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Commercial property manager vs building manager

The differences between commercial property managers and building managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a commercial property manager and a building manager. Additionally, a building manager has an average salary of $66,595, which is higher than the $61,361 average annual salary of a commercial property manager.

The top three skills for a commercial property manager include property management, real estate and portfolio. The most important skills for a building manager are building maintenance, emergency situations, and HVAC.

Commercial property manager vs building manager overview

Commercial Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Yearly salary$61,361$66,595
Hourly rate$29.50$32.02
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs42,36915,982
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a commercial property manager do?

A commercial property manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the daily operations at commercial properties. They manage all leasing activities and serve as the tenants' point of contact. Their responsibilities include preparing and processing documents, answering inquiries and correspondence, supervising the property staff, and developing strategies to optimize operations. There are also instances where they must collect and process payments. Furthermore, as a manager, it is their duty to handle issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently.

What does a building manager do?

Building managers are executives who oversee the maintenance and safety of properties and make sure that these properties comply with the organization's goals. The managers coordinate and manage the safety, security, and maintenance of the general building. They are tasked to supervise janitorial staff in cleaning the building. It is their responsibility to keep organized and clear records related to security issues and occupant complaints. They should be equipped with organizational skills, attention to detail, and communication skills.

Commercial property manager vs building manager salary

Commercial property managers and building managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Commercial Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Average salary$61,361$66,595
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $103,000Between $37,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CACambridge, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaConnecticut
Best paying companyWestern Alliance BankApple
Best paying industryNon ProfitsReal Estate

Differences between commercial property manager and building manager education

There are a few differences between a commercial property manager and a building manager in terms of educational background:

Commercial Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Commercial property manager vs building manager demographics

Here are the differences between commercial property managers' and building managers' demographics:

Commercial Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 39.8% Female, 60.2%Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 64.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 63.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between commercial property manager and building manager duties and responsibilities

Commercial property manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage vendors including developing key performance indicators plus RFP and provider selection.
  • Manage segment's treasury function including equity forecasting and investment requests as well as lender relations in a difficult banking environment.
  • Train entire company on new software OneSite from old version of YARDI.
  • Employ contractors to repair and maintain the building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and operating equipment.
  • Lease vacant commercial space, prepare lease and abstract, bill monthly rents, input data into Yardi.
  • Perform a variety of maintenance and construction duties involving 21 HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical and structural building and maintenance.
  • Show more

Building manager example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate leadership, accountability, and teamwork when managing the budget by empowering staff members to participate in controlling expenditures.
  • Supervise electrical, plumbing, mechanical and general carpentry works.
  • Perform renovation repairs including painting, plastering, electrical and plumbing repairs.
  • Maintain cleanliness of common spaces; including garbage/recycling removal and snow removal.
  • Provide first aid and CPR as required.
  • Offer basic first aid and CPR when need.
  • Show more

Commercial property manager vs building manager skills

Common commercial property manager skills
  • Property Management, 12%
  • Real Estate, 11%
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • Commercial Property, 7%
  • Yardi, 5%
  • Cam, 5%
Common building manager skills
  • Building Maintenance, 8%
  • Emergency Situations, 8%
  • HVAC, 7%
  • Quality Customer Service, 7%
  • Facilities Management, 5%
  • Emergency Procedures, 4%

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