Hiring guide · Business & Office
How to Hire a Facilities Manager
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring facilities managers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $106,660), recruit through community college business programs and career centers, verify Certified Facility Manager (CFM) where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for facilities managers
There are about 165,900 facilities managers employed in the U.S., with roughly 14,200 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +4.6% from 2025–35 (about as fast as average). Most openings come from replacing workers who retire or change careers, so a steady pipeline matters.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $64,480–$82,020 | $31.00–$39.43 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $106,660 | $51.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $138,870 | $66.76 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $176,120 | $84.67 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Building systems
- Problem-solving
Nice-to-haves
- Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
- Facility Management Professional (FMP)
- Certified Energy Manager
- Experience with CMMS software
Where to find facilities managers
- Community college business programs and career centers
- Professional associations (such as SHRM, PMI and state CPA societies)
- LinkedIn and niche job boards
- Internal promotion from front-line roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Facility Manager, Building Manager, Facilities Director, Maintenance Manager
Screening checklist
- A skills assessment (Excel, writing or role software)
- Credential verification (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificate)
- Reference checks focused on reliability and accuracy
- A structured interview with a short work sample
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “What building systems do you know?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “How do you plan maintenance?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
3. “How do you manage contractors?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
4. “Describe an emergency you handled.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “How do you save energy?”
What a strong answer includes: Give examples.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Build a Preventive Maintenance Plan (see the steps)
- Cut a Building’s Energy Bill (see the steps)
- Prioritize a Capital Repair List (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as CMMS, Preventive maintenance, Work order
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Facilities Manager 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Facilities Manager training. Show them the path forward: Maintenance Technician → Maintenance Supervisor → Facilities Manager → Director of Facilities.
Hiring facilities managers: FAQ
How much should I pay a facilities manager?
The U.S. median wage for facilities managers is $106,660 per year ($51.28/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($82,020), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($138,870). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a facilities manager have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Certified Facility Manager (CFM) and Facility Management Professional (FMP) where relevant, plus skills such as building systems, maintenance planning, and budgeting.
How long does it take to train a new facilities manager?
Becoming qualified typically takes Several years of experience. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”