Manager
10-15 years
$121K-$155K
Runs larger sites or multiple buildings, handles major projects, and manages bigger contracts and capital upgrades.
Director of Facilities
15+ years
$156K-$210K
Sets strategy, staffing, and long-term capital plans across one or more locations, with less day-to-day troubleshooting.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree
The most common entry point, held by 38.53% of workers in this role, often in facilities management, business, engineering, or construction management.
Associate's degree or other 2-year degree
A common route, used by 33.67% of workers, especially by people who start in maintenance, operations, or building support and move up.
Post-secondary certificate or trade credential
A practical alternative used by 7.18% of workers, often paired with hands-on experience in building systems, maintenance, or construction.
High school diploma plus experience
Some workers enter with a high school diploma and long experience on the job; this path accounts for 7.29% of workers in the role.
Key Skills
Technical
CMMS & Work Order Systems (Fiix, UpKeep, IBM Maximo) 78%
OSHA, Fire Code & Building Compliance 77%
Microsoft Excel, Budget Tracking & Reporting 76%
Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS) 75%
MS Project, Smartsheet & Construction Scheduling 74%
Procurement & Vendor Management (SAP Ariba, Coupa) 73%
Soft Skills
Critical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringJudgment and Decision Making Job Outlook and Trends
+3.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
13.2K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 151.4K to 157.1 K over the next decade, representing 3.8% growth. Around 13.2 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.