How To Become A Launch Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a launch manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Sachin Tuli

Launch managers are individuals who oversee all processes and functions leading up to a particular product or service launch event.

Some of the functions that they perform in this capacity include working with the product management and marketing team to define and execute a winning go-to-market plan. Moreover, they anticipate bottlenecks, explore contingencies, provide escalation management throughout the new product launch, and advocate for all stakeholders throughout the release cycle to ensure they have the support needed to succeed. A bachelor's or a master's degree in marketing, advertising, or a related field forms the basis of the qualifications. Most employers prefer candidates with previous experience because of the importance of this position. Accreditation with an organization, like the American Association of Advertising Agencies, demonstrates the professionalism that can give applicants a competitive edge in this career.

The average hourly pay for this position is $51.43, which amounts to $106,981 annually. The career is expected to grow in the following years and create new job opportunities across the United States.

What's a day at work look like for a launch manager?

Sachin Tuli

Director, International Business Major, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The pandemic accelerated ongoing shifts with work-from-anywhere and use of remote meeting technologies. With mass adoption at all levels, these trends are likely to persist to some degree across fields and industries. There will likely be less travel for a number of years, but concurrently we may see more cross-team and cross-national collaboration and coordination. From an international business perspective, firms do plan to continue their globalization efforts and we know that graduates themselves increasingly seek potential global opportunities and mobility when choosing which organizations to work for.

ScoreLaunch ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.9

Avg. Salary $111,309

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 26.65%

male 73.35%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a launch manager

Explore launch manager education requirements

Most common launch manager degrees

Bachelor's

69.7 %

Master's

17.8 %

Associate

8.6 %

Start to develop specific launch manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Project Management	16.68%
Lifecycle Management	8.46%
APQP	6.21%
Lean Manufacturing	6.01%
Program Management	5.95%

Complete relevant launch manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New launch managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a launch manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real launch manager resumes.

Research launch manager duties and responsibilities

Manage agency to develop the creative and logistics.
Create SQL queries to update and manage critical database tables.
Direct all aspects of APQP for the JIT while managing a global supply base.
Create SBS WW OEM field scorecard and manage process with OEM CRM team to implement.

Prepare your launch manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your launch manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a launch manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable launch manager resume templates

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