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The differences between software product managers and product development managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a software product manager and a product development manager. Additionally, a product development manager has an average salary of $113,437, which is higher than the $110,785 average annual salary of a software product manager.
The top three skills for a software product manager include product management, software products and software development. The most important skills for a product development manager are product development, project management, and lifecycle management.
| Software Product Manager | Product Development Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $110,785 | $113,437 |
| Hourly rate | $53.26 | $54.54 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 126,167 | 166,871 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
Software product managers are individuals who lead and handle products from their inception to their phase-out. The managers establish customer value and carry out measurable benefits for business. They translate data from the discovery phase into product requirements. Understanding technology, expertise in the field, technical skills are necessary to become successful in this job. They analyze competition in the market and the factors that make it valuable.
A product development manager spearheads the development of new products within a company. Most of the time, their responsibilities revolve around conducting marketing research and analysis to determine consumers' needs, coordinating with the product development team to come up with new ideas, proposing business plans to the executives, and creating prototypes. A product development manager must also present a cost analysis, produce progress reports, and address inquiries and concerns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the staff, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Software product managers and product development managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Product Manager | Product Development Manager | |
| Average salary | $110,785 | $113,437 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $155,000 | Between $84,000 And $152,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Retail |
There are a few differences between a software product manager and a product development manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Product Manager | Product Development Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between software product managers' and product development managers' demographics:
| Software Product Manager | Product Development Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | Male, 62.2% Female, 37.8% |
| 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% |