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
- Security Site Supervisors
- Security Supervisors
- Directors of Facilities
- Facilities Specialists
- Security Managers
- Facilities Engineers
- Facilities Maintenance Managers
- Facilities Project Managers
- Directors of Security
- Assistant Facilities Managers
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: 7.5%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.7%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 5.6%
- Traveler Accommodation: 4%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 4%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 3.7%
- Other: 69.5%
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 2022, about 7.5% of all jobs for facilities managers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.7%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (5.6%), Traveler Accommodation (4%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (4%) and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (3.7%).
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 86,438 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Facilities Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 25,306 | 29% |
| Project Management | 15,445 | 18% |
| Construction | 13,583 | 16% |
| HVAC | 12,370 | 14% |
| Workflow Management | 11,516 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Facilities Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 41,757 | 48% |
| Management | 41,299 | 48% |
| Communications | 37,112 | 43% |
| Customer Service | 34,735 | 40% |
| Scheduling | 24,214 | 28% |
Based on 86,438 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, workflow management and warehousing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for facilities managers, followed by management, communications, customer service, scheduling and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facility Management | 25,306 | 29% |
| Project Management | 15,445 | 18% |
| Construction | 13,583 | 16% |
| HVAC | 12,370 | 14% |
| Workflow Management | 11,516 | 13% |
| Warehousing | 11,230 | 13% |
| Inventory Management | 10,929 | 13% |
| Facility Repair And Maintenance | 10,117 | 12% |
| Pharmaceuticals | 9,470 | 11% |
| Inventory Control | 9,433 | 11% |
| Plumbing | 9,361 | 11% |
| Asset Protection | 9,203 | 11% |
| Quality Improvement | 9,056 | 10% |
| Merchandising | 8,826 | 10% |
| Medical Prescription | 8,711 | 10% |
| Medication Dispensation | 8,686 | 10% |
| Cash Register | 8,656 | 10% |
| Pharmacist Assistance | 8,584 | 10% |
| Auditing | 8,379 | 10% |
| Renovation | 7,331 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 41,757 | 48% |
| Management | 41,299 | 48% |
| Communications | 37,112 | 43% |
| Customer Service | 34,735 | 40% |
| Scheduling | 24,214 | 28% |
| Coordinating | 23,838 | 28% |
| Leadership | 22,212 | 26% |
| Problem Solving | 20,584 | 24% |
| Planning | 19,601 | 23% |
| Computer Literacy | 18,783 | 22% |
| Detail Oriented | 18,115 | 21% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 14,833 | 17% |
| English Language | 13,394 | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 12,709 | 15% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 11,881 | 14% |
| Sales | 11,714 | 14% |
| Writing | 11,653 | 13% |
| Coaching | 10,675 | 12% |
| Mathematics | 10,653 | 12% |
| Microsoft Excel | 10,577 | 12% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Facilities Managers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 27,381 | 20.1% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 19,839 | 14.6% |
| Security Site Supervisors | 22,140 | 16.3% |
| Security Supervisors | 13,661 | 10% |
| Directors of Facilities | 7,040 | 5.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was facilities managers, with 10,503 unique job postings. Facilities coordinators were second, with 5,610 postings, followed by security site supervisors, security supervisors and directors of facilities.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to facilities managers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities Managers | 27,381 | 20.1% |
| Facilities Coordinators | 19,839 | 14.6% |
| Security Site Supervisors | 22,140 | 16.3% |
| Security Supervisors | 13,661 | 10% |
| Directors of Facilities | 7,040 | 5.2% |
| Facilities Specialists | 6,475 | 4.8% |
| Security Managers | 6,204 | 4.6% |
| Facilities Engineers | 4,064 | 3% |
| Facilities Maintenance Managers | 4,134 | 3% |
| Facilities Project Managers | 3,554 | 2.6% |
| Directors of Security | 3,901 | 2.9% |
| Assistant Facilities Managers | 3,772 | 2.8% |
| Security Field Supervisors | 2,633 | 1.9% |
| Regional Facilities Managers | 2,115 | 1.6% |
| Facilities Electrical Engineers | 1,808 | 1.3% |
| Armed Security Supervisors | 2,065 | 1.5% |
| Security Officer Supervisors | 1,595 | 1.2% |
| Security Program Managers | 1,188 | 0.9% |
| Facilities Mechanical Engineers | 1,228 | 0.9% |
| Safety and Security Managers | 1,201 | 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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