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The differences between information technology 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 an information technology product manager and a product lead. Additionally, a product lead has an average salary of $118,828, which is higher than the $110,880 average annual salary of an information technology product manager.
The top three skills for an information technology product manager include product management, project management and lifecycle management. The most important skills for a product lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Information Technology Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $110,880 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $53.31 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 169,462 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
An information technology product manager is responsible for developing technical solutions for business requirements in meeting revenue goals and achieving the highest customer satisfaction. Information technology product managers conduct data and statistical analysis to determine current market trends and identify technology opportunities to monitor product activities and increase the brand's image to various market platforms. An information technology product manager evaluate the stability and efficiency of technological advancements to determine methods for product creation and optimization.
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.
Information technology product managers and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Technology Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $110,880 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $84,000 And $145,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cloudflare | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between an information technology product manager and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Information Technology Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between information technology product managers' and product leads' demographics:
| Information Technology Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | 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% |