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Property manager vs building manager

The differences between 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 property manager and a building manager. Additionally, a building manager has an average salary of $66,595, which is higher than the $49,958 average annual salary of a property manager.

The top three skills for a property manager include customer service, property management and financial reports. The most important skills for a building manager are building maintenance, emergency situations, and HVAC.

Property manager vs building manager overview

Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Yearly salary$49,958$66,595
Hourly rate$24.02$32.02
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs15,40215,982
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a property manager do?

Property managers are responsible for overseeing the real estate properties of their clients. They manage property rentals and leasing and ensure that the terms on these rentals are by what the owner is amenable to. Property managers act as the representative of their client during negotiations and deals. They also set rental prices and other finance-related items since they are familiar with how the market looks. Besides dealing with financial matters, they also manage administrative matters such as enforcing rules and policies, crafting reports, managing contractors, and drafting related documents.

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.

Property manager vs building manager salary

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

Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Average salary$49,958$66,595
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $72,000Between $37,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYCambridge, MA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyConnecticut
Best paying companyNokiaApple
Best paying industryProfessionalReal Estate

Differences between property manager and building manager education

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

Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Property manager vs building manager demographics

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

Property ManagerBuilding Manager
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 38.1% Female, 61.9%Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 63.9% 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 property manager and building manager duties and responsibilities

Property manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage condominiums for individual investors; enforce lease requirements/community policies.
  • Design and manage all company facebook accounts for residents and prospective residents regarding property information and general interest articles.
  • Update resident and unit information utilizing property management software (OneSite )
  • Maintain OSHA files, employee files, payroll files and staff PTO accruals.
  • Record journal entries for accruals.
  • Process applications and coordinate lease signing with new residents in YARDI.
  • 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

Property manager vs building manager skills

Common property manager skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Property Management, 14%
  • Financial Reports, 7%
  • Real Estate, 6%
  • Yardi, 6%
  • Resident Retention, 3%
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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