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The differences between software product managers 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 software product manager and a product lead. Additionally, a product lead has an average salary of $118,828, 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 lead are product management, project management, and architecture.
| Software Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Yearly salary | $110,785 | $118,828 |
| Hourly rate | $53.26 | $57.13 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 126,167 | 95,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| 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 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.
Software product managers and product leads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Software Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average salary | $110,785 | $118,828 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $155,000 | Between $86,000 And $163,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Airbnb |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a software product manager and a product lead in terms of educational background:
| Software Product Manager | 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 software product managers' and product leads' demographics:
| Software Product Manager | Product Lead | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.4% Female, 24.6% | 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% |