What is the salary and career path for a maintenance manager?
A maintenance manager is grouped under the broad Facilities Managers code (SOC 11-3013), which folds maintenance-and-reliability leadership in with building operations, so the OEWS May 2025 median is $106,660 a year ($51.28 an hour), spanning $64,480 at the 10th percentile to $176,120 at the 90th. Managers who own a CMMS, run preventive-maintenance programs and cut equipment downtime at large sites earn in the upper half. BLS projects 3.8% growth over 2024–2034, with roughly 13,200 openings a year. No license is required, though CMRP and IFMA credentials strengthen the profile.
- Maintenance Managers earn a national median $106,660/yr ($51.28/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3013); the top 10% clear $176,120.
- No license is required, though a CMRP and IFMA FMP strengthen a maintenance manager's reliability credentials.
- BLS projects 3.8% growth for 2024–34 across the Facilities Managers code, with roughly 13,200 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from technician and planner through manager to director of maintenance near the $176,120 top decile.
Career Path
How do you become a maintenance manager?
Maintenance Technician / Planner
Performs repairs and PMs or plans work orders under a manager; pay near the BLS 10th percentile.
Maintenance Manager
Leads the maintenance team and owns the PM program and budget — around the $106,660 median.
Senior Maintenance / Reliability Manager
Runs reliability across a large site or multiple lines; earnings near the $138,870 75th percentile.
Director of Maintenance / Facilities
Owns maintenance strategy across sites; top-tier pay near the $176,120 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays maintenance managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3013. National median: $106,660. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does maintenance manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles maintenance managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: maintenance managers rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.8% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly maintenance managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3013 (maintenance managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do maintenance managers need?
Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional — the leading credential validating maintenance and reliability competence. See all state licences →
Facility Management Professional credential covering operations, maintenance and finance for facility leaders.
Safety training and any electrical or HVAC licenses relevant to the equipment the team maintains.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do maintenance managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-3013
Salary Levers
How do maintenance managers earn above the $106,660 BLS median?
Reliability results
Managers who measurably cut downtime and raise uptime move from the $64,480 entry tier toward the $106,660 median.
Site size and complexity
Running maintenance for a large plant or multi-building campus lifts pay toward the $138,870 upper quartile.
Advancement to director
Owning multi-site maintenance strategy pushes earnings toward the $176,120 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a maintenance manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3013. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Maintenance Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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