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The differences between principal product managers and associate product managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a principal product manager and an associate product manager. Additionally, a principal product manager has an average salary of $145,943, which is higher than the $89,963 average annual salary of an associate product manager.
The top three skills for a principal product manager include product management, QA and product development. The most important skills for an associate product manager are product management, project management, and user stories.
| Principal Product Manager | Associate Product Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $145,943 | $89,963 |
| Hourly rate | $70.16 | $43.25 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 143,985 | 107,763 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
The duties of a principal product manager depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the organization's product roadmap, devising strategies for optimal operations and services, and managing production and marketing communications. They must also coordinate with different research scientists and engineers to develop systems and networks that will increase profitability and assist in meeting consumers' needs. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage teams, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
An associate product manager is someone who assists the product development teams in the development of new product features. The duties of an associate include formulation of product strategies, collection of quantitative product data, and interpretation of consumer feedback. The requirements to qualify for the position include a bachelor's degree in computer science, marketing, business management, or a related field, the ability to maintain strong customer relations, and excellent communication skills.
Principal product managers and associate product managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Product Manager | Associate Product Manager | |
| Average salary | $145,943 | $89,963 |
| Salary range | Between $106,000 And $199,000 | Between $65,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Brex | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a principal product manager and an associate product manager in terms of educational background:
| Principal Product Manager | Associate Product Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between principal product managers' and associate product managers' demographics:
| Principal Product Manager | Associate Product Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1% | Male, 45.0% Female, 55.0% |
| 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% |