Post job

What is a product/project development manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

A product/project development manager discovers opportunities to create new product lines and presents strategies to bring these new products out in the market.

Their responsibilities often overlap with the tasks of the product manager. Both job titles engage in product development and management. But unlike the product manager, who focuses on identifying issues and questions for product improvement, the product/project development manager serves solutions to make the products sell in the market.

The product/project development manager is a vital part of the product's entire cycle, from conceptualization to production. They conduct researches and costs analyses for design optimization, feasibility, and production issues. They also ensure that the product and its label adheres to the specifications.

They typically render more than 40 hours in a workweek and work closely with the engineering, marketing, and manufacturing departments.

Pursuing this career path requires at least a bachelor's degree in the field related to the product they target to design and produce. Prior work and supervisory experience will surely boost one's chances to land this job.

What's a day at work look like for a product/project development manager?

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.Meaghan Goodman Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Program Director & Assistant Professor, Maryville University

A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!
ScoreProduct/Project Development ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.6

Avg. Salary $99,531

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.5

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 8.15%

Black or African American 3.04%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 5.32%

White 74.58%

Gender

female 38.67%

male 61.33%

Age - 38
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38
Stress level
7.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Product/project development manager career paths

Key steps to become a product/project development manager

  1. Explore product/project development manager education requirements

    Most common product/project development manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.4 %

    Master's

    16.0 %

    Associate

    6.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific product/project development manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Project Management18.81%
    Product Development15.16%
    Portfolio6.77%
    Risk Management5.26%
    R4.75%
  3. Complete relevant product/project development manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New product/project development managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a product/project development manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real product/project development manager resumes.
  4. Research product/project development manager duties and responsibilities

    • Implement and administer Salesforce.Com to support sales process and for capturing sales leads generate from web site.
    • Manage Taiwan OEM development relationship.
    • Manage horizontal UX prototyping resource needs, implementing effective collaborative expectations and cross-product timeline allocation strategies.
    • cloud telephony, messaging, security) and mobile apps (e.g.
  5. Apply for product/project development manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a product/project development manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first product/project development manager job

Zippi

Are you a product/project development manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average product/project development manager salary

The average product/project development manager salary in the United States is $99,531 per year or $48 per hour. Product/project development manager salaries range between $68,000 and $144,000 per year.

Average product/project development manager salary
$99,531 Yearly
$47.85 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do product/project development managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Product/project development manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2023
Cons

high expectations, constantly evolving technology, broad range of topics to learn (product management specifics, industry, technology, software development methods

Pros

Solve tough problems, work on agile teams, outlet for creativity,


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.


Working as a product/project development manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse executive management jobs