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The differences between product managers and engineering 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 manager, becoming an engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an engineering manager has an average salary of $139,328, which is higher than the $111,729 average annual salary of a product manager.
The top three skills for a product manager include product management, QA and product strategy. The most important skills for an engineering manager are java, project management, and continuous improvement.
| Product Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $111,729 | $139,328 |
| Hourly rate | $53.72 | $66.98 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 125,678 | 67,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 10 | - |
A product manager is responsible for ensuring product development, providing the best marketing strategies, and effectively handling the sales and marketing team. Product managers' duties include monitoring the market trends and conditions, identifying business opportunities and plan initiatives, and collaborating the product launch process with the appropriate departments. A product manager is also responsible for generating ideas on improving product features, determining timetables and reasonable pricing, and analyzing product sales. A product manager must have excellent strategic and decision-making skills to contribute to its growth and profitability.
An engineering manager is responsible for managing the overall concept of engineering and construction projects, ensuring that the plan meets the budget goals and the client's specifications. Engineering managers approve designs, plan strategic procedures to follow the project's timetable, analyze current market trends, hire the best and efficient contractors, and coordinate with the clients for any changes and adjustments as needed. An engineering manager must have excellent knowledge of engineering disciplines, as well as leadership and communication skills, monitoring the team's performance throughout the project.
Product managers and engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $111,729 | $139,328 |
| Salary range | Between $81,000 And $152,000 | Between $99,000 And $195,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Mixpanel |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a product manager and an engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Product Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between product managers' and engineering managers' demographics:
| Product Manager | Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| 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, 3.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.2% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |