Lead Product Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of lead product managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for lead product managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of lead product managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for lead product managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Lead Product Managers?
Do lead product managers need a degree? What kind of experience do lead product managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for lead product managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Lead Product Managers
Jobs Postings for Lead Product Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 166,402 (51%)
- No Education Listed: 81,306 (25%)
- Master's degree: 65,658 (20%)
- High School or GED: 8,654 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 6,461 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of lead product managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 51% of positions. In 25% of job listings no education level was listed and in 20% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Lead Product Managers
Jobs Postings for Lead Product Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,578 (4%)
- 2-3 Years: 42,780 (23%)
- 4-6 Years: 71,690 (39%)
- 7-9 Years: 32,671 (18%)
- 10+ Years: 29,716 (16%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for lead product managers. In 39% of job postings for Lead Product Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for lead product managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Lead Product Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for lead product managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 30 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective lead product managers, and in 2023 a total of 1,012,853 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective lead product managers.
Top Degree Programs for Lead Product Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Lead Product Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General. | 49,638 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Marketing/Marketing Management, General. | 49,638 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 29,564 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Communication, General. | 11,220 |
| Environmental Studies. | 10,429 |
| Environmental Science. | 9,888 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,274 |
| Mass Communication/Media Studies. | 9,221 |
| International Business/Trade/Commerce. | 7,469 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Natural Resources/Conservation, General. | 3,026 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | 2,831 |
| Apparel and Textiles, General. | 1,873 |
| Design and Applied Arts, Other. | 1,689 |
| Marketing, Other. | 1,171 |
| Meeting and Event Planning. | 759 |
| Digital Marketing. | 729 |
| Apparel and Textile Marketing Management. | 707 |
| International Marketing. | 439 |
| Marketing Research. | 286 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Other. | 247 |
| Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management. | 131 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Apparel and Textiles, Other. | 26 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Lead Product Managers
Take a strategic approach to promoting products, services, and new ideas by leveraging consumer research and effective planning.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
The B.S. in Sport Management major provides big-league career opportunities for sports-minded individuals with a head for business. You’ll learn how essential business concepts translate to the sports industry and open the door to a variety of roles.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
Stand out with a specialized master’s degree focused entirely on strategically integrating marketing and communication.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Drive strategic promotional efforts that leverage emerging media by building your familiarity with digital marketing tools, marketing communication strategies and analytics as part of Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Marketing.
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Lead Product Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by lead product managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for lead product managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Lead Product Managers
Based on 259,516 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Lead Product Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 164,477 | 63% |
| Product Management | 95,169 | 37% |
| Project Management | 70,773 | 27% |
| New Product Development | 66,062 | 25% |
| Marketing Strategies | 41,797 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Lead Product Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 147,714 | 57% |
| Sales | 115,727 | 45% |
| Leadership | 104,488 | 40% |
| Management | 99,334 | 38% |
| Planning | 67,241 | 26% |
Based on 259,516 job postings related to lead product managers, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 63% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for product management, project management, new product development, marketing strategies and key performance indicators (kpis) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for lead product managers, followed by sales, leadership, management, planning and innovation.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 164,477 | 63% |
| Product Management | 95,169 | 37% |
| Project Management | 70,773 | 27% |
| New Product Development | 66,062 | 25% |
| Marketing Strategies | 41,797 | 16% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 39,458 | 15% |
| Marketing Management | 36,788 | 14% |
| Go-to-Market Strategy | 33,556 | 13% |
| Digital Marketing | 32,760 | 13% |
| Product Marketing | 31,618 | 12% |
| Product Strategy | 31,171 | 12% |
| Agile Methodology | 30,425 | 12% |
| Product Roadmaps | 29,856 | 12% |
| Market Research | 28,527 | 11% |
| Social Media | 27,719 | 11% |
| Finance | 27,279 | 11% |
| Analytics | 27,068 | 10% |
| Data Analysis | 25,529 | 10% |
| Business To Business | 23,811 | 9% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 22,656 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 147,714 | 57% |
| Sales | 115,727 | 45% |
| Leadership | 104,488 | 40% |
| Management | 99,334 | 38% |
| Planning | 67,241 | 26% |
| Innovation | 57,436 | 22% |
| Presentations | 56,798 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 56,543 | 22% |
| Operations | 55,248 | 21% |
| Research | 53,127 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 52,469 | 20% |
| Influencing Skills | 50,297 | 19% |
| Writing | 48,865 | 19% |
| Detail Oriented | 47,259 | 18% |
| Prioritization | 39,294 | 15% |
| Self-Motivation | 36,930 | 14% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 33,425 | 13% |
| Microsoft Excel | 31,222 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 30,590 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 28,849 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about lead product managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for lead product managers.
What do lead product managers do?
How much do lead product managers make?
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