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The differences between product line managers and production managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a product line manager, becoming a production manager takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a product line manager has an average salary of $97,237, which is higher than the $78,064 average annual salary of a production manager.
The top three skills for a product line manager include product management, customer service and PLM. The most important skills for a production manager are continuous improvement, customer service, and quality standards.
| Product Line Manager | Production Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $97,237 | $78,064 |
| Hourly rate | $46.75 | $37.53 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 158,908 | 95,561 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 2 |
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.
Production managers work in show business, whether in film, television shows, or theatre productions. They oversee the whole production and ensure that all agreements are met. They manage finances and budget allocation. They oversee the design of costumes and sets. They also manage the timeline of filming and ensure that the production or filming will finish within the agreed timeline. Production managers also ensure that all stakeholders are satisfied. They build meaningful working relationships with everyone involved, from directors to actors to crew members. They try to mitigate any potential challenges in the production budget and schedule.
Product line managers and production managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Line Manager | Production Manager | |
| Average salary | $97,237 | $78,064 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $178,000 | Between $50,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | ON Semiconductor | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a product line manager and a production manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Line Manager | Production Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between product line managers' and production managers' demographics:
| Product Line Manager | Production Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 78.8% Female, 21.2% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |