How to Become a

Facility Manager

The complete career guide to be a Facility Manager: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started.

Why We Love It

  • $40,060
    Potential Avg. Salary
  • 6%
    Job Growth Rate
  • Growing Demand
    Job Outlook
  • Get to Travel
    Career Attribute

A facility manager ensures the seamless functioning of core services and processes that promote the smooth running of an organisation. This requires a focus on both everyday operations as well as strategic business plans.

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What is a Facility Manager?

Duties

On either one or multiple sites, a facility manager is responsible for the following tasks:

  • Taking care of finances allotted for project management, required supplies to optimise value for money.
  • Collaborating with the team on execution of essential activities like property maintenance, security facilities, mail distribution, waste disposal, reception services, etc.
  • Utilizing performance management processes to maintain and enhance service levels from staff and contractors as per resources and space assigned.
  • Guaranteeing a speedy and prepared response to urgent problems or emergency situations when they arise.
  • Working on a business continuity plan that is in keeping with the larger strategy goals or objectives of the organisation.

Day In The Life

Your daily tasks as a facility manager will vary based on the type of organisation you are employed by. You are involved in every task that is related to workplace productivity, whether it is managing paper supply at the office, resolving complaints of office supplies theft, providing necessary technology in all meeting rooms, etc. Service review meetings with external contractors for specific services rendered like security firms or catering companies can take up a chunk of your day as well.

Work Schedule

As a facility manager for an organisation, you can look forward to a 40-hour work week, with standard office timings of 9am to 5pm. Some travel is needed when there are multiple work sites at a large company.

There can be overtime due to pressing project deadlines or when there are emergency scenarios. If you are involved with services like cleaning, migration or maintenance, working overtime can be occasionally required. Rarely, facility managers can be called to work in shifts, around the clock as the project demands.

Growth Of The Job

While having a prestigious degree from reputed institutions can open up doors for senior roles as a facility manager, you must also have the right kind of progressive experience. Opportunities are accelerated for aspiring candidates that possess specialized training and professional certification, along with a master’s degree.

You can be promoted to executive level roles like senior facilities manager or regional facilities manager, with sufficient years of experience in the sector. In large corporate environments, there are bigger roles in multi-disciplinary departments like enterprise support or shared services, requiring the competencies of a facilities manager. Networking with the right stakeholders can accelerate your climb up the career ladder, and put you in touch with other individuals who hold positions at the next level.

Typical Employers

Most facility managers work for facilities management providers that handles several organisations. In case of a smaller company, you would be part of the general management team in this role. All types of businesses have a need for effective facilities management, whether it is in the public, private or non-profit area. The job titles may often vary depending on the portfolio of the position offered.

You can find opportunities with scientific laboratories, educational institutions (i.e. universities, colleges and schools), public building structures such as museums or libraries, government authorities, departmental stores, business firms, healthcare facilities like private and NHS hospitals and even industrial factories.

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How To Become a Facility Manager

To start off on this career path, you should at least possess an associate’s degree in a relevant subject area like business studies, hospitality, building management, construction, engineering, surveying and other specialisations. There are some educational institutions that are now offering such degrees in facilities management across the USA, with options to complete an associate’s or a master’s. However, previous work experience is vital to get ahead of the competition, whether it is in management, property, administration or business.

To join a managerial position like this one, you should take advantage of skill development programs offered by organisations, which provides quality work placements and necessary training to excel in their careers. The coursework consists of important topics like business skills, health and safety norms, legislation, etc.

Key skills required to become a successful facility manager includes a penchant for building strong relationships, working against multiple deadlines by prioritising your workload, the ability to communicate in a clear manner, and promoting an efficient approach to the work. You will also need a driver’s license to travel between the multi-sites of an organisation to monitor work performance of the team.


Facility Manager Salary Data

We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.

National Anual Salary

Low Range

$28,350

Average

$40,060

High Range

$62,080

National Hourly Wage

Low Range

$14/hr

Average

$19/hr

High Range

$30/hr

How do Facility Manager salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Facility Manager's can make an average annual salary of $40,060, or $19 per hour. This makes it an Above Average Salary. On the lower end, they can make $28,350 or $14 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.

Salary Rankings And Facts

  • #528 Nationally for All Careers


Highest Education Among Facility Managers

  • 0.5%   Doctorate
  • 1.4%   Masters
  • 10.7%   Bachelors
  • 8.3%   Associates
  • 26.9%   College
  • 37.1%   High School
  • 15.1%   Less than High School

Job Growth Projections and Forecast

2014 Total Jobs

247,900

2024 Est. Jobs

262,800

Job Growth Rate

6%

Est. New Jobs

14,900

How does Facility Manager job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 14,900 jobs for a total of 262,800 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 6% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Below Average.

Growth Rankings And Facts

  • #373 Nationally for All Careers


What Companies Employ The Most Facility Managers

Industry Current Jobs New Jobs Needed % Increase
Self-employed workers 69,800 2,200 2%
Elementary and secondary schools; local 18,700 1,100 1%
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) 7,000 700 1%

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