How Much Do FM Staffing Brokers Really Charge? The 2026 Cost Breakdown

If you manage commercial facilities and use staffing agencies to source HVAC technicians, electricians, plumbers, or maintenance techs, you are almost certainly paying far more than you think. The facility management staffing industry operates on a markup model that is deliberately opaque — and deliberately expensive.

We analyzed publicly available data from staffing industry reports, BLS occupational statistics, and our own operational experience to build a complete picture of what FM staffing actually costs in 2026.

The Industry Markup Range

According to staffing industry analysis, temporary staffing markups typically range from 25% to 75%, with specialized trades like HVAC and fire safety pushing toward the higher end. The industry average sits at 35-41% for general staffing, but facility management trades command premium markups due to certification requirements and emergency availability.

Here is what that looks like in practice for a single HVAC technician:

• Technician take-home rate: $28-30/hr (national median per BLS)
• Broker bill rate to client: $68-82/hr
• Broker markup: 127-173% on the technician’s actual wage
• Your cost per month (160 hours): $10,880-$13,120