Facilities manager salary UK: pay by region and level

What do the official figures show?

The ONS does not publish pay for facilities managers on their own. Its Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings puts them in occupation code 1251, property, housing and estate managers. That group also covers people who manage shopping centres, residential estates and offices. Across the UK, the middle half of the group earns £36,200 to £65,800, and the median is £46,800. These are provisional April 2026 figures, moved to current-year terms with a wage index.

The National Careers Service gives a lower range for facilities managers alone. It says £26,000 for a starter and £50,000 for someone experienced. The two sets of figures measure different things. The ONS group includes senior estate and property managers, while the careers service range begins at entry level. Use the ONS median as a guide to what an established manager earns, and the careers service figure as a guide to where you might start.

How much does region change pay?

London pays the most. Its modelled median is £55,000 and its upper quartile is £77,400. The South East comes next at £48,600, then the West Midlands at £47,700. The North East has the lowest median at £42,400, followed by Wales at £43,100. Scotland's median is £44,000. The North West and East Midlands both sit at £44,800. At the median, London pays about £12,600 more than the North East.

You can work in-house for an organisation such as the NHS or a university, or for a company that sells facilities services. Skills England says facilities managers work across the private, public and third sectors. None of the sources we reviewed compares pay between these employers, so this guide does not give sector figures. Ask about pay at interview, and compare pension and benefits as well as base salary.

The ladder from coordinator to head of FM

The National Careers Service says you can start as a management assistant or a facilities apprentice and work your way up. Here are some recent adverts. An apprenticeship in Aldermaston offered £24,500. A Facilities Coordinator job on the government's Find a job service paid £35,000 in early 2025, and a Senior Facilities Coordinator job paid £35,500 that August. Renfrewshire Council advertised a repairs and compliance coordinator role at £41,080 to £43,161. Each of these is one advert, not an average.

Skills England's Level 4 facilities manager standard lists the jobs at that level: facilities manager, FM operations manager, estates manager and FM contract manager. The next steps are senior facilities manager, head of estates, or a regional role covering several properties. The UK upper quartile of £65,800 is the most reliable guide to senior pay. No source we found gives a confirmed national figure for a head of FM.

What lifts your pay?

Professional qualifications and the size of what you manage make the biggest difference. Employers often support study for qualifications from the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). If you finish the Level 4 facilities manager apprenticeship, you get the IWFM Level 4 Diploma and meet the requirements for IWFM Associate grade. Taking on more sites, bigger budgets or contractor management helps you move toward the upper quartile. The IWFM also runs its own Pay and Prospects survey of the profession.

Pay

United Kingdom

£36,200–65,800

London

£42,600–77,400

South East

£37,600–68,300

West Midlands

£36,900–67,000

East

£34,500–62,700

North West

£34,600–62,900

Scotland

£34,000–61,900

Wales

£33,300–60,600

North East

£32,800–59,600

GBP a year, before tax. Figures show the 25th to 75th percentile for property, housing and estate managers (SOC 1251) from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, April 2026 (provisional), moved to current-year terms with a wage index. Regional figures are modelled. Site count, budget size and qualifications move pay within these ranges. Refer to the Facilities Management salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

No set entry routeThe National Careers Service lists four ways in: a university course, an apprenticeship, working your way up from a related job, or applying directly with relevant experience.
Degree routeRelevant subjects include facilities management, building services management, business and management, and building surveying. A degree usually needs 2 to 3 A levels or equivalent.
ApprenticeshipsThere is a Level 3 facilities management supervisor apprenticeship, a Level 4 facilities manager apprenticeship and a Level 6 senior and head of facilities management degree apprenticeship. They take 2 to 4 years.
Level 4 standardSkills England's facilities manager standard, ST0484, typically takes 24 months (not counting the end-point assessment) and includes the IWFM Level 4 Diploma in FM. Apprentices join IWFM at Affiliate grade while they train.
Useful backgroundFor direct entry, qualifications in building services engineering, surveying, or health and safety can give you an advantage.

How to get there

EntryAssistant or apprenticeJoin a facilities team as a management assistant or apprentice. One recent apprenticeship advert offered £24,500.
Early careerFacilities coordinatorCoordinate repairs, contractors and compliance records. Recent adverts paid between £35,000 and £43,161.
About 24 monthsLevel 4 qualificationTake the IWFM Level 4 Diploma, on its own or within the Level 4 facilities manager apprenticeship, which typically takes 24 months plus the end-point assessment.
EstablishedFacilities managerRun FM services for one or more sites or contracts, including budgets and compliance. The UK median for the ONS group is £46,800.
Mid careerSenior or regional FMLook after a portfolio of properties across an area, or lead a large site.
SeniorHead of estates or FMLead the whole facilities function. The Level 6 degree apprenticeship is designed for this level.

Open now on PropertyRoles.uk

Block Facilities Manager - Lloyds LivingLloyds Banking Group · Manchester, England

Residential Facilities ManagerThe Crown Estate · London, England

Facilities ManagerTTP · Cambridge, England

Estate & Facilities Manager - Commercial Property Management - Southampton Science ParkLambert Smith Hampton · Southampton, England

Facilities Manager - Soft ServicesLabcorp · Eye, England

Facilities ManagerGreystar · London, England

See all →

Questions people ask

What is the average facilities manager salary in the UK?

The median for the ONS group that includes facilities managers is about £46,800 a year. The National Careers Service gives a range of £26,000 for starters to £50,000 for experienced facilities managers.

Where do facilities managers earn the most?

London has the highest modelled median, at £55,000, and its upper quartile is £77,400. The South East (£48,600) and West Midlands (£47,700) come next.

Why do ONS figures look higher than careers service figures?

The ONS counts facilities managers with property, housing and estate managers, which includes many senior estate and property managers. The National Careers Service range starts at entry level, so its lower end is well below the ONS figures.

How much does a facilities coordinator earn?

There is no national figure just for coordinators. Recent adverts on the government's Find a job service paid £35,000 for a facilities coordinator and £35,500 for a senior facilities coordinator. A council coordinator role advertised £41,080 to £43,161.

Do in-house facilities managers earn more than those at FM companies?

None of the sources we reviewed compares pay between in-house teams and FM service providers. Facilities managers work in both, across the private, public and third sectors, so compare each offer on its own terms.

Does an IWFM qualification help with pay?

It strengthens your case for promotion into manager roles. Completing the Level 4 facilities manager apprenticeship gives you the IWFM Level 4 Diploma and meets the requirements for IWFM Associate grade.

How much does a facilities manager earn in the UK?