Salary Survey

How much should an organization pay somebody who oversees the infrastructure that allows a company or university or government entity to achieve its mission? Moreover, should that amount vary whether the organization is a corporation or a hospital? Exactly how much are facility executives worth?

Facility executives, ranging from specialists to directors and vice presidents, earn salaries that vary with the industry in which they work as well as the amount of square feet they oversee and the size of their organization’s facility budgets, according to data gathered through an online salary survey.

The highest-paid position by title is vice president/director of real estate with a median annual salary of $104,000, according to the data. Next is vice president/director of design and construction with a median salary of $92,500, followed by vice president/director of facilities and vice president/director of maintenance and engineering, which both had median salaries of $85,000.

The median salary for facility/building managers was $60,000.

Salary data was gathered through SalaryBase, an online survey on FacilitiesNet, the Web site of Building Operating Management and Maintenance Solutions magazines. Data analyzed for this article was submitted between January 2004 and August 2005 and included 4,903 responses.

The median is a measure used to indicate the middle point in a set of numerical data. Half of those who responded to the survey earned more than the median while the other half earned less. Statistically, the median is a better measure of central tendency than the average because numbers that are extremely high or low do not distort it.

But what’s in a number?

Facility executive salaries vary depending upon the amount of square footage they oversee, the size of their organization’s facility budget and the building type. The highest-paying market sector for vice presidents/directors of facilities was the industrial sector, where the median salary was $124,500. The median salary for facility/building managers in the industrial sector was $73,500, which was also the best-paying sector for that title.

The second-highest paying sectors for vice presidents and directors of facilities were retail and corporate office, which each had median salaries of $100,000. In each of those sectors, the median salary for facility/building managers was $65,000.

The segment in which vice presidents and directors of facilities earned the least was the municipal government sector with a median salary of $75,000.

Not surprisingly, facility executives responsible for larger budgets and more square feet earned more than their counterparts at organizations with smaller budgets and fewer square feet. The median salary of vice presidents and directors of facilities at organizations with more than 1 million square feet was $100,000. That compares to $80,000 for those at organizations with less than 1 million square feet.

Likewise, vice presidents and directors of facilities with budgets exceeding $20 million earned median salaries of $111,500, while those with budgets of less than $20 million earned median salaries of $80,000.

Underappreciated

Stormy Friday of The Friday group says there is still a sense among professionals that they should be better compensated.

“For the practice of facility management, pay has always been lower than what people think it should be,” Friday says. “Facility managers see IT as their competition and think that they should make as much as the folks do over there.”

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals in information technology jobs have averaged salary increases ranging from 3 to 4 percent over a seven-year period ending in 2003. Meanwhile, those in facility-related jobs have averaged increases of just 2 percent. In some years, facility staff pay decreased, according to the bureau’s data.

As a Fellow of the International Facility Management Association, which also conducts salary surveys, Friday has exposure to facility executives and opportunities to discuss compensation. She has also worked with job placement firms and has conducted executive searches for companies trying to locate facility executives.

Although survey respondents weren’t asked to indicate education levels, experience levels, certifications or other data, Friday says those variables have a significant influence on compensation levels.

IFMA salary surveys indicate that facility executives with professional certifications earn about 20 percent more than those without them. And that difference is likely to grow.

Friday says people entering the facility field are more likely to have the certifications than were new entrants a decade or so ago. Some employers look for certifications before hiring individuals.

In some cases, accountants, engineers, human resource managers or others decide to make a career change and seek certification at that point. If an organization really wants to hire a facility person from within its own organization, Friday says, the firm will usually pay for the certification if the person is switching departments.

Banking on Business Sense

There seems to be another phenomenon associated with people who come to facilities from other departments: Those who transfer departments make more money. “I would say that those who have come into facilities from outside departments tend to make more than those who come up through the ranks,” Friday says.

Why somebody with an accounting background who moves into facilities might make more than someone who has made their career of facilities has as much to do with different skills sets of each person as it does with how facility executives view their careers.

Some organizations are willing to pay more for a person with a master’s degree in business administration who becomes a facility executive than they are for somebody who has spent a career managing facilities, Friday says. That’s partly because the skills organizations are looking for in facility executives have changed over time.

“I think the reality is that people with a business degree fare better,” Friday says.

Vicky Hardy, academic department head of design and facilities at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, says while knowledge of facilities and related systems is important for all facilities personnel, general business knowledge and skills are keys to success at the top levels.

Although facility executives need not be certified public accountants, they should have some sense of financial accounting principles, including knowing how to read and interpret balance sheets, income statements and equity statements.

“The important ability is to be able to have a coherent, intelligent conservation with the CFO,” Hardy says. “You have to be able to speak the dialect of finance. You have to be able to talk with senior management.”

Seasoned facility executives, while having the real-world experience that no recent college graduate could replace, want to be sure they stay current on technology used in day-to-day business dealings, Hardy says.

Today’s graduates have an advantage over experienced facility executives: They came of age using laptop computers, instant-messaging systems and other information technologies. What’s more, Hardy says, students entering facilities careers understand the importance of learning new software quickly, interpreting databases and staying flexible to technology changes.

“People entering facilities now are comfortable with being wired in,” she says. “That gives them an advantage because it’s no longer sufficient to be just a really cracker-jack facility manager. You’ve got to be able to communicate.”

On the Move

It’s no secret that a person moving from company to company usually earns a higher salary than one who stays within the same organization. Friday says facility executives tend to stay with their organizations longer than those in a financial or high-tech field. While a facility manager might work for one company for 15 years, a computer programmer might work for three companies and an accountant for two companies over that same time period.

Those who switch organizations at such a pace tend to be more savvy — and more comfortable — when it comes to negotiating compensation packages. And there’s more to negotiating than just asking for more money.

Facility executives should be open to being compensated in ways that go beyond cash, Friday says. They should ask about whether bonuses are available based on performance, whether stock options can be awarded, and whether tuition reimbursement and travel to industry events can be included as part of compensation.
More importantly, facility executives should try to negotiate an agreement that sets terms for dismissal should an organization’s facility function be outsourced.

“Nobody likes to think about losing their job when they’ve just been hired, but facility executives should look at what kind of parachute is available,” Friday says.

Facility executives focused solely on salary figures when it comes to negotiating compensation can unknowingly put a job offer at risk. Hardy says most large organizations have predetermined salary ranges for executive positions.

“I’m always surprised that people go into an organization and ask for something the company can’t do,” she says. “If you ask for $150,000 and the most the organization can offer is $125,000, what are they going to do?”

To avoid that situation, Hardy suggests listening carefully to what organizations say during the hiring process. Often, hints dropped during interviews give candidates permission to ask questions about compensation, including things such as tuition reimbursement plans and salary ranges.

If those hints are given, Hardy suggests asking colleagues in similar positions what they make and using published data to get an idea of salary ranges.

“If you don’t get the salary you want, perhaps the company will allow you to do some outside consulting,” she says.

Facility executives trying to use education as a way to earn more money should evaluate what type of advanced degree or certification would help lead to salary increases. Hardy suggests asking colleagues for their impressions of strengths and weaknesses. As difficult as it might be to stomach some of the feedback, she says, the results can be useful in advancing on a career track.

One bit of advice Hardy offers is that facility executives with a general background, such as those with a degree in facility management or master’s degree in management science, should look at becoming specialists in architecture, interior planning or some other focused field. Those with a specialty background should consider broader areas of study.

What has become clear in the age of tightened security is the need for facility executives to keep senior managers informed about facility conditions, emergency response plans and how buildings fit into business continuity plans. Although cost pressures have — and will always — exist, senior management understands perhaps more than ever the role facility executives play in keeping an organization running. Sometimes, they might need to be reminded of that when it comes to salary negotiations.

“Since 9/11, what has come to the forefront is that we are involved in issues that affect human life,” Hardy says.

Vice Presidents VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Median salary: $85,000 Range: $22,000 to $250,000 Median salary by number of square feet: 100,000 to less than 250,000: $82,000 250,000 to less than 500,000: $80,000 500,000 to less than 1 million: $83,500 1 million to less than 2 million: $94,500 2 million to less than 3 million: $94,000 3 million to less than 5 million: $108,500 5 million or more: $121,000 Median salary by facility budget: Less than $1 million: $60,000 $1 million to less than $5 million: $76,000 $5 million to less than $10 million: $93,000 $10 million to less than $20 million: $96,500 $20 million to less than $30 million: $112,500 $30 million to less than $40 million: $111,000 $40 million to less than $50 million: 100,000 More than $50 million: $106,500 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $100,000 Leased space: $92,000 Higher education: $82,500 K-12 education: $72,500 Medical: $83,500 VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF REAL ESTATE Median salary: $104,000 Range: $45,000 to $250,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $125,000 Less than 1 million: $98,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $140,000 Less than $20 million: $100,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $115,000 Leased space: $122,500 VICE PRESIDENT/ DIRECTOR OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Median salary: $92,500 Range: $40,000 to $200,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $100,000 Less than 1 million: $85,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $92,500 Less than $20 million: $92,500 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $92,500 VICE PRESIDENT/ DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE Median salary: $85,000 Range: $40,000 to $185,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $107,500 Less than 1 million: $80,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $130,000 Less than $20 million: $84,000 Median salary at selected building types: Hospitality: $104,000 Medical: $81,000 VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES ENGINEERING Median salary: $75,500 Range: $30,000 to $190,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $98,000 Less than 1 million: $73,500 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $93,000 Less than $20 million: $75,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $107,500 Medical: $73,000 VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF BUILDING AND GROUNDS Median salary: $69,375 Range: $30,000 to $135,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $83,000 Less than 1 million: $58,500 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $90,500 Less than $20 million: $68,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $87,500 K-12 Education: $57,000

Survey Methodology Data for this report was submitted through an online survey on FacilitiesNet, the Web site of Building Operating Management and Maintenance Solutions magazines. SalaryBase contains data on how much money facility executives earn dating back to 1999. This report analyzes data submitted between Jan. 1, 2004 and Aug. 1, 2005. Nearly 5,000 responses were analyzed for this survey report. Those participating in the SalaryBase survey were not selected at random. All data submitted is based on the desire of those visiting SalaryBase to share how much they make and information about a few variables that might influence their pay. If a respondent submitted what appeared to be an exorbitantly high or low salary, the response was thrown out of the data set. As a result, a number of the salary ranges indicated in the graphics accompanying this report show a minimum salary of $20,000. Median salary data is reported in the graphics accompanying this report only for those variables in which a substantial number of submissions were received. For some titles, such as facility/building manager, there was a sufficient response to justify reporting median salary data for all ranges of facility budget size, number of square feet and building type. For others, budget and square foot categories were grouped to increase the number of responses for each level reported. A similar analysis was done in deciding which categories of building types to report median salaries for certain titles.

Facility/ Property Management FACILITY/BUILDING MANAGER Median salary: $60,000 Range: $20,000 to $170,000 Median salary by number of square feet: 100,000 to less than 250,000: $57,500 250,000 to less than 500,000: $63,000 500,000 to less than 1 million: $65,500 1 million to less than 2 million: $72,000 2 million to less than 3 million: $67,500 3 million to less than 5 million: $86,500 5 million or more: $81,000 Median salary by facility budget: $1 million to less than $5 million: $60,000 $5 million to less than $10 million: $71,000 $10 million to less than $20 million: $77,500 $20 million to less than $30 million: $70,000 $30 million to less than $40 million: $68,500 $40 million to less than $50 million: $61,500 More than $50 million: $70,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $65,000 Leased space: $60,000 Higher education: $50,500 K-12 education: $60,000 Federal government: $65,500 State government: $59,000 Municipal government: $60,000 Hospitality: $55,000 Industrial: $73,500 Medical: $60,000 Retail: $65,000 SENIOR PROPERTY MANAGER Median salary: $70,000 Range: $25,000 to $128,750 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $75,000 Less than 1 million: $69,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $92,000 Less than $20 million: $68,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $78,500 Leased space: $69,000 PROPERTY MANAGER Median salary: $60,000 Range: $20,000 to $170,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $66,500 Less than 1 million: $60,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $58,500 Less than $20 million: $60,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $63,500 Leased space: $60,000 FACILITIES COORDINATOR/SUPERVISOR Median salary: $50,000 Range: $20,000 to $135,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million square feet: $52,000 Less than 1 million square feet: $49,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $47,500 Less than $20 million: $50,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $50,000 Leased space: $46,000 Higher education: $49,500 K-12 education: $55,000 Federal government: $61,500 State government: $42,000 Municipal government: $51,500 Industrial: $54,000 Medical: $51,000 ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER Median salary: $45,000 Range: $25,000 to $125,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $47,000 Less than 1 million: $45,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $48,500 Less than $20 million: $45,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $50,000 Leased space: $45,000 Specialists ASSET MANAGER Median salary: $66,250 Range: $26,000 to $150,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $73,000 Less than 1 million: $60,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $76,000 Less than $20 million: $60,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $72,000 Leased space: $94,000 ENERGY MANAGER Median salary: $60,000 Range: $20,000 to $140,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $65,000 Less than 1 million: $50,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $80,000 Less than $20 million: $56,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $70,000 Higher education: $53,500 K-12 education: $56,000 PROJECT MANAGER Median salary: $60,500 Range: $24,000 to $110,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $63,500 Less than 1 million: $60,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $64,500 Less than $20 million: $60,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $65,000 Leased space: $65,500 Higher education: $50,000 Federal government: $62,500 Medical: $62,000 SPACE PLANNER Median salary: $50,000 Range: $20,000 to $100,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $50,000 Less than 1 million: $51,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $51,000 Less than $20 million: $50,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $52,500 CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Median salary: $60,000 Range: $32,000 to $145,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $69,000 Less than 1 million: $60,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $71,500 Less than $20 million: $59,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $57,500 Medical: $64,000   Operations & Engineering DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL PLANT Median salary: $70,000 Range: $23,600 to $150,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $81,500 Less than 1 million: $60,500 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $89,500 Less than $20 million: $66,500 Median salary at selected building types: Higher education: $65,500 K-12 education: $70,000 Medical: $70,000 PLANT/OPERATIONS MANAGER Median salary: $59,000 Range: $22,000 to $135,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $65,000 Less than 1 million: $55,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $68,000 Less than $20 million: $55,500 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $65,500 Leased space: $73,500 Higher education: $55,000 K-12 education: $57,500 Industrial: $77,500 Medical: $60,500 CHIEF ENGINEER Median salary: $60,000 Range: $24,000 to $150,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $70,000 Less than 1 million: $57,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $70,000 Less than $20 million: $60,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $64,500 Leased space: $60,000 Hospitality: $56,000 FACILITY/BUILDING ENGINEER Median salary: $50,000 Range: $20,000 to $106,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $53,000 Less than 1 million: $50,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $61,000 Less than $20 million: $50,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $52,000 Leased space: $44,500 Federal government: $71,000 Industrial: $61,000 Medical: $50,000 Maintenance MAINTENANCE MANAGER Median salary: $50,000 Range: $24,000 to $130,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $61,500 Less than 1 million: $50,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $67,000 Less than $20 million: $50,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $60,000 K-12 education: $50,000 Industrial: $59,500 Medical: $47,500 MAINTENANCE ENGINEER Median salary: $42,000 Range: $20,000 to $112,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $50,500 Less than 1 million: $41,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $47,500 Less than $20 million: $41,500 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $45,500 Leased space: $40,500 MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR Median salary: $50,000 Range: $20,000 to $100,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $57,000 Less than 1 million: $48,500 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $59,500 Less than $20 million: $50,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $53,500 K-12 education: $48,500 Industrial: $56,500 Medical: $48,000 MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN Median salary: $36,000 Range: $20,000 to $75,000 Median salary by number of square feet: Greater than 1 million: $40,000 Less than 1 million: $36,000 Median salary by facility budget: Greater than $20 million: $38,500 Less than $20 million: $36,000 Median salary at selected building types: Corporate office: $40,000 Leased space: $35,500 K-12 education: $35,500 Industrial: $43,500

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