Facilities Managers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of facilities managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for facilities managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of facilities managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for facilities managers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Facilities Managers?

Do facilities managers need a degree? What kind of experience do facilities managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for facilities managers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Facilities Managers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of facilities managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 38% of positions. In 27% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 27% of postings no education level was listed.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Facilities Managers

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for facilities managers. In 35% of job postings for Facilities Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 13% of job postings for facilities managers.

What Kind of Degree Do Facilities Managers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for facilities managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 6 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective facilities managers, and in 2023 a total of 99,289 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective facilities managers.

Top Degree Programs for Facilities Managers

What Skills Do Facilities Managers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by facilities managers to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for facilities managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Facilities Managers
Based on 102,942 job postings

Based on 102,942 job postings related to facilities managers, facility management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 29% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, construction, hvac, plumbing and facility repair and maintenance were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for facilities managers, followed by operations, communication, leadership, customer service and planning.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about facilities managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for facilities managers.

What do facilities managers do?
How much do facilities managers make?

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