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The differences between product developers and product design 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 product developer and a product design manager. Additionally, a product design manager has an average salary of $133,190, which is higher than the $88,629 average annual salary of a product developer.
The top three skills for a product developer include product development, R and develop user. The most important skills for a product design manager are product design, user research, and sketch.
| Product Developer | Product Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $88,629 | $133,190 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $64.03 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,035 | 146,576 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A product developer is responsible for creating the designs of an industrial product based on the client's specifications and budget requirements. Product developers work closely with the whole design team to strategize and execute plans within the agreed timeframe. Product developers must be updated with the current industry trends, developing designs that would be competitive in the market, boosting the company's brand image to attract potential clients, and generate more revenues. A product developer should have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as utilizing various software tools to create high-quality designs.
A product design manager typically works with engineers and specialists in the joint effort to develop high-quality standard products. As a product design manager, they are responsible for managing product design teams, understanding and identifying a project's needs, performing research and analysis, setting objectives and guidelines, liaising with external parties, and presenting prototypes for client approval. Moreover, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach product goals while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Product developers and product design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Developer | Product Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $88,629 | $133,190 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $123,000 | Between $91,000 And $193,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product developer and a product design manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Developer | Product Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Wisconsin - Madison |
Here are the differences between product developers' and product design managers' demographics:
| Product Developer | Product Design Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.1% Female, 38.9% | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% |
| 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% |