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The differences between senior directors, product development 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 senior director, product development and a product lead. Additionally, a senior director, product development has an average salary of $160,980, which is higher than the $118,828 average annual salary of a product lead.
The top three skills for a senior director, product development include project management, product development and digital marketing. The most important skills for a product lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Senior Director, Product Development | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $160,980 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $77.39 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 160,867 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A senior director of product development spearheads and oversees the product development operations of a company. They have the responsibility to manage product development teams, set goals, establish guidelines and timelines, liaise with key external parties, coordinate managers, and address issues and concerns, resolving them efficiently. They also have the authority to come up with decisions and delegate responsibilities among teams and staff. Moreover, as a senior director, product development, it is essential to implement policies and regulations, developing new ones that support the company's needs, vision, and mission.
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.
Senior directors, product development and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Director, Product Development | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $160,980 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $107,000 And $241,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Genentech | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Media | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a senior director, product development and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Senior Director, Product Development | Product Lead | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between senior directors, product development' and product leads' demographics:
| Senior Director, Product Development | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.2% Female, 28.8% | 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% |