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Facilities Managers

Typical education: Associate degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $106,660 Median per year · $51.28/hr Most earn $64,480–$176,120

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Participate in architectural and engineering planning and design, including space and installation management.
  • 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.
  • Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
  • Plan, administer, and control budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 14,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.9%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.7%
  • Elementary and secondary schools5.8%
  • Management of companies and enterprises5.0%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Facilities Managers usually aren't hired straight out of school. Most people earn an associate degree, then spend about 2 to 4 years in hands-on building or maintenance work before taking on the manager role, so the whole path often takes roughly 4 to 6 years or more.

  1. Associate degree in facilities management, building maintenance, or a related field

    2 years

    You learn building systems, safety rules, and basic business skills, which gives you a foundation for both hands-on work and managing people.

  2. Maintenance and Repair Worker, General

    2-4 years

    You fix and maintain electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other building systems, and you learn how a facility really runs day to day, which is what managers need to understand.

  3. Facilities Manager

    Career goal

    You plan and coordinate maintenance, repairs, safety, and vendors for one or more buildings or a campus, and you lead the staff who keep things running.

Where it can lead

  1. General and Operations Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    You oversee broader parts of an organization instead of just buildings, so you need strong leadership, budgeting, and planning skills across departments.

  2. Security Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You take charge of protecting people, property, and information, which usually calls for a bachelor's degree and experience leading security or safety efforts.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, electronics, or drafting classesThese teach you how tools, wiring, and building parts work, which is the base for maintenance and facilities jobs.
  • Take math and any business or computer classesBasic math and spreadsheets help with budgets, schedules, and tracking repairs.
  • Get a starter job or help at home with repairsWorking with a custodian, landscaper, or handyman, or helping with home fixes, teaches you practical problem-solving and reliability.
  • Join a career or trade club such as SkillsUSA, if your school has oneClubs like this build teamwork, leadership, and hands-on skills, and they look good on applications.
  • Talk with a facilities or maintenance workerAsking someone at a school, hospital, or office what their day looks like helps you decide if this field fits you.

In college

  • Enroll in an associate degree program in facilities management or building maintenanceThis is the most common education path for this career and gives you both technical and management coursework.
  • Take courses in building systems, electrical, HVAC, or plumbingKnowing how major building systems work helps you diagnose problems and talk confidently with technicians.
  • Get a campus job in facilities, grounds, or maintenanceWorking for your college's facilities team gives you real experience with buildings and the people who run them.
  • Pursue a safety or maintenance certificationMany schools and local training centers offer short courses in workplace safety or building maintenance that show employers you are serious about the field.
  • Join a student organization in business, engineering, or leadershipLeading a club or project builds the planning, budgeting, and people skills that facilities managers use every day.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on experience with building systems early, such as HVAC, electrical, or plumbing basics, because employers value people who understand how buildings actually work.
  • Build comfort with planning and budgeting, since facilities managers schedule repairs, track costs, and coordinate contractors.
  • Look for a certificate or training in safety, like workplace safety or building codes, to stand out when you apply for maintenance jobs.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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