Every professional has a unique journey within their product manager career path. But, like any career path, there is a typical progression from entry-level roles to obtaining a senior product manager role. The rite of passage sharpens a product manager’s ability to guide product strategy, enhance the user experience, and drive portfolio growth.
What is the product manager’s career path?
Junior or Associate Product Manager: As apprentices, junior and associate product managers learn the ins and outs of the product life cycle. In this entry-level role, individuals learn to understand customer needs, contribute to product roadmaps, and liaise with cross-functional teams to support product strategies. This position usually requires 0-2 years of experience and serves as a launch pad for professionals just beginning or switching careers.
Product Manager: At the next phase of the journey, product managers take on more responsibility, managing one or multiple products. The skills learned as a junior or associate product manager aid in leading product teams and developing and refining product vision to deliver successful products. This position usually requires 2-5 years of experience.
Senior Product Manager: At this career stage, senior product managers will have acquired expertise in the product management discipline, including developing complex product strategies and leading successful product teams. The central function of this role is to steer the product management team toward strategic goals through data-driven decisions, typically requiring 5-8 years of experience in the industry.
Director of Product Management: A director of product management oversees an organization’s product portfolio and leads its respective product managers. In this senior role, the product director makes high-level strategic decisions, leads multiple product lines, and aligns product goals with business objectives. Hiring managers look for proven experience scaling product teams, a track record of successful product launches, and 8+ years of experience when filling this role.
Vice President of Product Management: This executive strategic position oversees significant business and product decisions, shapes the overall product vision and company direction, and ensures alignment between product management practices and organizational goals. The VP of product management regularly mentors internal product leaders and has accrued 10+ years of experience in the field.
Chief Product Officer (CPO): The highest-ranking role in the product management field is the title of chief product officer or CPO. A CPO utilizes their 15+ years of experience to champion long-term strategies, competitive product vision, business development and growth, and critical decision-making.
These titles are examples of the typical product management roles you’ll see in the job market. However, titles and responsibilities can vary depending on the company.
As product managers advance in their careers and become experts in the development process, many move on to leading the strategic side of product initiatives. On average, product management salaries increase with seniority and experience.
The Skill Set of a Product Manager
