The Job Outlook for Product Managers

Best Jobs in America

Source: Glassdoor

29%

Annual Growth in Job Openings

Source: linkedin

128,000

Jobs Posted for Product Managers

Source: linkedin

$196,548

Average Total Pay in the U.S.

Source: Glassdoor

Your Learning Journey

Why a Master's in Product Management?

Product management is a high-earning, fast-growing career with 29% annual growth in job openings and an average total pay of $196,548, making it one of today’s most lucrative fields. The combination of rapid job growth, competitive salaries, and leadership opportunities makes product management one of today’s most exciting career paths.

Lead the AI and digital transformation wave by driving innovation in industries where over 90% of executives prioritize AI, delivering 20% productivity gains through cutting-edge strategies. Master the skills to lead AI-powered initiatives and position yourself as an essential leader in a technology-driven world where organizations rely on product managers to turn digital transformation goals into reality.

Amplify your earning power with a master’s degree, boosting your salary potential and opening doors to top-tier product management roles. A master’s degree not only opens doors to top-tier positions but also provides the confidence and credibility to lead teams, influence strategic decisions, and make an immediate impact in organizations seeking innovative product leadership.

Prepare for success at every level of your product management career by gaining the critical skills and tools needed to excel in roles ranging from assistant product manager to chief product officer. Whether you’re looking to break into the field or advance into senior leadership, this program equips you with the knowledge to manage the entire product lifecycle, align cross-functional teams, and deliver solutions that drive business success.

Join the University of Maryland, a top-tier university with global impact, and become part of a thriving community dedicated to excellence, innovation, and leadership. Ranked among the Top 20 public universities in the nation, UMD is renowned for its achievements in entrepreneurship and innovation and boasts a powerful 400,000+ global alumni network that opens doors across industries and continents.

An Innovative Online Curriculum

Fundamentals of Product Management

This course introduces the core functions of a product manager, including customer discovery, product strategy, and lifecycle management. Students explore how product managers lead at every stage of development, transitioning from project to product thinking while building vision, alignment, and delivery capabilities.

Strategies for Managing Innovation

Students examine how organizations manage change, drive innovation, and evaluate emerging technologies. The course introduces innovation frameworks and teaches students how to implement new solutions that align with evolving business needs.

Business Modeling and Customer Validation

Students design and test business models, segment target customers, and validate value propositions. Emphasis is placed on conducting interviews, iterating with feedback, and translating insights into compelling product narratives.

Data Analysis and Decision Making

This course focuses on experimental thinking and the use of Bayesian methods to guide product decisions. Students build skills in designing surveys, interpreting data, and making confident, data-informed choices throughout the discovery and delivery process.

Innovative Thinking

Students apply design thinking and agile principles to build meaningful, scalable products. Through structured experimentation and customer-centric design, they learn how to de-risk innovation and lead through ambiguity.

Managing Product Development and Operations

This course explores lean operations and system optimization. Students study engineering paradigms like Agile, DevOps, and value stream mapping to align teams and processes for faster, more effective product delivery.

Market Development and Commercialization

Students learn to develop and execute go-to-market strategies, manage customer acquisition, and drive growth. Key topics include product positioning, customer segmentation, and promotion planning.

Negotiation and Problem Solving

Product managers must align diverse stakeholders. This course teaches negotiation strategies, conflict resolution, IP and contract basics, and how to advocate for strategic product decisions under pressure.

Building and Leading Innovative Organizations

Students explore leadership strategies for building innovation-ready organizations. Topics include OKRs, product portfolio governance, lean budgeting, and culture-shaping techniques to lead cross-functional teams.

Financing the Product Life Cycle

This course prepares students to make sound financial decisions across the product lifecycle. Students learn how to build product budgets, evaluate opportunity costs, and align financial strategy with product growth.

Key Program Features

Learn From Top Minds

Taught by experts with product expertise and industry experience.

Power Your Career

Build the high-impact skills in discovery, agile delivery, strategic planning, and data fluency.

Flexibility Fits Your Life

Learn at your own pace while still staying on track with right-sized assignments.

Small-Class Experience

Receive direct feedback from instructors and collaborate with classmates.

Real-World Projects

Project-based learning that mirrors what product managers do every day.

Personalized Feedback

Individualized, actionable feedback on assignments to reinforce your understanding and improve your capabilities.

Format

Asynchronous online with weekly lessons.

Time Commitment

Approximately 10 hours per week per course.