Facilities Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.
Also called: Building Maintenance Superintendent, Building Manager, Building Services Supervisor, Conference Center Manager, Facilities Coordinator, Facilities Director
Median pay
$106,660
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$64,480 – $176,120
People employed
156,180
Holland code
CER
Conventional · Enterprising · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 2.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Facilities Managers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What facilities managers do
- 01Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
- 02Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
- 03Oversee construction and renovation projects to improve efficiency and to ensure that facilities meet environmental, health, and security standards, and comply with government regulations.
- 04Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.
- 05Participate in architectural and engineering planning and design, including space and installation management.
- 06Set goals and deadlines for the department.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Personnel and Human Resources
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Leadership Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A certification can help.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from facilities managers
- Construction Managers80% · +8%
- General and Operations Managers77% · −1%
- Wind Energy Operations Managers75% · group pay
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers73% · −12%
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers72% · −25%
Change into facilities managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers81% · $79,860
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers81% · $69,990
- Construction Managers79% · $114,990
- General and Operations Managers79% · $105,770
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers77% · $58,430
Majors that lead here
- Engineering/Industrial Management
- Facilities Planning and Management
- Historic Preservation and Conservation, General
- Historic Preservation and Conservation, Other
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General
- Building/Property Maintenance
- Building/Construction Site Management/Manager
- Hospital and Health Care Facilities Administration/Management
- Business/Commerce, General
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
- Operations Management and Supervision
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.