Also called: CPO, VP of Product
The executive who decides what products a tech company builds and leads all its product managers.
You set next year's product strategy with the CEO, decide which ideas get teams and which get killed, and review designs for the biggest launch. You spend a lot of time with customers and hiring.
Startups often pay part in stock.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 18 years after high school. Bachelor's degree (often technical) plus 15+ years in product roles; some have MBAs.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Science, Business Administration, Design.
Growing faster than average (about 6% over 10 years). Tracks marketing and product managers.
Low risk for 10 years. AI reshapes products, but setting product strategy and leading many teams is accountable executive work.
Classes: Business, AP Computer Science Principles, Speech or debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-2021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.