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The differences between product engineering managers and senior product engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a product engineering manager, becoming a senior product engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a product engineering manager has an average salary of $125,592, which is higher than the $101,685 average annual salary of a senior product engineer.
The top three skills for a product engineering manager include project management, product management and product engineering. The most important skills for a senior product engineer are java, product engineering, and continuous improvement.
| Product Engineering Manager | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $125,592 | $101,685 |
| Hourly rate | $60.38 | $48.89 |
| Growth rate | 2% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 148,619 | 145,781 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
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 senior product engineer specializes in optimizing product designs and manufacturing procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are typically in charge of performing market research and analysis, utilizing the results as a basis in designing new products and upgrading existing designs. Moreover, they coordinate with product development teams to cultivate ideas, develop prototypes and test structures, and oversee the material selection that will make the products possible. As a senior product engineer, it is essential to monitor the entire progress and lead the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Product engineering managers and senior product engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Engineering Manager | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average salary | $125,592 | $101,685 |
| Salary range | Between $90,000 And $174,000 | Between $78,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Airbnb | Cloudflare |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product engineering manager and a senior product engineer in terms of educational background:
| Product Engineering Manager | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between product engineering managers' and senior product engineers' demographics:
| Product Engineering Manager | Senior Product Engineer | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% | Male, 89.2% Female, 10.8% |
| 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, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 17.2% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 5% |