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Hardware manager vs software product manager

The differences between hardware managers and software product managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hardware manager, becoming a software product manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a hardware manager has an average salary of $140,910, which is higher than the $110,785 average annual salary of a software product manager.

The top three skills for a hardware manager include RF, customer service and product knowledge. The most important skills for a software product manager are product management, software products, and software development.

Hardware manager vs software product manager overview

Hardware ManagerSoftware Product Manager
Yearly salary$140,910$110,785
Hourly rate$67.75$53.26
Growth rate5%10%
Number of jobs4,200126,167
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4439
Years of experience210

Hardware manager vs software product manager salary

Hardware managers and software product managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hardware ManagerSoftware Product Manager
Average salary$140,910$110,785
Salary rangeBetween $95,000 And $208,000Between $78,000 And $155,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WAPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyPalo Alto NetworksMeta
Best paying industryRetailAutomotive

Differences between hardware manager and software product manager education

There are a few differences between a hardware manager and a software product manager in terms of educational background:

Hardware ManagerSoftware Product Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Georgia

Hardware manager vs software product manager demographics

Here are the differences between hardware managers' and software product managers' demographics:

Hardware ManagerSoftware Product Manager
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 80.4% Female, 19.6%Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 2.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 23.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 Percentage4%10%

Differences between hardware manager and software product manager duties and responsibilities

Hardware manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage employees and run cash registers.
  • Manage multiple PCB builds from initial protos to A0 and to production.
  • Manage a team that develop the XGEM Capture/Replay feature for 10G Ethernet.
  • Result achieve by reusing existing power and cables while installing new EMC DMX3 units.
  • Manage the regulatory approval process for all products including FCC, UL and CE.
  • Manage all endpoint moves adds and changes including PC's, phones, and mobile devices.
  • Show more

Software product manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage a cross functional team including UX/UI, Java, QA counterparts.
  • Manage multiple aspects of product design and end user analysis for Java base medical practice management & HIPAA compliance tools.
  • Manage implementation of divisional intranet and CRM software.
  • Manage deployment and integration of industry leading SaaS billing and e-commerce processing systems.
  • Manage horizontal UX prototyping resource needs, implementing effective collaborative expectations and cross-product timeline allocation strategies.
  • Act as a scrum master for the project.
  • Show more

Hardware manager vs software product manager skills

Common hardware manager skills
  • RF, 13%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 10%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Design Reviews, 5%
  • Direct Reports, 5%
Common software product manager skills
  • Product Management, 10%
  • Software Products, 9%
  • Software Development, 6%
  • Scrum, 5%
  • User Stories, 5%
  • Product Development, 5%

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