March 8, 2004—The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has released a new salary report that shows an estimated 21 percent leap in compensation for facility management professionals in the last five years. The Profiles 2003 report, based on a survey of 4,700 IFMA members, shows the median base salary for facility professionals has risen to $72,500, up from $60,000 reported in the 1998 Profiles report. Total compensation, including bonuses, averaged $86,611.
Advanced degrees and the Certified Facility Manager designation have a significant impact on earning potential, the report shows. The CFM alone can add $3,313 to a facility manager’s paycheck, while an MBA increases compensation by as much as $24,000. Staying at the same company increases salary, but holding the same position erodes the gain. Switching jobs within the same company may mean an increase.
Ninety-five percent of reported base salaries range from $40,000 to $150,000. Overall, base salaries increased about 20 percent across all job levels and bonus participation continued to increase, especially in the lower job levels.
Data for the survey was collected via the Internet and by mail in July through September 2003, with a 44 percent response rate for a total of 4,693 responses. The average respondent has 25 years of full-time working experience, with 14 of those in facility management-an increase of three years since the 1998 study. The average age jumped from 45 to 47. The number of women in FM also is increasing, with 31 percent of female respondents today compared to 29 percent in 1998. Females in the lower positions also increased, from 39 percent in 1998 to 43 percent today.
More than half of respondents (55 percent) say they have remained in the same position since last year, but that their responsibilities have increased. About 42 percent of respondents report multiple responsibilities. Operations and maintenance and energy management comprise 19 percent of the sample; facility planning and space management, 12 percent; architectural, engineering and construction, 11 percent; administrative services, 7 percent; and real estate, 3 percent. Health, safety and environmental services accounted for less than 1 percent. Twenty six percent of survey respondents manage facilities with one million square feet or more, and a quarter of the facilities serve 2,500 employees or more.
A little more than half of respondents come from the services sector, down from 62 percent in 1998. The manufacturing sector represented 24 percent, up from 20 percent in 1998. Responses from government and education institutions also showed an increase, up to 24 percent from 18 percent in the previous study.
To obtain a copy of Profiles 2003 (IFMA Research Report #24), contact the IFMA bookstore at 713-623-4362 or e-mail bookstore@ifma.org.
