What Do Facilities Managers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for facilities managers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what facilities managers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Facilities Managers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about facilities managers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
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.
Popular Job Titles For Facilities Managers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Facilities Managers
- Facilities Coordinators
- Facilities Technicians
- Directors of Facilities
- Facilities Supervisors
- Facilities Project Managers
- Facilities Specialists
- Security Managers
- Facilities Assistants
- Facility Administrators
- Assistant Facilities Managers
- Skilled Nursing Facility Registered Nurses
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for facilities managers can be found.
Best Industries for Facilities Managers
Facilities Managers Jobs By Industry
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 7.7%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 5.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.7%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 4.1%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 3.9%
- Traveler Accommodation: 3.8%
- Other: 68.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of facilities managers can be found working in the Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 7.7% of all jobs for facilities managers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (5.9%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.7%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (4.1%), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (3.9%) and Traveler Accommodation (3.8%).
What Do Facilities Managers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what facilities managers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work facilities managers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that facilities managers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for facilities managers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Facilities Managers
Based on 102,942 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Facilities Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 30,154 | 29% |
| Project Management | 18,786 | 18% |
| Construction | 17,469 | 17% |
| HVAC | 17,437 | 17% |
| Plumbing | 14,537 | 14% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Facilities Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 49,425 | 48% |
| Operations | 47,990 | 47% |
| Communication | 45,466 | 44% |
| Leadership | 29,850 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 29,576 | 29% |
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.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 30,154 | 29% |
| Project Management | 18,786 | 18% |
| Construction | 17,469 | 17% |
| HVAC | 17,437 | 17% |
| Plumbing | 14,537 | 14% |
| Facility Repair And Maintenance | 13,687 | 13% |
| Auditing | 10,719 | 10% |
| Renovation | 9,152 | 9% |
| Preventive Maintenance | 8,337 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 7,962 | 8% |
| Painting | 7,480 | 7% |
| Facility Operations | 7,130 | 7% |
| Procurement | 7,129 | 7% |
| Carpentry | 7,035 | 7% |
| Purchasing | 6,666 | 6% |
| Operations Management | 6,124 | 6% |
| Housekeeping | 5,888 | 6% |
| Landscaping | 5,850 | 6% |
| Environment Health And Safety | 5,696 | 6% |
| Accounting | 5,675 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 49,425 | 48% |
| Operations | 47,990 | 47% |
| Communication | 45,466 | 44% |
| Leadership | 29,850 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 29,576 | 29% |
| Planning | 23,414 | 23% |
| Coordinating | 20,145 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 16,663 | 16% |
| Scheduling | 15,836 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 15,623 | 15% |
| Writing | 15,154 | 15% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,379 | 14% |
| Detail Oriented | 13,261 | 13% |
| Budgeting | 13,005 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,069 | 11% |
| Lifting Ability | 10,621 | 10% |
| Computer Literacy | 10,451 | 10% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 10,231 | 10% |
| Supervision | 9,433 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 9,426 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Facilities Managers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 30,705 | 27.2% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 14,406 | 12.8% |
| Facilities Technicians | 10,795 | 9.6% |
| Directors of Facilities | 6,584 | 5.8% |
| Facilities Supervisors | 7,753 | 6.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was facilities managers, with 11,771 unique job postings. Facilities coordinators were second, with 3,811 postings, followed by facilities technicians, directors of facilities and facilities supervisors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to facilities managers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 30,705 | 27.2% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 14,406 | 12.8% |
| Facilities Technicians | 10,795 | 9.6% |
| Directors of Facilities | 6,584 | 5.8% |
| Facilities Supervisors | 7,753 | 6.9% |
| Facilities Project Managers | 4,940 | 4.4% |
| Facilities Specialists | 5,536 | 4.9% |
| Security Managers | 4,296 | 3.8% |
| Facilities Assistants | 4,317 | 3.8% |
| Facility Administrators | 3,844 | 3.4% |
| Assistant Facilities Managers | 2,959 | 2.6% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Registered Nurses | 3,286 | 2.9% |
| Facility Attendants | 1,557 | 1.4% |
| Security Account Managers | 2,311 | 2.1% |
| Regional Facilities Managers | 2,063 | 1.8% |
| Security Operations Managers | 2,002 | 1.8% |
| Facilities Operations Managers | 1,820 | 1.6% |
| Facility Operations Managers | 1,131 | 1% |
| Directors of Facilities Operations | 1,355 | 1.2% |
| Facility Operations Specialists | 1,054 | 0.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for facilities managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for facilities managers.
How much do facilities managers make?
Facilities Managers: How do you become one?
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