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The differences between directors, product engineering and product managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a director, product engineering, becoming a product manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a director, product engineering has an average salary of $178,842, which is higher than the $111,729 average annual salary of a product manager.
The top three skills for a director, product engineering include cloud, product engineering and java. The most important skills for a product manager are product management, QA, and product strategy.
| Director, Product Engineering | Product Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $178,842 | $111,729 |
| Hourly rate | $85.98 | $53.72 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 128,322 | 125,678 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | 10 |
A director of product engineering usually works at manufacturing plants where they oversee production operations from planning to execution. They lead all initiatives, set goals and roadmaps, establish production schedules and guidelines, take part in recruitment procedures, coordinate internal and external parties, and build positive relationships with industry partners. They may also participate in developing new products, enhancing existing processes, and making significant business decisions. Moreover, a director, product engineering implements industry standards and company policies, creating new ones as necessary.
A product manager is responsible for ensuring product development, providing the best marketing strategies, and effectively handling the sales and marketing team. Product managers' duties include monitoring the market trends and conditions, identifying business opportunities and plan initiatives, and collaborating the product launch process with the appropriate departments. A product manager is also responsible for generating ideas on improving product features, determining timetables and reasonable pricing, and analyzing product sales. A product manager must have excellent strategic and decision-making skills to contribute to its growth and profitability.
Directors, product engineering and product managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Director, Product Engineering | Product Manager | |
| Average salary | $178,842 | $111,729 |
| Salary range | Between $127,000 And $251,000 | Between $81,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a director, product engineering and a product manager in terms of educational background:
| Director, Product Engineering | Product Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between directors, product engineering' and product managers' demographics:
| Director, Product Engineering | Product Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% | Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 17.3% White, 67.0% 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 | 9% | 10% |