What is a Director of Product’s Salary?
Interested in a director of product career? Would you like to find out what the director of product salary is? You’re in the right place!
According to Glassdoor, the director of product salary in the US is $184,047 on average. Based on different industries, the salary ranges between $111,000 and $335,000, with an average additional cash compensation of $24,958.
The average salary range depends on various factors, including the industry, state, education, and overall experience. Another factor that matters is what kind of company you work for. For example, it’s easy to find startup jobs at the director level, but they don’t pay as well as multinational companies.
As for location, according to Zippia, a product management director in the US earns the highest in Washington.
In this article, we dive a little deeper into the salary dynamics of a director of product management.
Let’s get started.
Average Director of Product Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a yearly salary of $133,380 for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers. That’s the category they list all product management employees under.
That includes all product management jobs, from a product manager to a senior product marketing manager and product director. However, this categorization includes various types of jobs, making it a less accurate source for product management salary ranges.
It’s better to look at a public-sourced resource when getting salary ranges. Everyone with the job title director for any product adds their product management salary, additional compensation, location, and industry.
This gives an accurate outlook of how much individuals are making as product management directors in various settings.
The three best resources to look out for to get product management salaries include Glassdoor, Indeed, and PayScale.
Glassdoor
According to Glassdoor, the average director of product management earns $184,047 per year in the US.
Furthermore, the average base salary of a product director is $159,067. On top of that, the average additional pay is $24,980.
The typical salary range is between $140,000 and $248,000. However, based on remote locations and less popular industries, this salary range extends between $111,000 and $336,000.
Glassdoor is a well-renowned website that provides salary reviews and estimates for thousands of jobs worldwide. Employees upload their salary reports, write reviews, and provide additional information, including the cost of living estimates and benefits information.
Furthermore, Glassdoor allows you to define your filters to provide you with a more accurate salary number. These filters include:
- Your industry
- Total number of years of experience
- Estimated size of the company, based on the number of employees
These filters provide a better yearly salary estimate. For example, if you want to get a common director of product salary estimate in tech companies, enter the appropriate filters (and your location) and get an exact number.
This gives you the upper hand in negotiating your average total compensation.
Indeed
According to Indeed, the yearly average base salary of a director of product management in the US is $147,139.
On top of that, they receive cash bonuses that average at $19,500 per year.
The typical salary range is between $99,000 and $219,000.
Indeed also reports that the five highest paying cities for director of product management jobs are San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and Atlanta.
Indeed is a dedicated job search engine that collects user-submitted data on jobs, salaries, and more. Users inbox salaries, reviews, job descriptions, and more to build Indeed’s information reserves.
It’s an ideal place to learn average product salaries based on your location and level of experience. The online community also provides in-depth information on typical job responsibilities and tasks in different industries.
Getting salary information from an anonymous director of products ensures you have the right data.
Furthermore, Indeed also allows service professionals to add benefits data. This provides a clear outlook on what benefits to expect when applying for a product director job.
That said, if you’re looking for a new role, Indeed allows you to set up job alerts based on your specific salary requirements.
Looking to become a product management director? Enroll in our top-rated product management certification courses to do just that:
PayScale
According to PayScale, the average product management director salary in the US is $149,758.
The typical salary range is between $105,000 and $193,000. On top of that, product management directors receive bonuses between $8,000 and $38,000.
Some industries offer a profit-sharing incentive that pays between $2000 and $34,000. Others offer commissions that range between $3000 and $25,000.
The total pay of a product management director ranges between $111,000 and $215,000.
Furthermore, based on survey responses, PayScale found a 2:1 ratio of men and women in product director roles.
Career Outlook for a Director of Product
Most product managers with decent experience prefer a product director role. However, they are open to taking various career paths once they have adequate experience in a director role.
The most common position to move up to is a senior director of product. However, some companies prefer the job title to be Vice President of Product.
After that, the next role is either a senior vice president of products or a Chief Product Officer (CPO).
However, every company has a different hierarchical structure. It also depends on what industry you’re in. For example, if you’re in the home services industry, the career path is a lot shorter. However, working in tech ensures a longer career path with more milestones.
That said, here are the salaries for some senior director of product roles.
1. Senior Director of Product
According to Glassdoor, the average senior director of product salary in the US is $190,847.
Senior directors need to deliver consumer-grade experiences by managing several product teams. They also need to manage other teams, like the engineering team.
They are also responsible for things like the product rollout launch strategy. For the team, they need to encourage experimentation and create equitable learning environments.
2. Vice President of Product
According to Glassdoor, the average vice president of product salary in the US is $297,480.
The vice president is responsible for overseeing all the product directors. They affect director of product decisions and oversee the product plans.
At times, they’re responsible for the digital learning of all product managers too.
3. Chief Product Officer (CPO)
According to Glassdoor, the average Chief Product Officer salary in the US is $203,615.
The reason the CPO average salary is below the VP is that a lot of startups only have a CPO position and not a VP position.
Other than that, the CPO receives a lot of additional benefits in the shape of stock options, additional bonuses, and more.
Top Paying Cities for Directors of Product
The two factors that affect salaries in different cities are the cost of living and demand for that role. Based on that, the following are some of the top-paying cities.
1. US East Coast
Average median salaries for a director of product on the US East Coast.
- New York: $155,517
- Boston: $158,378
The cost of living on the East Coast is higher than the national average.
2. US West Coast
Average median salaries on the US West Coast.
- San Francisco: $177,890
- Seattle: $160,166
The US West Coast has the highest cost of living.
3. US Midwest/Rocky Mountains
Average median salaries in the Midwest.
- Chicago: $158,762
- Phoenix: $149,659
Midwest cost of living varies according to the state.
4. US South
Average median salaries in the South.
- Austin: $138,933
- Dallas: $132,546
The South has a lower cost of living compared to the national average.
Education Level for the Director of Product Role
A director of product needs to be an evolving business director who can build innovative solutions. They require knowledge of all product management principles, their industry, and the product niche they are working on.
They also need to be an outstanding product leader with full execution capacity to deliver insights and scale products.
Similar to high-performing product managers, product directors need to add credibility to reach their potential. That’s why a bachelor’s degree is often a requirement for the role.
However, certifications from renowned product management institutions and authorities work too.
That said, a solid portfolio is a necessity in that case.
Director of Product Salary across Top Companies
The following are some director of product salaries across top US companies.
- Meta: $243,283
- Wells Fargo: $191,743
- Cisco Systems: $221,914
- Oracle: $184,500
- Amazon: 237,394
To check salaries for a specific company, search Glassdoor with that company’s name and your job title.
Final Remarks
The director of product salary depends on your location, organization, and industry. Other factors that play a role are your level of experience, educational background, expertise, and technical knowledge.
It’s safe to say that you already have an industry you specialize in. Therefore, it’s best to improve your credibility by being active in the product community, getting certified, and even advancing your education is best.
The most important thing to keep in mind if you want a good director of product salary is to always keep up to date with the industry.
FAQs
Here are answers to the questions regarding directors of product:
What is a product director’s salary?
In the United States, the average annual salary typically ranges from $150,000 to $200,000. Senior positions at leading companies can see total compensation, including bonuses and stock options, exceeding $250,000.
What does a director of product do?
A Director of Product is responsible for the overall product strategy, roadmap, and performance of a company’s product lines. They lead and manage product managers, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market demands. Their role involves strategic planning, market analysis, cross-functional team coordination, and overseeing the product lifecycle from conception to launch.
How much does a product director make in the US?
In the US, a Product Director typically earns between $150,000 and $200,000 annually. This figure can increase significantly in top-tier tech companies or major metropolitan areas, where total compensation packages, including bonuses and equity, can exceed $250,000. Experience and the specific demands of the role also influence salary levels.
What is the highest paying director salary?
The highest-paying director salaries are found in large, multinational corporations, especially within the tech, finance, and healthcare sectors. At the upper end, director-level positions can offer total compensation packages exceeding $300,000 per year. In some cases, particularly in executive roles or highly successful companies, salaries can approach or surpass $500,000, especially when factoring in bonuses and equity.
If you are new to product management and are looking to break into your first product role, we recommend taking our Product Manager Certification Courses, where you will learn the fundamentals of product management, launch your product, and get on the fast track toward landing your first product job.
