A product manager is responsible for the vision, strategy, and roadmap of a product. They work with designers, engineers, marketers and salespeople to develop and launch a product for the customer or user.
Product management is a crucial skill, and the discipline is becoming in demand at many large technology companies. They can often command top dollar because they play such a pivotal role. The average annual cash salary of a product manager in the U.S. can be $117,000 or more, according to the professional social network Blind.
According to the more than 5 million verified professionals on Blind, these are the top 50 best-paying cities for product managers in the United States ranked by total compensation. Total compensation includes the annual salary, stock-based compensation, and a cash bonus if offered.
1. Menlo Park, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $361,326
- Median total compensation: $311,000
- Average salary: $189,240
- Median base salary: $195,000
2. Cupertino, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $305,622
- Median total compensation: $280,000
- Average salary: $172,205
- Median base salary: $170,900
3. Mountain View, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $303,849
- Median total compensation: $267,000
- Average salary: $174,848
- Median base salary: $170,000
4. Sunnyvale, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $290,057
- Median total compensation: $265,000
- Average salary: $170,498
- Median base salary: $172,000
5. Santa Monica, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $276,766
- Median total compensation: $200,000
- Average salary: $155,075
- Median base salary: $151,000
6. San Francisco
- Average total compensation: $265,698
- Median total compensation: $223,000
- Average salary: $169,723
- Median base salary: $170,000
7. Santa Clara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $258,004
- Median total compensation: $229,000
- Average salary: $173,921
- Median base salary: $180,000
8. Redmond, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $256,091
- Median total compensation: $206,013
- Average salary: $158,890
- Median base salary: $155,000
9. Seattle
- Average total compensation: $248,184
- Median total compensation: $225,000
- Average salary: $148,899
- Median base salary: $147,000
10. Palo Alto, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $244,325
- Median total compensation: $221,625
- Average salary: $169,740
- Median base salary: $168,000
11. San Jose, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $242,532
- Median total compensation: $230,000
- Average salary: $167,563
- Median base salary: $165,000
12. Miami
- Average total compensation: $242,176
- Median total compensation: $153,130
- Average salary: $127,800
- Median base salary: $135,000
13. Boulder, Colo.
- Average total compensation: $229,281
- Median total compensation: $174,250
- Average salary: $143,925
- Median base salary: $150,000
14. San Mateo, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $216,292
- Median total compensation: $175,425
- Average salary: $154,302
- Median base salary: $145,000
15. Portland, Ore.
- Average total compensation: $208,566
- Median total compensation: $182,000
- Average salary: $153,232
- Median base salary: $150,000
16. New York
- Average total compensation: $203,340
- Median total compensation: $177,000
- Average salary: $150,476
- Median base salary: $150,000
17. Redwood City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $202,751
- Median total compensation: $185,000
- Average salary: $154,445
- Median base salary: $153,000
18. Irvine, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $200,970
- Median total compensation: $175,000
- Average salary: $136,637
- Median base salary: $140,000
19. Pleasanton, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $200,287
- Median total compensation: $209,600
- Average salary: $151,882
- Median base salary: $153,000
20. Los Angeles
- Average total compensation: $199,998
- Median total compensation: $173,006
- Average salary: $151,141
- Median base salary: $150,000
21. Tampa, Fla.
- Average total compensation: $199,774
- Median total compensation: $267,507
- Average salary: $136,000
- Median base salary: $160,000
22. San Diego
- Average total compensation: $199,097
- Median total compensation: $180,000
- Average salary: $137,150
- Median base salary: $150,000
23. Cambridge, Mass.
- Average total compensation: $196,755
- Median total compensation: $197,500
- Average salary: $152,700
- Median base salary: $151,500
24. Bellevue, Wash.
- Average total compensation: $195,986
- Median total compensation: $180,400
- Average salary: $146,621
- Median base salary: $147,900
25. Boston
- Average total compensation: $195,538
- Median total compensation: $165,500
- Average salary: $135,763
- Median base salary: $136,750
26. Austin, Texas
- Average total compensation: $192,371
- Median total compensation: $170,000
- Average salary: $140,047
- Median base salary: $138,000
27. Nashville, Tenn.
- Average total compensation: $189,831
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average salary: $124,740
- Median base salary: $130,000
28. Dallas
- Average total compensation: $177,908
- Median total compensation: $162,500
- Average salary: $136,108
- Median base salary: $130,000
29. Chicago
- Average total compensation: $177,883
- Median total compensation: $155,000
- Average salary: $135,574
- Median base salary: $134,500
30. Charlotte, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $176,235
- Median total compensation: $170,000
- Average salary: $134,166
- Median base salary: $140,000
31. Denver
- Average total compensation: $175,710
- Median total compensation: $144,000
- Average salary: $128,398
- Median base salary: $125,000
32. Santa Barbara, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $174,214
- Median total compensation: $156,750
- Average salary: $131,285
- Median base salary: $130,000
33. Oakland, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $172,917
- Median total compensation: $176,500
- Average salary: $138,334
- Median base salary: $135,505
34. Fremont, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $170,990
- Median total compensation: $177,501
- Average salary: $137,950
- Median base salary: $141,500
35. Washington, D.C.
- Average total compensation: $170,930
- Median total compensation: $163,500
- Average salary: $141,926
- Median base salary: $143,500
36. Pittsburgh
- Average total compensation: $169,227
- Median total compensation: $168,000
- Average salary: $131,423
- Median base salary: $125,000
37. Foster City, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $168,637
- Median total compensation: $169,060
- Average salary: $141,357
- Median base salary: $140,000
38. Minneapolis
- Average total compensation: $166,738
- Median total compensation: $162,500
- Average salary: $139,805
- Median base salary: $133,500
39. Milpitas, Calif.
- Average total compensation: $164,532
- Median total compensation: $158,500
- Average salary: $130,200
- Median base salary: $130,500
40. Houston
- Average total compensation: $162,463
- Median total compensation: $153,150
- Average salary: $130,867
- Median base salary: $137,500
41. Bentonville, Ark.
- Average total compensation: $159,106
- Median total compensation: $136,500
- Average salary: $112,983
- Median base salary: $103,500
42. Salt Lake City
- Average total compensation: $157,492
- Median total compensation: $150,000
- Average salary: $124,864
- Median base salary: $136,000
43. Richmond, Va.
- Average total compensation: $156,801
- Median total compensation: $154,000
- Average salary: $140,385
- Median base salary: $139,000
44. Columbus, Ohio
- Average total compensation: $156,030
- Median total compensation: $132,000
- Average salary: $125,463
- Median base salary: $125,000
45. Atlanta
- Average total compensation: $152,999
- Median total compensation: $138,000
- Average salary: $127,117
- Median base salary: $124,848
46. Phoenix
- Average total compensation: $151,486
- Median total compensation: $139,000
- Average salary: $127,359
- Median base salary: $128,000
47. San Antonio, Texas
- Average total compensation: $148,109
- Median total compensation: $142,000
- Average salary: $131,000
- Median base salary: $127,000
48. Philadelphia
- Average total compensation: $142,477
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average salary: $125,406
- Median base salary: $121,000
49. Raleigh, N.C.
- Average total compensation: $142,305
- Median total compensation: $147,400
- Average salary: $128,237
- Median base salary: $130,000
50. Indianapolis
- Average total compensation: $141,670
- Median total compensation: $140,000
- Average salary: $117,112
- Median base salary: $115,500
Methodology
Blind analyzed the base salaries and total compensation of product managers in the United States on its platform. Cities were ranked by the average total compensation, including annual base salary and, if applicable, stock-based compensation and cash bonuses. All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the professional social network Blind.
Also published on Teamblind's Blog