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The differences between product development scientists and product development managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a product development scientist, becoming a product development manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a product development manager has an average salary of $113,437, which is higher than the $84,817 average annual salary of a product development scientist.
The top three skills for a product development scientist include chemistry, project management and data analysis. The most important skills for a product development manager are product development, project management, and lifecycle management.
| Product Development Scientist | Product Development Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $84,817 | $113,437 |
| Hourly rate | $40.78 | $54.54 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 147,027 | 166,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 10 |
A product development scientist is responsible for conducting in-depth scientific research and method analysis to develop medical technologies, medications, and foods, depending on the industry. Product development scientists may also perform enhancements on existing products by studying its components and improve its features. They evaluate the manufacturing processes of a product, providing recommendations on additional resources to generate revenues and profits. A product development scientist often works in a laboratory, requiring them to follow strict safety protocols and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of the area to prevent contamination and result inconsistencies.
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 development scientists and product development managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Development Scientist | Product Development Manager | |
| Average salary | $84,817 | $113,437 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $115,000 | Between $84,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a product development scientist and a product development manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Development Scientist | Product Development Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Chemistry | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between product development scientists' and product development managers' demographics:
| Product Development Scientist | Product Development Manager | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 62.2% Female, 37.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 26.3% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 8% | 10% |