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The differences between product engineering managers and design managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a product engineering manager and a design manager. Additionally, a product engineering manager has an average salary of $125,592, which is higher than the $102,637 average annual salary of a design manager.
The top three skills for a product engineering manager include project management, product management and product engineering. The most important skills for a design manager are sketch, project management, and visualization.
| Product Engineering Manager | Design Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $125,592 | $102,637 |
| Hourly rate | $60.38 | $49.34 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 148,619 | 61,273 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A product engineering manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the development of products and procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. In a manufacturing setting, their responsibilities include setting objectives, managing the budgets and schedules, coordinating engineers and specialists, implementing solutions in vulnerable areas, and developing strategies to optimize procedures. They must also monitor the progress of processes, resolving any issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a product engineering manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
A design manager is responsible for creating graphic and digital designs, following clients' specifications, and managing project deliverables efficiently. Design managers work closely with the marketing and public relations department, developing strategies to promote the brand to the target audience. They coordinate with the creative team and present the design ideas to the management, ask for final approval, perform revisions as needed, and follow the budget goals. A design manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the design team's concerns and needs.
Product engineering managers and design managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Engineering Manager | Design Manager | |
| Average salary | $125,592 | $102,637 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $174,000 | Between $69,000 And $150,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product engineering manager and a design manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Engineering Manager | Design Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between product engineering managers' and design managers' demographics:
| Product Engineering Manager | Design Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 11.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |