What the published figures say, and their limits
Jobs and Skills Australia counts about 21,700 facilities managers, with a median age of 49. It does not publish a median wage for the occupation on its own. The closest published figure is for the wider unit group, Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers. Median full-time pay in that group is $2,115 a week, or roughly $110,000 a year.
Treat that unit-group figure with care. The same group includes bank branch managers, cinema managers and boarding kennel operators, so it does not give a clean read on facilities work. Our national estimate of about $113,500 comes from ABS earnings data for May 2025, moved forward to 2026 with a wage index. The two figures are close, which makes each a useful check on the other.
Sector: health, real estate and construction
Jobs and Skills Australia lists the main employers of facilities managers as rental, hiring and real estate services, health care and social assistance, and construction. Each sector values different things. Hospitals and aged care need people who can manage clinical areas, essential services and on-call breakdowns. Retail and office owners care more about tenant experience, outgoings and how contractors perform.
No reliable public data compares pay across these sectors, so judge an offer on its whole package. Government and health roles usually pay on published grades and may add allowances, salary packaging or paid on-call work. Private owners and outsourced service providers set pay role by role. Ask for the base salary, super, any bonus and the vehicle arrangements in writing.
Site size and scope of responsibility
Pay follows how much you are responsible for. Managing one office floor is a different job from running a campus or a regional portfolio of sites. The bigger roles add capital planning, procurement, contractor panels and teams of maintenance staff, and employers grade them higher.
When you compare two jobs with the same title, look past the title. Ask how many sites and square metres you would cover and how big the maintenance and capital budgets are. Ask how many staff and contractors would report to you and whether there is an after-hours roster. These answers usually explain a pay gap better than the job title does.
Trades background and qualifications
Many facilities managers come up through trades and building services. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, 31.1% of facilities managers have a Certificate III or IV as their highest qualification. Another 18.9% hold a diploma or advanced diploma and 16.8% a bachelor degree. A trade background gives you credibility with contractors and helps when you diagnose faults.
Once you are in the role, a facilities qualification helps you move into senior work. The Facility Management Association of Australia and UNE Partnerships deliver a nationally recognised Diploma of Facilities Management. The earlier 10938NAT accreditation ended on 30 September 2026 and the course was replaced (training.gov.au links it to 11477NAT). Check the current course code with UNE Partnerships before you enrol. The course covers leadership, operations, risk management and capital planning. It takes 18 to 24 months online, and entry requires current facilities management work or at least three years of relevant experience.
Pay
AUD a year, before tax. Estimates based on ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, moved to 2026 with a wage index. State figures are modelled, not official. Site size, sector and scope of responsibility move pay most. Refer to the Facilities & Building Management salary guide for figures from live adverts.
What you need
- No single national licenceThere is no single national licence for facilities managers, but some roles or tasks may need registration or a licence. Employers mainly judge you on experience, technical knowledge and how you manage contractors.
- Trade or building backgroundCertificate III or IV is the most common highest qualification among facilities managers, held by 31.1% of them.
- Contract and safety knowledgeExpect to manage contractors, maintenance programs and work health and safety duties. Senior roles add budgets and capital planning.
- Diploma of Facilities Management (optional)The FMA and UNE Partnerships diploma takes 18 to 24 months online and needs current facilities management work or at least three years of relevant experience. Its earlier 10938NAT accreditation ended on 30 September 2026 and the course was replaced (training.gov.au links it to 11477NAT).
How to get there
- StartTrade or building services workBuild hands-on knowledge of maintenance, building systems and contractors.
- Early careerFacilities coordinator or officerCoordinate repairs and planned maintenance, raise work orders and manage contractor attendance.
- After 3 yearsDiploma of Facilities ManagementFormalise your experience through the FMA and UNE Partnerships diploma. You can enrol once you have three years of relevant experience.
- Mid careerFacilities managerRun a site's operations, contracts, budget and safety compliance.
- SeniorMulti-site or portfolio managerTake on several sites or a campus, with larger budgets, capital planning and staff to lead.
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Questions people ask
What is the average facilities manager salary in Australia?
Our ABS-based estimate for a full-time facilities manager in 2026 is about $113,500 a year. The Jobs and Skills Australia median for the wider unit group is $2,115 a week, about $110,000 a year. That group also includes bank and cinema managers.
Which state pays facilities managers the most?
On our modelled figures, Western Australia is highest at about $124,200, followed by the ACT at about $123,700. Tasmania is lowest at about $100,300. NSW sits at about $114,300.
Do hospital facilities managers earn more than retail ones?
No reliable public data compares the two directly. Health care is one of the main employers of facilities managers, and government health roles usually pay on published grades, sometimes with allowances. Compare the full package and the scope of the site, not only the sector.
Do I need a trade to become a facilities manager?
You do not legally need a trade, but many facilities managers have one. Certificate III or IV is the most common highest qualification in the occupation, held by 31.1% of facilities managers.
Does a facilities management diploma increase pay?
No published data links the diploma to a set pay rise. It covers leadership, risk and capital planning, which are the skills senior and multi-site roles ask for. Entry requires current facilities management work or three years of relevant experience.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Facilities Managers (ANZSCO 149913)
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers (1499)
- ABS: Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025
- Facility Management Association of Australia: Diploma of Facilities Management
- training.gov.au: 10938NAT Diploma of Facilities Management
- ABS: ANZSCO 2022 unit group 1499
