Facilities Administrator: Salary and Career Facts
Research what it takes to become a facilities administrator. Learn about education requirements, job duties, and average wages to find out if this is the career for you.
What Is a Facilities Administrator?
Facilities administrators manage properties in a wide range of industries. They are responsible for maintaining buildings, the surrounding grounds and a variety of supplies and equipment. They also handle environmental factors, oversee maintenance and supervise projects in or around the facility. Facilities administrators ensure that all structures, renovation projects or additions comply with safety, health and environmental regulations and laws. These professionals constantly monitor their facility for safety and security. Often these administrators manage custodial workers, grounds keepers and other maintenance staff. The following chart gives you an overview about entering this field.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Degree Required</b></td><td>Bachelor's degree common, graduate degree optional</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Education Field of Study</b></td><td>Business administration, facility management or civil engineering</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Responsibilities</b></td><td>Manage properties, design new facilities, perform renovations, negotiate lease terms, participate in real estate sales</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Job Growth (2020-2030)</b></td><td> 9% (for all administrative services and facilities managers)*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Mean Salary (2020)</b></td><td>$108,120 (for all administrative services and facilities managers)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---WhatWillIDoAsAFacilitiesAdministrator">What Will I Do as a Facilities Administrator?</h3><p>Facilities managers, or administrators, perform a number of tasks across a wide range of industries. You can find work in the hospitality, medical or property management fields. Facilities administrators ensure the properties they manage operate efficiently. In some cases, administrators design new facilities or manage the renovation of existing ones.
</p><p>In this position, you can expect to perform a range of tasks related to operations management, maintenance and security. You will design or plan workspace environments, negotiate the terms of leases, participate in the real estate sales process and ensure a facility's grounds and security meet minimum standards.
</p><p>You may also work with maintenance staff to process repair requests and oversee the preventative maintenance process. In specialized positions, such as those at medical facilities, employers may require that you have experience with behavioral management or medical facilities management.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatEducationOrCertificationWillINeed">What Education or Certification Will I Need?</h3><p>Education requirements vary significantly depending on the employer and complexity of the position. Most facilities managers pursue a bachelor's degree in business administration, facility management or civil engineering. You can expect to take courses in building construction, structural analysis and environment if you pursue a civil engineering degree. Business administration programs typically offer courses in finance, business operations, human resources management and statistics. Facilities management programs, which typically begin at the graduate level, offer a foundation in interior and exterior finishes, project management and HVAC systems.
</p><p>The International Facility Management Association confers the Facility Management Professional, Sustainability Facility Professional and the Certified Facility Manager designations. The organization offers courses to help you prepare for certification.
</p><h3 id="section---HowMuchCanIExpectToEarn">How Much Can I Expect to Earn?</h3><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that administrative services managers earned an average salary of $108,120 annually in 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). Most employees in this occupation earned between $56,080 and $169,930 annually during the same period. Your salary will vary depending on several factors, including your location and employer.
</p><h3 id="section---WhatAreSomeRelatedAlternativeCareers">What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?</h3><p>Several related careers include cost estimators, top executives and buyers and purchasing agents. All of these positions require at least a bachelor's degree. Cost estimators study and predict the different variables that go into producing a product or providing a service. For example, they may calculate how much labor will be required, as well as how much that labor may cost. Top executives run the daily operations of an organization and work to help the organization meet its goals. They may do this by creating policies or developing strategic plans. Buyers and purchasing agents negotiate with vendors to acquire products or services for their organization to resell. They often develop and monitor contracts with different vendors and suppliers.</p>