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The differences between product line managers and product leads 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 line manager and a product lead. Additionally, a product lead has an average salary of $118,828, which is higher than the $97,237 average annual salary of a product line manager.
The top three skills for a product line manager include product management, customer service and PLM. The most important skills for a product lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Product Line Manager | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $97,237 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $46.75 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 158,908 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A product line manager is an individual who provides product and market intelligence by increasing the market share of a company. Product line managers must create competitive analysis and interpret market trends so that they can provide recommendations and guidance to the company. They are required to identify target markets and should come up with strategies for market penetration. Product line managers must also monitor the creation and development of new products as well as to measure the success of the products in the market.
A product lead is responsible for monitoring the development of new products and services of an organization, starting from brand conceptualization to official market release and distribution. Product leads identify effective product management by conducting data analysis and evaluating market statistics of customer demands. They coordinate with the clients on their specifications and requirements, including the budget limit and timely deliverables. A product lead manages the brand promotion on media platforms, creating content that adheres to the target audience.
Product line managers and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Line Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $97,237 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $178,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | ON Semiconductor | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a product line manager and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Product Line Manager | Product Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between product line managers' and product leads' demographics:
| Product Line Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 71.1% Female, 28.9% |
| 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% |