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The differences between data product managers and product leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a data product manager and a product lead. Additionally, a product lead has an average salary of $118,828, which is higher than the $117,599 average annual salary of a data product manager.
The top three skills for a data product manager include product management, BI and QA. The most important skills for a product lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Data Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $117,599 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $56.54 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 189,532 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A data product manager is responsible for supervising the data flow within the product management process, ensuring that the data address the product's features and functionality. Data product managers analyze data statistics by conducting surveys and reviewing reports, adjusting business plans according to the results. They also coordinate with the clients to inform them of progress updates and assist with their additional requirements and requests. A data product manager must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in performing quality control procedures before releasing final product outputs.
A product lead is responsible for monitoring the development of new products and services of an organization, starting from brand conceptualization to official market release and distribution. Product leads identify effective product management by conducting data analysis and evaluating market statistics of customer demands. They coordinate with the clients on their specifications and requirements, including the budget limit and timely deliverables. A product lead manages the brand promotion on media platforms, creating content that adheres to the target audience.
Data product managers and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Data Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $117,599 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $87,000 And $158,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Credit Karma | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a data product manager and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Data Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between data product managers' and product leads' demographics:
| Data Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.2% Female, 35.8% | Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |