Updated: December 11, 2025- 8 min read
At the time of writing, there are over 12,000 Product Manager jobs posted to LinkedIn per month in the US alone (1). Amidst the rapid rise of AI, one thing remains constant: Product still matters. As we always say at Product School, the best products win. The reason why has evolved:
When AI creates infinite noise, users value authentic insights.
When features can be generated instantly, users seek out meaningful features they can’t vibe code themselves.
Great products don't just use AI; they use it to solve actual human problems.
Product is paramount. But the landscape has shifted: While software once ate the world, AI is now eating software. Many companies are becoming AI companies, or trying to.
Product Managers own the bridge between models and users, making their role a critical leverage point in the modern economy. This is rosy news for those seeking their first Product Manager job. Basic economics confirms that when you manage the most valuable asset in tech, your value goes up. But how far up does it go?
Product Managers are in demand. But the sky is not the limit.
We talk to hiring managers on the regular, and we track the offer letters going out across the industry. Many PMs enter the market today expecting the "AI Premium", assuming that because the tech is booming, payrolls must be too.
But here is the hard truth: Because companies are spending billions on AI infrastructure, headcount is tight.
Yes, you’re in high demand. But in 2026, companies are prioritizing capital efficiency to pay for expensive compute. You have been dealt a good hand, but you need to play it strategically. If you’re looking for a Product Manager job, you may need to look beyond base salary to find other ways to attract talent in a capital-constrained environment.
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What Do Product Managers Make?
Income, rather like the weather, the side of the road you drive on, and the options available on Netflix, varies depending on where you live. Product School's home base is in Silicon Valley, so we looked into typical base Product Management salaries in the US. Here are current the averages for different types of PMs:
Associate Product Manager (APM): Typical US base salary range: $69,000–$108,000 / year
Product Owner (PO): Typical US base salary range: $88,000–$138,000 / year
Product Manager (PM): Typical US base salary range: $101,000–$158,000 / year
AI Product Manager (AIPM): Typical US base salary range: $130,000–$200,000 / year
Product Leader (PL): Typical US base salary range: $118,000–$184,000 / year
Senior Product Manager (SPM): Typical US base salary range: $122,000–$190,000 / year
Group Product Manager (GPM): Typical US base salary range: $156,000–$244,000 / year
Principal Product Manager (PPM): Typical US base salary range: $151,000–$236,000 / year
Vice President (VP) of Product: Typical US base salary range: $159,000–$249,000 / year
Chief Product Officer (CPO): Typical US base salary range: $186,000–$290,000 / year
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Associate Product Manager (APM)
Most APMs fall roughly in the $69,000–$108,000 base-salary range in the US, depending heavily on location and company stage. This is typically an early-career role where growth is fast, so progressing out of the lower end of this band can happen quickly once you start owning clear product outcomes.
Product Owner (PO)
Product Owners usually see base salaries in the $88,000–$138,000 range. Companies with mature Agile methodologies and complex platforms tend to pay toward the top of that band, especially when POs act as de facto Product Managers.
Product Manager (PM)
Mid-level Product Managers tend to sit around $101,000–$158,000 in base pay. The spread here mostly reflects geography (Bay Area vs. smaller markets) and whether you’re at a startup, a mid-size SaaS company, or a large enterprise.
AI Product Manager (AIPM)
AI Product Managers in the US typically earn around $130,000–$200,000 in base salary, with senior roles and top markets stretching higher. Because these roles sit at the intersection of product, data, and AI strategy, total compensation (once you factor in bonus and equity) often lands in the $180,000–$260,000+ range, with top-end packages going beyond $300,000 at leading tech companies.
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Product Leader (PL)
Product Leaders typically earn somewhere in the $118,000–$184,000 range. This is where ownership shifts from “my feature” to “my product line,” so compensation starts to reflect broader business impact and team leadership.
Senior Product Manager (SPM)
Senior PMs generally fall into the $122,000–$190,000 band, according to Glassdoor (2). Roles at this level usually come with deeper accountability for strategy, roadmap, and cross-functional alignment, which is why they often sit closer to (or above) the top of the mid-level PM range.
Group Product Manager (GPM)
Group PMs commonly earn around $156,000–$244,000 in base salary. They lead multiple PMs and own a full product area, so compensation starts to look closer to director-level pay in many organizations.
Principal Product Manager (PPM)
Principal PMs typically land in the $151,000–$236,000 range. This is a high-leverage individual contributor role where deep expertise and strategic influence (often across multiple teams) justify packages comparable to people-manager tracks.
Vice President (VP) of Product
VPs of Product usually see base salaries in the $159,000–$249,000 range, with total compensation rising significantly once you factor in equity and bonuses. At this level, your impact is measured in portfolio performance and long-term product strategy, not just feature delivery.
Chief Product Officer (CPO)
CPOs often sit in the $186,000–$290,000 base range, with overall compensation heavily influenced by company size, funding stage, and equity. This is the role where product decisions are effectively business decisions, and the package reflects that level of ownership.
Product Manager salaries by US tech hub
Income also shifts a lot by city. Using latest data from Glassdoor and Built In, here’s what mid-level Product Managers typically make across major US tech hubs (base salary, with common ranges).
PM salaries in San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco is still the top of the market. Glassdoor puts the average Product Manager salary at around $189K/year, with most offers between roughly $151K and $242K (3). Total compensation (once you add bonus and equity) can climb much higher, and Levels.fyi estimates Bay Area PMs at around $300K in median total comp across companies and levels (4).
Product manager salaries in Seattle
Seattle tracks just behind the Bay Area. The average Product Manager salary comes in at about $168K/year, with a typical range of $135K to $212K. Big cloud companies based there often push total compensation higher through stock and bonuses, especially at senior levels.
PM salaries in New York City
New York is another premium market. Different sources report average Product Management pay around $184K/year, with most salaries falling between $141K and $243K (5). Built In’s numbers line up with that picture, with experienced PMs in NYC reporting salaries in the mid-$170Ks and up.
PM salaries in Austin
Austin has become a serious tech hub, but with slightly lower cash compensation than the coasts. Glassdoor puts the average Product Manager salary at about $143K/year, with a typical range of $114K to $183K.Total comp at larger tech companies in Austin often lands higher once equity is included (6).
Product manager salaries in Boston
Boston punches above its weight thanks to its mix of SaaS, deep-tech, and healthcare. The average Product Manager salary is roughly $153K/year, with most roles between $123K and $193K.Senior PMs and product leaders in Boston regularly report total compensation well into the low- to mid-$200Ks.
PM salaries in Atlanta
Atlanta is a fast-growing, more affordable market. Product Managers there earn an average of about $142K/year, with a common range of $114K to $181K.That’s lower than San Francisco or New York, but the cost-of-living gap often narrows the real difference in take-home lifestyle.
Beyond salary, other things matter in a Product Management job offer
Salary matters. But so do other things too. Broadly, Product Managers value three areas beyond salary:
The Employee Experience
Product Managers are prepared to work hard, but also proactively seek out work-life balance. Hybrid or remote work is highly praised, as are employers that are considerate about their employees' mental health and work hard to foster a positive, tolerant, diverse, and accepting workplace.
The Meaning of the Work Itself
Product Managers value work that has an impact. This could be at the high level of the mission of the company, but it can also be at the more everyday level of solving interesting problems and working on challenges that feel important. Not every company is trying to change the world, and that’s OK, but the purpose of the work PMs are doing should be clearly communicated.
The Opportunity for Career Advancement
Spoiler alert: Only 35% of companies regularly assess their content team’s level of maturity. Product people are future-focused and want to learn and grow. Building out clear PM career paths and providing training opportunities to help PMs reach them is low-hanging fruit that companies can go for now.
Whether you’re hiring your dream PM team or you have your eye on your next job or promotion, salary matters. Setting realistic expectations that factor in both talent demand and economic realities will help connect the right jobs with the right job seekers. Salary is important but it's not everything: Considering employee experience, meaningful work, and opportunities for advancement will help both employers and job seekers create teams that are a joy to work for.
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(1): https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=4321973614&f_TPR=r2592000&keywords=product%20manager&origin=JOB_SEARCH_PAGE_JOB_FILTER
(2): https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/senior-product-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C22.htm
(3): https://www.glassdoor.sg/Salaries/san-francisco-ca-united-states-product-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C30_IM759_KO31%2C46.htm
(4): https://www.levels.fyi/t/product-manager
(5): https://builtin.com/salaries/us/new-york-city-ny/product-manager
(6): https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/austin-tx-product-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0%2C9_IM60_KO10%2C25.htm
Updated: December 11, 2025
