Facilities management can be a fast-paced and rewarding career field where critical and timely support for physical assets is provided to companies across industries.

These jobs can be found in commercial office buildings, hospitals, colleges and universities, public works departments, and more. It’s the people in facilities management jobs that keep things running smoothly with an emphasis on the policies, procedures, and activities that foster safety, sustainability, productivity, and efficiency. This is a growing job field with a positive outlook for the future. 

Typical Duties

A person in this role is responsible for maintaining and improving the physical-based systems of an organization, from grounds to security, machinery, HVAC or parking.

Duties include assessment of current systems, identifying areas where improvements are needed, and developing a plan of action that takes into account factors like cost and sustainability. A facilities manager is responsible for preventive and predictive maintenance tasks as well as overhauling CMMS software solutions where needed, from planning through installation.

Depending on an organization’s needs, the duties of the facilities manager can include anything from working with vendors for contracted services to rolling out employee safety training programs. A facilities manager job can also include making sure relevant regulatory requirements are being met. 

Career Requirements

This occupation typically requires a combination of education and experience. A bachelor’s degree is usually required. Professional certifications are available. Requirements can vary by area of specialization. The prerequisites needed for a facilities manager who works in environmental health and safety will be slightly different than those for one working in HVAC or facilities cleaning, for example, although the necessary soft skill sets will be similar. 

Strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills are essential. People in this job should also be comfortable with technology, as the role usually includes critical electronic recordkeeping tasks, like inventory management, training records, and testing data. 

There are a variety of professional certifications available, including Facility Management Professional™ (FMP®), Certified Facility Manager® (CFM®), and Sustainability Facility Professional® (SFP®) offered by IFMA (International Facility Management Association). Other professional certifications can vary by area of specialization.

Compensation

The average salary for a facilities manager job was reported to be $66,187 in March 2020, per PayScale.com. Entry-level jobs ranged from roughly $35,000 per year to $72,000 per year, with experienced managers earning as much as $100,000 or more. Median annual pay for administrative managers – which includes facilities managers – was $96,940 in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; the equivalent hourly rate was $46.61. 

Job Outlook

In general, administrative service manager jobs, which include facilities manager jobs, are expected to increase at a rate of 7% or faster than average from 2018-2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jobs that require more specialized skills or knowledge are expected to see higher demand. The desire for more energy-efficient and sustainable workplaces is also expected to help drive demand for facilities manager jobs. The regulatory environment may also affect job growth; more regulations may mean companies are more likely to add facilities management jobs to ensure requirements are met.

Facilities management jobs are available in virtually every sector of the economy. It’s an important role that keeps workplaces safe and running efficiently so employees can feel physically comfortable and maximize their productivity while reducing the potential for on-the-job illness or injury.

As the number of jobs in this career field grows over the next few years, competition may be strong; professional credentials can show employers your commitment to the field and your willingness to continually improve your knowledge and skills.