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The differences between product developers and product designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a product developer, becoming a product designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a product designer has an average salary of $102,033, 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 designer are sketch, visual design, and UI.
| Product Developer | Product Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $88,629 | $102,033 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $49.05 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 147,035 | 98,465 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 4 |
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 designer's key responsibilities are to perform design research, selecting the best materials, and develop user storyboards for the client and users' best interest. Product designers usually work with a whole design team, documenting suggestions to deliver high-quality outputs or improve existing products to match the market trends. They must also communicate with other skilled professionals to enhance their ideas and consult clients for any necessary adjustments that would affect the total user experience. A product designer should also have extensive knowledge of the consumer's preference to make the design more appealing and engaging.
Product developers and product designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Developer | Product Designer | |
| Average salary | $88,629 | $102,033 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $123,000 | Between $68,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product developer and a product designer in terms of educational background:
| Product Developer | Product Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between product developers' and product designers' demographics:
| Product Developer | Product Designer | |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.1% Female, 38.9% | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% |
| 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, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |