by Ann Withanee — December 23, 2011—Who are facilities management professionals and how are they compensated? A survey to draw a definitive profile of the FM professional was conducted by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). The results show a profession on a fast track. The number of workers choosing facilities management as a career is expected to grow, and those entering and already working in the profession can expect to be compensated well.
The facilities management professional of 2011, on average, is college educated, manages more than 1 million square feet of space and multiple employees, has experienced a growth in job responsibilities over the past two years, and is enjoying a base salary increase of 8 percent from 2007 levels, according to the results of IFMA’s salary and demographics survey. (Note: for statistics in this summary, all salary figures are given in U.S. dollars.)
The “Profiles 2011 Salary and Demographics Report,” based on a survey of 4,353 facilities professionals from 45 countries around the world, points to a career path that compensates its practitioners well. Combining base salary and bonus pay, the average facilities professional now pulls in $99,578 in total compensation annually — up from $91,766 in 2007. Even those entering the profession do well, as practitioners with three or fewer years in facilities management earn $65,000 a year, up from $56,000 in 2004.
While today’s facilities managers are well compensated, they are also well educated, with 83 percent having attended college and 64 percent holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Those with college degrees largely studied business (33 percent), engineering (16 percent), facilities management (14 percent) or liberal arts (9 percent). Twenty percent of facilities professionals surveyed report having a master’s or doctoral degree.
More young people are entering facilities management, even as the average age of a facilities manager is 49. Nine percent of 2011 survey respondents were 34 or younger, up from 7 percent in 2007. Of this group, the majority are women. Twelve percent of female survey respondents were 34 or younger, compared to only 8 percent of their male counterparts. Similarly, 23 percent of women surveyed were 35 to 44 years old, as opposed to 21 percent of men.
As with previous surveys, education level also plays a large role in compensation. Survey respondents with a master’s degree report earning an average base pay of $101,629, up from $96,750 in 2007 and $87,000 in 2004. Those with a bachelor’s degree report a base pay of $87,000, an increase from $82,000 in 2007 and $75,000 in 2004. In total, facilities professionals in eight industry sectors — including chemical/pharmaceutical, electronics, the federal government and the media — make an average of $100,000 or more each year.
Similarly, facilities managers with the Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation — which sets the industry standard for ensuring the knowledge and competence of practicing facilities managers—report earning $12,524 more per year than their counterparts without the credential. Those holding a CFM earn on average $101,540 per year in compensation.
According to the report, IFMA’s CFM and FMP (Facilities Management Professional) designations can help facilities professionals earn a higher salary than their counterparts based on the credential holder’s experience level. Survey respondents with a CFM and six to ten years of full-time work experience, for example, report making $15,536 more per year than the average facilities manager with similar experience, while those with an FMP and six to ten years of full-time work experience make $8,727 more.
Additional analysis of 2011 salary data shows that each year a facilities manager spends in the field adds $698 to their overall compensation. Similarly, each year an individual spends with their current employer adds $612 per year to their salary.
Geographic location also plays a role in compensation. Those living in the Northeast United States report earning on average $8,837 more than their counterparts, while those in the Pacific United States report earning on average $8,255 more. Canadian facilities professionals also see a geographic compensation benefit, earning $7,076 more than the average facilities manager.
The complete “Profiles 2011 Salary and Demographics Report” is available for purchase in hard copy or e-file PDF from the IFMA Bookstore.
