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The differences between principal product managers and 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 a product manager. Additionally, a principal product manager has an average salary of $145,943, which is higher than the $111,729 average annual salary of a product manager.
The top three skills for a principal product manager include product management, QA and product development. The most important skills for a product manager are product management, QA, and product strategy.
| Principal Product Manager | Product Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $145,943 | $111,729 |
| Hourly rate | $70.16 | $53.72 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 143,985 | 125,678 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
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.
Principal product managers and product managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Principal Product Manager | Product Manager | |
| Average salary | $145,943 | $111,729 |
| Salary range | Between $106,000 And $199,000 | Between $81,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Brex | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Start-up | Retail |
There are a few differences between a principal product manager and a product manager in terms of educational background:
| Principal Product Manager | Product Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between principal product managers' and product managers' demographics:
| Principal Product Manager | Product Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1% | Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7% |
| 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% |