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The differences between software product managers and product engineering managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a software product manager, becoming a product engineering manager takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a product engineering manager has an average salary of $125,592, 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 engineering manager are project management, product management, and product engineering.
| Software Product Manager | Product Engineering Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $110,785 | $125,592 |
| Hourly rate | $53.26 | $60.38 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 126,167 | 148,619 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 39 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 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 engineering manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the development of products and procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. In a manufacturing setting, their responsibilities include setting objectives, managing the budgets and schedules, coordinating engineers and specialists, implementing solutions in vulnerable areas, and developing strategies to optimize procedures. They must also monitor the progress of processes, resolving any issues promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, as a product engineering manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Software product managers and product engineering managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Product Manager | Product Engineering Manager | |
| Average salary | $110,785 | $125,592 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $155,000 | Between $90,000 And $174,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a software product manager and a product engineering manager in terms of educational background:
| Software Product Manager | Product Engineering Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between software product managers' and product engineering managers' demographics:
| Software Product Manager | Product Engineering Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 2.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 14.8% White, 69.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |