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The differences between software designers and product designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a software designer and a product designer. Additionally, a software designer has an average salary of $107,449, which is higher than the $102,033 average annual salary of a product designer.
The top three skills for a software designer include python, java and software development. The most important skills for a product designer are sketch, visual design, and UI.
| Software Designer | Product Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $107,449 | $102,033 |
| Hourly rate | $51.66 | $49.05 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 313,443 | 98,465 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Software designers transform customers' requirements into services. They analyze customers' needs, conduct negotiations, and create designs based on that data. They typically work with teams of programmers. They are also responsible for creating project documentation.
A product designer's key responsibilities are to perform design research, selecting the best materials, and develop user storyboards for the client and users' best interest. Product designers usually work with a whole design team, documenting suggestions to deliver high-quality outputs or improve existing products to match the market trends. They must also communicate with other skilled professionals to enhance their ideas and consult clients for any necessary adjustments that would affect the total user experience. A product designer should also have extensive knowledge of the consumer's preference to make the design more appealing and engaging.
Software designers and product designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Designer | Product Designer | |
| Average salary | $107,449 | $102,033 |
| Salary range | Between $80,000 And $144,000 | Between $68,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Globant | Netflix |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software designer and a product designer in terms of educational background:
| Software Designer | Product Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Carnegie Mellon University |
Here are the differences between software designers' and product designers' demographics:
| Software Designer | Product Designer | |
| Average age | 39 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 29.8% White, 52.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |