Product planner vs product engineering manager

The differences between product planners and product engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a product planner, becoming a product engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a product engineering manager has an average salary of $125,592, which is higher than the $94,669 average annual salary of a product planner.

The top three skills for a product planner include product development, product planning and product line. The most important skills for a product engineering manager are project management, product management, and product engineering.

Product planner vs product engineering manager overview

	Product Planner	Product Engineering Manager
Yearly salary	$94,669	$125,592
Hourly rate	$45.51	$60.38
Growth rate	-3%	2%
Number of jobs	85,346	148,619
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	45	48
Years of experience	2	-

What does a product planner do?

Product planner positions require a battery of skills, including decisiveness, stress management, leadership, organization, communication, statistics, business operations, computer literacy, and problem-solving, to name a few. Those who choose this career will be required to involve internally-focused decisions, steps, and tasks necessary to develop a successful product.

What does a product engineering manager do?

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.

Product planner vs product engineering manager salary

Product planners and product engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Product Planner	Product Engineering Manager
Average salary	$94,669	$125,592
Salary range	Between $71,000 And $124,000	Between $90,000 And $174,000
Highest paying City	Santa Rosa, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Apple	Airbnb
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between product planner and product engineering manager education

There are a few differences between a product planner and a product engineering manager in terms of educational background:

	Product Planner	Product Engineering Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 76%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Mechanical Engineering
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Product planner vs product engineering manager demographics

Here are the differences between product planners' and product engineering managers' demographics:

	Product Planner	Product Engineering Manager
Average age	45	48
Gender ratio	Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	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%
LGBT Percentage	11%	9%

Differences between product planner and product engineering manager duties and responsibilities

Product planner example responsibilities.

Manage company MRP purchases including contractor and consultant contract review.
Perform financial forecasting, leveraging MRP to plan performance of products and evaluate ROI of raw materials.
Task with supervising raw materials suppliers for computer test equipment construction using several ERP systems.
Support implementation of new ERP system (MFGPRO Eb2) relate to engineering procurement systems and processes.
Set up KANBAN to assure the steady flow of parts without stock outs as well as growing inventories.
Work collaboratively with purchasing, production, engineering, quality control, BOM analysts, buyers, and suppliers.

Product engineering manager example responsibilities.

Design, build and manage the ParagusIT OpenStack base private cloud.
Lead global engineering team in pursuit of major European OEM's medium and heavy-duty axle business.
Manage and coordinate communication with SME teams during disasters.
Manage outsourced/contract vendors and suppliers including HVAC, elevators, electrical and mechanical systems.
Manage a group of engineers that design semi-custom commercial / industrial HVAC and refrigeration equipment.
Participate and lead multiple Kaizen events, including facility layout, productivity, system integration and setup reductions.

Product planner vs product engineering manager skills

Common product planner skills

Product Development, 9%
Product Planning, 7%
Product Line, 7%
Logistics, 5%
MRP, 4%
Product Management, 4%

Common product engineering manager skills

Project Management, 7%
Product Management, 7%
Product Engineering, 7%
Product Line, 5%
Java, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 5%

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Product Planner vs Product Engineering Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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