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The differences between senior managers, product development and product directors 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 manager, product development and a product director. Additionally, a product director has an average salary of $148,910, which is higher than the $128,407 average annual salary of a senior manager, product development.
The top three skills for a senior manager, product development include project management, product development and product management. The most important skills for a product director are product management, product strategy, and project management.
| Senior Manager, Product Development | Product Director | |
| Yearly salary | $128,407 | $148,910 |
| Hourly rate | $61.73 | $71.59 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 192,651 | 125,200 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A senior manager of product development is in charge of overseeing the efforts put into designing and manufacturing products, including quality control operations. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather data, performing research and analysis to assess existing procedures, and devising strategies to optimize processes. They may also set goals and schedules, produce progress reports, and spearhead the development of new products and services. Furthermore, as a senior manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The duties of a product director depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the product development operations to ensure smooth flow and efficiency, devise strategies to improve processes, gather relevant data such as sales and customer feedback, and coordinate with different departments in developing new products and services. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage departments to meet goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, including its mission and vision.
Senior managers, product development and product directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Manager, Product Development | Product Director | |
| Average salary | $128,407 | $148,910 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $172,000 | Between $104,000 And $212,000 |
| Highest paying City | Woonsocket, RI | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | California |
| Best paying company | Credit Karma | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Internet |
There are a few differences between a senior manager, product development and a product director in terms of educational background:
| Senior Manager, Product Development | Product Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between senior managers, product development' and product directors' demographics:
| Senior Manager, Product Development | Product Director | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.6% Female, 35.4% | Male, 72.4% Female, 27.6% |
| 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% |