The job outlook for facilities managers is faster on average than other jobs in the U.S., with median salaries in the six-figure range.
It didn’t start that way. When facilities management became a career path, the role itself was simpler. As the job becomes more varied and technical, an array of educational institutions have begun targeting prospective facilities managers—or those who are looking to upskill.
To see how far the role has changed over time and the increased role of education in career development for facilities managers, Facilities Management Advisor spoke with educators and administrators in higher education and industry associations.
Interviews have been edited slightly for clarity.
How do you think the roles of FMs have changed over time?
Jawad AlTamimi, Regional Director, Middle East IFMA FM Consultants Council: FM is a relatively new profession, first coined in the 1980s. In the U.S., it started with workplace management and expanded to include buildings and larger developments. In the Middle East, FM began with maintaining buildings and large-scale projects that were often called “operation and maintenance” roles.
Rapid growth in the 2000s pushed professionals to adapt to broader FM roles. Today, FM has shifted from an operational focus to a strategic one. While tasks like maintaining HVAC systems remain critical, FMs now align their goals with business objectives, focusing on sustainability and technology. In the Middle East, FM is also evolving from a building-centric approach to one that prioritizes people—recognizing that FM’s core purpose is improving the quality of life within the built environment.
Robert Polchinski, Chair, Department of Environmental Control Technology, City Tech, CUNY:
When we started our first FM-related courses at City Tech, we used to have a certificate program in what we call “superintendent technology,” basically for building supers. We would teach a little bit of carpentry, locksmithing, plumbing, the city housing codes, and a few other things. But we started getting fewer and fewer students in the program because they were looking to get a little bit more professional skills than what we offered at the time.
Eventually, I think a lot of corporations started to see the need for people like supers who could also really talk to finance or business people. There really became a need for people like FMs, who had both a technical background and also understood some of the details of management. Now, in our courses, we’re seeing more of a push with engineers and architects coming in who are logical people to put into those FM positions with their familiarity with how buildings work, and because of their education, being more articulate to be able to speak to the finance people in the corporations. That has kind of created this certain level of professionalism in our students.
Bradford Sims, President, Capital Technology University: What I think has changed in the industry—and what they’re trying to wrangle with for the next generation—is that FMs need a little more experience on the computer end of the work. The things that affect facilities now are smart buildings, cybersecurity issues, and environmental control systems. You have to add a lot of technical stuff to your resume if you’re coming out of a trade area now and want to become an FM.
An FM’s role can vary depending on the size of your facilities. You may have a facilities manager who does nothing but sit at a desk and manage all the staff and everything. Another person with the same title may be jumping down in the manhole to check out a problem because that’s how small the facility is.
How is the industry evolving with career development opportunities and educational offerings?
AlTamimi: The FM industry is undergoing significant career development and education changes, driven by the need for professionals to stay relevant and competitive. Staying relevant involves keeping up with advancements in technology and sustainability, while staying competitive requires developing skills like leadership, strategic thinking, and communication.
In the Middle East, particularly in the GCC region [Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates], there’s a clear shift towards more FM education, fueled by rapid growth and initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Universities in the UAE and KSA are now offering FM degrees. However, formal education alone isn’t enough. FM demands a diverse skill set, so a blended approach combining education with targeted training is essential.
Sims: Today, folks interested in FM are looking for a little more knowledge and awareness of all these technical aspects of FM. Just to give you an example: cybersecurity. Now, this is changing, but traditionally, cyber risk insurance is based on the number of exposed IP addresses that you have, so there are systems out there that try to mitigate that. But if you were a plumber and you said, “I want to be a facilities manager,” you may not even be aware of what the IP addresses are.
At Capital Technology University, I added a bunch of new degrees related to FM because I wanted to have breadth in our STEM focus—not just engineering and cybersecurity. Part of that decision was driven by an industry demand for construction management, facilities management, and safety management. We also have regular meetings with the International Facility Management Association, which has several certifications that they consider essential for facilities management. Their certifications don’t count as college credit, but they can help you in your FM career.
Polchinski: You’re getting people coming to study FM in higher ed who come from different angles and whose jobs are expanding. I’ve had people that worked in hotel management and then got involved more on the back side of the hotel—you know, dealing with those aspects—and they’ve come to our school to learn more to do their jobs well. I’ve had students who worked as the comptroller, the head accountant for the company, who were also put in charge of the building’s maintenance, so they come to take classes to learn something about buildings.
What are the benefits of pursuing higher education for FMs?
AlTamimi: The demand for FMs in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is growing rapidly, driven by a boom in infrastructure and built environment projects. However, the supply of qualified FMs is limited, partly due to the profession’s demanding nature, including long hours and complex responsibilities. This has led to professionals from adjacent industries, such as construction and project management, transitioning into FM, often without the necessary skill alignment.
Education is essential to bridge this gap, equipping FMs with the skills needed to meet market demands because organizations now view it as a strategic function, not just a tactical one. In mega projects across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, FMs are involved from the early design stages, years before operations begin. This shift requires FMs to think strategically and align their work with broader organizational goals. Higher education provides the strategic mindset and skills needed for this evolution in the FM industry—from specific technical skills like HVAC maintenance to a more holistic, leadership-oriented approach. For students, this means better career growth, higher salaries, and the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of built environments.
Sims: Whenever the U.S. has a tough job market, some of these areas, like computer-controlled systems for manufacturing, have 100% placement in jobs after their studies. It isn’t a problem.
However, FM has the same problem that all STEM areas have: There’s not enough workforce to fill demand, as many people in these roles are retiring. The biggest challenge is showing students that these are really good long-term career areas and that some of them are recession-proof. You can’t outsource facilities managers overseas. Somebody has to be here physically. You can’t have AI run it. Somebody has to be in that building looking at it, right?
Getting students into FM-related programs is difficult because they don’t know that this is a management career and that you can make good money in it. Organizations like IFMA are really good at getting the word out that this is a profession and will give people certifications based on exams that demonstrate that they understand the core competencies of the job. They also have a foundation and lots of scholarships to fund people in the industry because they know the needs of the marketplace.
At Capital Technology University, we are also encouraging more students to study FM. We have two guarantees for all of our undergraduate students, whether you’re a traditional-age student or you’re transferring: If you don’t have a job in 90 days, you can come back and get 36 credits free to get a certificate in another area. Also, if you don’t have a job that pays at least $60,000 when you graduate, we cover you and your parents’ loan payments until you exceed $60,000 in pay. That’s because all of our degree areas have huge market demand areas. So, it’s not about getting the job. The job’s there and the internships are there.
Polchinski: Some of our students are already working in the field and feel that by getting the bachelor’s degree, it’s going to open up some promotional opportunities for them—or give them more of a chance to move on to something else. Before they study with us, maybe they feel boxed in where they’re working. Higher ed allows them to become marketable, and they can move into a much bigger operation—like those larger corporate FM companies.
A lot of our students also want to move into building operations, and I mean that from an operating engineer standpoint; these are the people who have to babysit all the very large, expensive air conditioning equipment—and they get paid handsomely to do that. So, very often, getting that license or certification and also having a degree is a goal for our students, and I think it makes them a good catch for a lot of organizations.
What newer aspects of FM did you teach in your courses, and why?
AlTamimi: In my courses, I focus on helping FMs stay relevant and competitive. To ensure FMs stay relevant, I emphasize sustainability and technology, as these are critical to addressing the dynamic demands of the job market. I teach participants broader concepts and then narrow down to practical, everyday skills. For example, I train them on using AI language models and tools like Canva to create effective presentations and integrate Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to optimize building performance. These tools enable FMs to work more efficiently and effectively in their day-to-day roles.
Additionally, I integrate sustainability into the curriculum from a built environment perspective and as a broader concept tied to everyday life. My goal is to ignite a passion for sustainability, as I believe excellence in this area requires more than just ticking boxes; it requires genuine passion and commitment. Sustainability is not just another task but a mindset essential for long-term success.
To help FMs stay competitive, I focus on developing strategic thinking, communication, and people skills. I start by emphasizing that the core purpose of FM is not just maintaining buildings but taking care of people. From there, I guide participants through skills like crafting business cases, strategic thinking, systems thinking, and navigating workplace dynamics. These skills are critical for career growth and effective management. FM is inherently a people-centric profession. Unlike roles such as accounting, where interactions may be limited to a few colleagues, FMs manage staff, interact with customers and occupants, and collaborate with individuals across all levels and disciplines within an organization. This makes strong interpersonal and leadership skills essential for success.
Polchinski: At the school, our bachelor’s program in facilities management became the likely combination of the disciplines that work in the building space. So, the program now includes architecture, construction management, civil engineering, and our HVAC program.
Sims: In general, we offer an online bachelor’s in facilities management, an online master’s, and an online doctorate. The bachelor’s and master’s cover the core content of the 11 areas that IFMA says are important to cover, which range from simple things like communications to real estate and sustainability to risk management and project management. We also added stuff that we felt was relevant to those degree areas. Many facilities managers may have come out of the trades years ago and understand things like running mechanical and electrical systems quite well. While some of the other important aspects of FM can be learned on the job, there are other aspects—like managing contracts from your water system treatment to who’s cutting the grass at a facility—that are a big part of the job, and we include in our courses.
Conclusion
How do you want to evolve this year? As the facilities management industry becomes more professional and demand grows, many students looking to join the workforce or FMs looking for a promotion can take advantage of higher education courses and scholarships. Also, if you’re interested in pursuing a certification in FM this year, Facilities Management Advisor outlines 12 certifications to consider here.
Ali Hickerson is a freelance journalist, content writer, and strategist based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Outside of Facilities Management Advisor, Ali’s recent bylines on health and workplace issues have crisscrossed the country and helped advocate for programs and policies that work to create a healthier, more humane, and equitable world.