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The differences between product developers and product development 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 development manager. Additionally, a product development manager has an average salary of $113,437, 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 development manager are product development, project management, and lifecycle management.
| Product Developer | Product Development Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $88,629 | $113,437 |
| Hourly rate | $42.61 | $54.54 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,035 | 166,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 development manager spearheads the development of new products within a company. Most of the time, their responsibilities revolve around conducting marketing research and analysis to determine consumers' needs, coordinating with the product development team to come up with new ideas, proposing business plans to the executives, and creating prototypes. A product development manager must also present a cost analysis, produce progress reports, and address inquiries and concerns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Product developers and product development managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Developer | Product Development Manager | |
| Average salary | $88,629 | $113,437 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $123,000 | Between $84,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a product developer and a product development manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Developer | Product Development Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between product developers' and product development managers' demographics:
| Product Developer | Product Development Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.1% Female, 38.9% | Male, 62.2% Female, 37.8% |
| 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% |