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Career Track

Careers in Facilities

Facilities careers involve maintaining and operating buildings and physical infrastructure. From janitors and groundskeepers to facilities managers overseeing entire building portfolios, this track ensures that physical spaces remain functional, safe, and comfortable. It's essential work that most people only notice when something goes wrong.

$17K$239K+
Salary range
By experience level
21.5M
U.S. jobs
Across all roles
Facilities jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Facilities employment by metro · ~387 areas
New York 1.2MLos Angeles 710KChicago 660KDallas 574KHouston 496KMiami 394KWashington 393KAtlanta 390KPhiladelphia 375KPhoenix 358KBoston 325KRiverside 267KSan Francisco 259KMinneapolis 246K
See all metros ▾
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Track
Facilities work is about maintaining the physical environment that everyone else takes for granted. When the HVAC works, the lights turn on, and the building is clean, nobody thinks about it. When any of those fail, suddenly your work is very visible—but not in a good way. The goal is invisible excellence.

Entry-level roles are hands-on: cleaning, basic maintenance, groundskeeping. The work is physical and often solitary. Advancement comes through developing technical skills in specific systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing) or moving into coordination and management roles. Senior positions involve managing teams, vendor relationships, and capital projects.

The work requires practical problem-solving. Buildings are complex systems with components that interact in unexpected ways. You need to diagnose issues quickly and prioritize when multiple things need attention. Emergency response—floods, power outages, security incidents—is part of the job.

People who thrive in facilities enjoy working with their hands and seeing tangible results. They're self-directed and can work independently. They take pride in spaces being well-maintained even if few people notice. They're calm under pressure and can handle emergencies without panicking.

Building uptime and functionality
Maintenance response time
Energy efficiency
Safety compliance
Tenant or occupant satisfaction
Cost management
Common education paths
Common degrees: Facilities Management, Trade certifications
Certifications: HVAC certification, Building operator certification, OSHA training

Facilities roles are accessible without extensive education. Entry points include janitorial work, groundskeeping, or basic maintenance helper positions. Technical skills in specific building systems (HVAC, electrical) increase earning potential. Many facilities professionals build careers within single organizations, developing deep knowledge of specific buildings or campuses.

Employment & Pay Data

How facilities employment and salaries have changed over time, and how pay varies by location.

How this track is changing

$56K$53K$51K$48K$46K201920202021202220232024$46K$56K
BLS OEWS · BLS Employment Projections
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$125K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level →
Salary range across all facilities roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. Midland$77K
2. Boulder$74K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$73K
4. Springfield$70K
5. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$71K in mid-market metros to ~$79K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap — metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $79K
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $79K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont · $77K
Best purchasing power
Midland · $77K adj.
Boulder · $74K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $73K adj.
Most jobs
New York · 1.2M
Los Angeles · 710K
Chicago · 660K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities
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The Career Ladder

Roles in facilities from entry-level to executive, showing how careers progress.

SeniorSee example roles
Senior Pest Control SpecialistLawn Services SupervisorSenior Lawn Care SpecialistGreenskeeper SupervisorLandscape SupervisorSenior Landscaping SpecialistLandscaping SupervisorBuilding Cleaning SupervisorJanitorial SupervisorCleaning Staff Supervisormore →
Facilities by Industry

The share of facilities jobs in each industry, and what they typically pay.

Administrative Services
21%

Facilities management companies and commercial property services. Multi-site oversight, vendor management, career paths to regional roles.

Common roles: Facilities Manager, Property Manager, Regional Facilities Director, Building Operations Manager, Portfolio Manager
$44K
Median salary1
Construction
18%

Building maintenance and renovation. Hands-on work transitioning to supervisory roles. Technical skills in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing valued.

Common roles: Maintenance Supervisor, Building Engineer, Chief Engineer, Facilities Director, Maintenance Manager
$64K
Median salary1
Wholesale & Distribution
7%

Warehouse and distribution center management. Large facilities, complex logistics, 24/7 operations. Strong demand for experienced managers.

Common roles: Warehouse Manager, Distribution Center Manager, Facilities Coordinator, Operations Manager, Site Manager
$64K
Median salary1
Healthcare
7%

Hospital and clinic facilities are highly regulated and critical to patient care. Specialized knowledge required, excellent job security.

Common roles: Healthcare Facilities Manager, Hospital Engineer, Biomedical Equipment Manager, Environmental Services Director, Plant Operations Director
$48K
Median salary1
Government
7%

Public buildings, schools, and municipal facilities. Union positions, strong benefits, pension plans. Slower pace but excellent stability.

Common roles: Facilities Supervisor, Public Works Manager, Building Superintendent, Maintenance Director, Campus Facilities Manager
$66K
Median salary1
Consumer Services
7%

Property maintenance, cleaning services, and building repair. Service-oriented, customer-facing, entrepreneurial opportunities.

Common roles: Property Maintenance Manager, Service Manager, Maintenance Coordinator, Building Caretaker, Facilities Technician
$52K
Median salary1
1 Median salary for facilities occupations employed within this industry sector. Source: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Careers & Skills

Based on federal workforce data across facilities occupations.

Building systems knowledge
Basic maintenance and repair
Safety protocols
Physical stamina
Problem diagnosis
Vendor coordination
Specialized technical expertise
Energy management
Project management
Budget oversight
Emergency response planning
Occupant communication
Security coordination
Construction project liaison
Compliance reporting
Core
Differentiating
Cross-functional

Tracks that facilities teams collaborate with most.

Building security, access control, emergency procedures, safety protocols.
Office services, workspace management, employee amenities, event support.
Facilities budgets, lease management, capital projects, utility costs.
Building maintenance, repairs, preventive maintenance, contractor coordination.

Map your path in Facilities

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 · O*NET OnLine 29.0 · BEA Regional Price Parities
Truest editorial: Track narrative, industry context, career progression analysis, cross-functional mapping, skills aggregation, geographic analysis.