What does a facilities manager actually do?
A facilities manager is responsible for the physical place an organization works in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says they oversee buildings, grounds, equipment and supplies, and splits the work into operations, maintenance, and planning and managing projects. In practice that means walking the building, checking that it is safe, secure and well kept, and fixing whatever stands between the occupants and a normal working day.
O*NET's task list for the occupation fills in the detail. Facilities managers oversee repair of machinery, equipment and electrical and mechanical systems. They run construction and renovation projects. They plan and control budgets for contracts, equipment and supplies. They take part in architectural and engineering planning, including space planning. Some also manage the leasing of facility space, buy and store supplies, and dispose of surplus property.
Maintenance, systems, vendors and people
Most of the week goes to keeping systems running. HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety and elevators all need preventive maintenance schedules, inspections and repairs. A facilities manager sets those schedules, reviews work orders and decides what to repair now and what to plan for in next year's capital budget.
They rarely do this alone. BLS notes that facilities managers direct grounds workers, janitors and building cleaners, and general maintenance and repair workers. Much of the specialist work goes to outside contractors, so writing scopes of work, comparing bids, negotiating service contracts and checking that vendors deliver is a large part of the job. IFMA lists cleaning, security, maintenance and grounds management among the building operations an FM coordinates.
Safety, compliance, energy and planning
Facilities managers make sure buildings meet environmental, health and security standards and comply with regulations, according to BLS. That covers building codes, fire and life safety, and workplace health. IFMA adds emergency and disaster response and business continuity planning to the role, so many FMs own the emergency plan and run drills.
Energy and sustainability are now a standard part of the work. IFMA names sustainability planning as a core FM role and offers a separate Sustainability Facility Professional credential built around energy management and resource use. On the planning side, FMs handle space planning and real estate decisions: where teams sit, how much space the organization needs, and how to fit out or reconfigure it.
Where facilities managers work
BLS counted about 165,900 facilities manager jobs in 2025. The largest employers were educational services at 14 percent, manufacturing at 11 percent, healthcare and social assistance at 11 percent, local government at 8 percent, and administrative and support services at 7 percent. That last group includes outsourced facility service firms that run buildings for clients.
IFMA's list of settings shows how wide the field is: factories, offices, hospitals, shopping malls, airports, museums and stadiums. Many people doing this work carry other titles, such as facilities director, facilities operations manager or building maintenance superintendent. Most work full time, some work more than 40 hours, and BLS notes that facilities managers are often on call for problems at any hour.
Pay
USD a year, before tax. Figures are BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index; state figures are BLS published estimates. Sector, building size and complexity, and metro area move pay most. Refer to the Facilities & Building Engineering salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- EducationBLS says facilities managers typically need a bachelor's degree, often in business or a related field. Some people enter with a high school diploma.
- Related experienceEmployers want experience in business operations, project management and building maintenance. BLS points to backgrounds such as general maintenance and repair work or cost estimating.
- LicenseBLS lists no required license for the facilities manager role. Trade work under the manager, such as electrical or HVAC repair, is often done by separately licensed technicians or contractors.
- Certification (optional)BLS says certification is not required but can help candidates. IFMA offers the Facility Management Professional (FMP), Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP) and Certified Facility Manager (CFM).
- Core skillsBLS highlights analytical, communication, leadership and detail skills, including tracking building code compliance and managing equipment purchases.
How to get there
- Starting outBuild hands-on building experienceMany FMs start in maintenance, building operations or facilities coordination, learning systems, work orders and vendors.
- Early careerEarn a degree or add business skillsA bachelor's degree, often in business, is the typical entry requirement BLS reports for manager roles.
- Early careerTake on projects and budgetsRun small renovations, service contracts and a department budget to show project management and cost control.
- Optional, any stageGet a foundational credentialIFMA pitches the FMP at people new to facility management; the SFP adds energy and sustainability skills.
- Mid-careerMove into facilities managerTake responsibility for a building or campus, its staff, vendors, compliance and budget.
- ExperiencedPursue the CFM and senior rolesIFMA's CFM is aimed at practicing facility managers with experience across all FM knowledge areas.
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Questions people ask
Is a facilities manager the same as a property manager?
No. A property manager usually works for an owner and focuses on tenants, leases, rent and the property's finances. A facilities manager focuses on how the building and its systems run for the people who use it, and often works for the organization that occupies it.
Do facilities managers need a license?
BLS lists no required license for facilities managers, and says certification is optional but can give candidates an advantage. Licensed trades such as electricians or HVAC technicians may still be needed for the hands-on work the manager oversees.
How much do facilities managers make?
The US median is about $110,000 a year, with the middle half earning roughly $84,600 to $143,200, based on BLS May 2025 data moved to 2026. Washington, New York and Massachusetts sit near the top of the state figures.
What sectors hire the most facilities managers?
BLS says the largest employers are educational services (14 percent of jobs), manufacturing and healthcare (11 percent each), local government (8 percent) and administrative and support services (7 percent). Offices, hospitals, airports, stadiums and retail centers all employ FMs.
Is the job growing?
BLS projects employment of administrative services and facilities managers, counted together, to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than average. It expects about 36,100 openings a year across both groups, many from people retiring or changing occupations.
Do facilities managers work regular hours?
Most work full time and some work more than 40 hours a week. BLS notes they are often on call, because burst pipes, power failures and alarms do not wait for business hours.
