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Best Jobs For Former Product Managers [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Top Career Paths for Former Product Managers in 2026

In 2026, the landscape for product managers has evolved significantly. As companies increasingly adapt to technology-driven changes and hybrid work models, many former product managers are seeking new opportunities and reevaluating their career trajectories.

While the number of graduates from programs geared towards product management remains stable, the interest in pursuing these roles has shifted. This transformation raises an important question:

What career paths are former product managers exploring now?

To gain insight, we analyzed the resumes of thousands of individuals who previously worked as product managers. We focused on the top 100 positions they transitioned into after leaving the field, highlighting some intriguing trends and opportunities.

Top Jobs for Former Product Managers

  1. Marketing Director Jobs

  2. Business Developer Jobs

  3. Principal Jobs

  4. Research and Development Technician Jobs

  5. Marketing Consultant Jobs

  6. Director of Sales Jobs

  7. Sales/Marketing Jobs

  8. Buyer Jobs

  9. Operations Director Jobs

  10. Principal Consultant Jobs

While some of these roles may be more appealing than others, each offers unique opportunities for leveraging the skills gained as a product manager.

Explore the full list of potential job opportunities below.

Detailed Ranking of Common Jobs for Former Product Managers

Rank Job Title %
1 Senior Product Manager 4.17%
2 Marketing Manager 2.51%
3 Project Manager 2.2%
4 Consultant 1.3%
5 Product Management Director 1.23%
6 Vice President 1.23%
7 Marketing Director 1.18%
8 Program Manager 1.11%
9 Senior Project Manager 1.05%
10 Sales Manager 0.91%
11 Senior Manager 0.9%
12 General Manager 0.83%
13 Product Marketing Manager 0.77%
14 Business Developer 0.73%
15 Account Manager 0.72%
16 Business Development Manager 0.68%
17 Owner 0.65%
18 Operations Manager 0.64%
19 Business Analyst 0.63%
20 Director 0.61%
21 Principal 0.55%
22 Product Director 0.49%
23 Manager 0.49%
24 President 0.47%
25 Account Executive 0.47%
26 Regional Sales Manager 0.45%
27 Product Development Manager 0.45%
28 Research and Development Technician 0.45%
29 Global Product Manager 0.44%
30 Purchasing Manager 0.44%
31 Marketing Consultant 0.42%
32 Director of Sales 0.42%
33 Sales/Marketing 0.39%
34 Senior Product Marketing Manager 0.39%
35 Sales Representative 0.38%
36 Director of Product Development 0.38%
37 Brand Manager 0.38%
38 Buyer 0.38%
39 Director, Product Marketing 0.36%
40 Product Developer 0.35%
41 Store Manager 0.33%
42 Product Line Manager 0.31%
43 Production Manager 0.29%
44 Information Technology Project Manager 0.29%
45 Product Owner 0.28%
46 Vice President, Product Management 0.28%
47 Operations Director 0.27%
48 Principal Consultant 0.27%
49 Co-Founder 0.26%
50 Founder 0.26%
51 Director of Sales and Marketing 0.26%
52 Senior Consultant 0.26%
53 Chief Executive Officer 0.25%
54 Product Manager, Mobile 0.25%
55 Sales Engineer 0.24%
56 Business Manager 0.24%
57 Managing Director 0.24%
58 Territory Manager 0.24%
59 Senior Manager of Marketing 0.22%
60 Sales Associate 0.22%
61 Category Manager 0.22%
62 Senior Director 0.22%
63 Senior Buyer 0.22%
64 Office Manager 0.21%
65 Service Manager 0.21%
66 Sales Consultant 0.21%
67 Chief Operating Officer 0.21%
68 Senior Business Analyst 0.20%
69 Management Consultant 0.20%
70 Senior Account Manager 0.20%
71 Business Consultant 0.19%
72 Manager, Product Management 0.19%
73 Senior Director, Product Management 0.18%
74 Product Specialist 0.18%
75 Customer Service Representative 0.18%
76 Vice President-Products 0.18%
77 Internship 0.18%
78 Supply Chain Manager 0.17%
79 Technical Product Manager 0.17%
80 Assistant Store Manager 0.17%
81 Sales and Marketing Manager 0.17%
82 National Sales Manager 0.17%
83 Owner/Operator 0.17%
84 Engineering Manager 0.17%
85 Marketing Coordinator 0.17%
86 President/Owner 0.17%
87 Vice President, Business Development 0.17%
88 Associate Product Manager 0.17%
89 Application Engineer 0.16%
90 Marketing Communications Manager 0.16%
91 Marketing Specialist 0.15%
92 Founder and Chief Executive Officer 0.15%
93 Territory Sales Manager 0.15%
94 National Account Manager 0.15%
95 Customer Service Manager 0.15%
96 Executive Director 0.15%
97 District Sales Manager 0.15%
98 Business Development Consultant 0.15%
99 Key Account Manager 0.15%
100 Director of Strategy 0.14%

Most Common Career Transitions for Former Product Managers

  1. Senior Product Manager

  2. Marketing Manager

  3. Project Manager

  4. Consultant

  5. Product Management Director

  6. Vice President

  7. Marketing Director

  8. Program Manager

  9. Senior Project Manager

  10. Sales Manager

These positions not only utilize skills that product managers possess but also serve as stepping stones towards diverse career opportunities.

How We Identified the Top Jobs for Former Product Managers

Using data from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes, we examined the work histories of individuals who listed product manager as a role. We then analyzed the subsequent jobs they held, organizing them by frequency to create our ranked list.

To identify the most intriguing job opportunities, we sifted through the ranked list for positions that:

  • Accounted for fewer than 1% of all new job listings
  • Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs in our database

As former product managers navigate their next steps in this dynamic job market, understanding these trends can help illuminate potential career paths and opportunities for growth.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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