A Guide to Product Development Jobs: Roles, Skills, Salaries

When you work in product development, your role is to bring better products to the market by overseeing the product lifecycle. As a product developer, you must have a strong understanding of the creative and technical aspects of product development. Some essential skills include creativity, problem-solving, attention to detail, and strong communication. As you look through job advertisements, you’ll notice that product jobs often pay very well. Senior product development positions in the US can pay as much as $134,537 a year [1]. In this article, you can discover more about this rewarding career.

professional certificate

IBM Product Manager

Prepare for a career as a product manager. Gain the in-demand skills and hands-on experience to get job ready in less than 3 months. No prior experience required.

4.7

(664 ratings)

31,649 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Product management, Product Strategy, Value Proposition, Product Roadmaps, Project Management, Product manager, ProdBOK, Market Research, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Management, Stakeholder Management, Product Development, Portfolio Management, Value Propositions, Product Management Lifecycle, Product Requirements, Business Strategy, Agile Product Development, Product Owner, New Product Development, Market Analysis, Demand Generation, Product Lifecycle, Market Opportunities, Technical Product Management, Marketing Planning, Product Testing, Product Launch Activities, Project Documentation, Product Planning, Stakeholder Communications, Project Management Life Cycle, Market Validation Activities, Product Marketing, Commercialization, Team Building, Product Delivery and Retirement, Competitive Analysis, Financial Analysis, Marketing Strategies, Product Plan, Business Planning, Swot Analysis, Product Concept, Risk Analysis, Project Charter, Project Planning, Go To Market Strategy, Test-taking Strategies, Certified Product Manager (CPM), Zenhub, GitHub, Backlogs, Sprint Retrospectives, Plan Execution, Continuous Improvement Process, Estimation, Performance Metric, User Story, Kanban Principles, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Kanban, Scrum Methodology, Workflow Management, Agile Software Development, Lean Methodologies, Agile Methodology, Innovation, Strategic Communication, Business Development, Leadership, Ideation, Communication

What are product development jobs?

Product development is the process of creating or improving a new product or service, including its design, testing, and release. The product lifecycle may also include controlling cost, quality, and time to market by improving manufacturing or distribution processes. An essential part of product development jobs is ensuring that products are functional, appealing to customers, and profitable. Examples of job titles in product development with their respective salaries include:

• Product manager: $125,322 [2]

• Product analyst: $84,224 [3]

• Product marketing manager: $116,048 [4]

• User experience (UX) designer: $84,681 [5]

• User interface (UI) designer: $94,512 [6]

• Quality assurance (QA) tester: $75,075 [7]

• Business analyst/consultant: $93,989 [8]

*All salary data was sourced from Glassdoor in March 2025.

What are the 5 stages of product development?

Developing a product requires you to work through five stages. First, you need an idea. Then, you need to design a product. Third, you will build a prototype. Fourth, you will get feedback from users and stakeholders before, fifth, you will refine your ideas based on feedback and present your final product to the market. 

specialization

Digital Product Management

Implement a modern approach to product management. Master the fundamentals that create great teams and products

4.8

(2,984 ratings)

64,644 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Project Management, Data Analysis, hypothesis-driven development, Leadership and Management, Business Analysis, User Experience, Design and Product, Planning, Product Management, People Analysis, Probability Distribution, Software Engineering, Lean Startup, agile, Strategy, Communication, Design Thinking, Innovation, Product Roadmaps, Customer Insights, Business Modeling, Agile Product Development, Customer Engagement, Data-Driven Decision-Making, New Product Development, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Design, Innovation Pipeline, Web Analytics, Stakeholder Engagement, Ideation, Product Improvement, Product/Market Fit, Product Testing, Prototyping, Continuous Delivery, Usability Testing, User Story, User Research, DevOps, Product Development, Lean Methodologies, Agile Methodology, Persona Development, Discussion Facilitation, Software Development, User Experience Design (UXD), Testability, agile user stories, Agile Software Development, User Centered Design, Selling Techniques, Team Management, Sprint Retrospectives, agile product management, Performance Measurement, Kanban Principles, Agile Project Management, Team Leadership, Kanban, XP, Goal Setting, backlog management, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Business Analytics, Analytics, Data Science, A/B Testing, Big Data

What is a product developer?

Product development jobs can involve improving existing products or developing new ones. These processes include responsibilities such as developing marketing strategies for and implementing protocols to ensure product quality. Product development must consider customers' needs and wants and be aligned with the company's ability to source, produce, and market the product.

What do product developers do?

Someone in a product development role may be involved with all four steps of the product development process below:

1. Researching the market.

Before you start product development, you must research the target market to ensure demand for your merchandise. This involves surveying potential customers and analyzing data to determine if they’ll be motivated to purchase your product. You’ll also need to uncover how big the opportunity is.

2. Designing the process.

Your first step in product development is designing the product. This involves brainstorming for a new product or ways to improve an existing one. Your design must be functional, aesthetically pleasing, safe, and compliant with relevant regulations.

3. Developing the product.

Once the design is complete, it’s time for you to develop the product. This involves developing the manufacturing process, building prototypes, and ensuring products meet all safety and quality standards. Product development can be relatively simple or more complex, involving many iterations in an Agile development environment. 

4. Conducting prototype testing.

Once the product is ready, present it to selected customers for feedback. Criticism can help improve the product before it goes to market.

AI product development

The AI product development life cycle can differ from the standard. Building AI skills can be an excellent way to set yourself apart from other candidates and stay current with the evolving tech landscape. With IBM's AI Product Manager Professional Certificate, you can learn to apply your leadership skills to the AI product management lifecycle. You'll examine real-world case studies of successful AI integration and develop or strengthen your knowledge of Agile concepts and methodologies. By the end, you'll have earned a Professional Certificate from an industry leader in technology.

professional certificate

IBM AI Product Manager

Launch your career as an AI Product Manager. Build in-demand product management and generative AI skills to get job ready in 3 months or less.

4.6

(827 ratings)

27,186 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Prompt engineering, Generative AI, Product Management, AI Product Manager, Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models (LLM), Foundation Models, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Pre-trained Models, Natural Language Generation, ChatGPT, Value Proposition, Product manager, ProdBOK, Product Management Lifecycle, Prompt Engineering, prompt patterns, Project Charter, Product Plan, Swot Analysis, Product Concept, Idea generation, Product Lifecycle, Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI), Product Manager, Product Management lifecycle, AI Skill Analysis, Natural Language Processing, AI ethics, Machine Learning, Market Validation Activities, Product Launch Activities, Product Development, Product Delivery and Retirement, Stakeholder Management, Leadership, Communication, Product Planning

Product development industry overview 

The industry is expected to grow with new technology, like robotics, data analytics, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), is changing how products are developed and manufactured. Jobs for product developers are in demand as businesses strive to introduce new products to the market. Product development is also critical to a company's success, and those who enter this field can expect to find plenty of opportunities for advancement. 

Product development job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) predicts that industrial product designer jobs will increase by 3 percent between 2023 and 2033 [9]. Market research analyst jobs are expected to grow by 8 percent in this period [10]. Different positions in product development will have different demand levels as technology transforms.

How to become a product developer: Key skills

As a product development manager, you have many roles. One minute, you might be working on the strategy for a product launch; the next, you might troubleshoot an issue with a product in early development. To succeed in this type of role requires strong and diverse competencies. 

Technical skills

You’ll need to be proficient in several technical skills to understand complex technical problems and develop creative product solutions. Some of the technical skills you’ll possess include:

• Conducting market research

• Knowledge of user experience best practices

• Understanding of web/software/product development

• Product design

• Writing technical specs and requirements

Workplace skills

Working in the product development lifecycle, you’ll also need excellent project management skills to juggle multiple products and deadlines. You’ll need to be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines. This means having excellent workplace skills. Some of the essential workplace skills you need are:

• Strong communication skills

• Critical thinking and analytical skills

• Flexibility

• Customer service

• Leadership and the ability to take initiative

• Problem-solving

• Time management

Education requirements

The education requirements for a product development job vary depending on the industry, company, and even specific title you hold. Seventy-two percent of product managers have a bachelor's degree, 17 percent have a master's degree, and 7 percent have an associate degree [11]. To get a feel for the requirements, consider browsing job postings for titles you're interested in. Keep in mind that some employers may accept alternative credentials such as certificates or work experience in lieu of a degree.

Certification programs and online courses for product development jobs

Product development certification can help you learn the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this career path. It can also help you demonstrate commitment and competencies to stand out amongst other candidates, making you more attractive to potential employers. 

Certification programs may also provide access to exclusive job opportunities and networking events. Here are some product-related certifications that you might want to consider.

• Product Ideation, Design, and Management Specialization by the University of Maryland

• Agile Certified Product Manager and Product Owner by AIPMM

• Certified Product Manager Credential by AIPMM

• Certified Product Marketing Manager by AIPMM

• Digital Product Management Specialization by the University of Virginia

• Pragmatic Institute's Product Management Certification

• Software Product Management Specialization by the University of Alberta

• Product Development and Management Association's (PDMA) New Product Development Certification (NPDP)

Start building your product development skills today with Coursera

Consider enrolling in the IBM Product Manager Professional Certification. In this program, you’ll explore in-demand skills like market research, strategic planning, and stakeholder communication to get job-ready in less than 3 months, with no prior experience needed to get started. Or, discover AI products with Duke University’s AI Product Management Specialization, designed to explore how to apply the data science process and best practices to lead machine learning projects and how to develop human-centered AI products that ensure privacy and ethical standards.

professional certificate

IBM Product Manager

Prepare for a career as a product manager. Gain the in-demand skills and hands-on experience to get job ready in less than 3 months. No prior experience required.

4.7

(664 ratings)

31,649 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Product management, Product Strategy, Value Proposition, Product Roadmaps, Project Management, Product manager, ProdBOK, Market Research, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Management, Stakeholder Management, Product Development, Portfolio Management, Value Propositions, Product Management Lifecycle, Product Requirements, Business Strategy, Agile Product Development, Product Owner, New Product Development, Market Analysis, Demand Generation, Product Lifecycle, Market Opportunities, Technical Product Management, Marketing Planning, Product Testing, Product Launch Activities, Project Documentation, Product Planning, Stakeholder Communications, Project Management Life Cycle, Market Validation Activities, Product Marketing, Commercialization, Team Building, Product Delivery and Retirement, Competitive Analysis, Financial Analysis, Marketing Strategies, Product Plan, Business Planning, Swot Analysis, Product Concept, Risk Analysis, Project Charter, Project Planning, Go To Market Strategy, Test-taking Strategies, Certified Product Manager (CPM), Zenhub, GitHub, Backlogs, Sprint Retrospectives, Plan Execution, Continuous Improvement Process, Estimation, Performance Metric, User Story, Kanban Principles, Agile Project Management, Sprint Planning, Kanban, Scrum Methodology, Workflow Management, Agile Software Development, Lean Methodologies, Agile Methodology, Innovation, Strategic Communication, Business Development, Leadership, Ideation, Communication

specialization

AI Product Management

Manage the Design & Development of ML Products. Understand how machine learning works and when and how it can be applied to solve problems. Learn to apply the data science process and best practices to lead machine learning projects, and how to develop human-centered AI products which ensure privacy and ethical standards.

4.7

(652 ratings)

41,767 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 4 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Predictive Modelling, Artificial Neural Network, Project Management, Data Analysis, Modeling, Probability & Statistics, Privacy, Ethics, Machine Learning, User Experience (UX), Deep Learning, product design, Product Management, Data Science, Regression, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Applied Machine Learning, Machine Learning Algorithms, Predictive Analytics, Design Thinking