Role Overview
10%Team, product area, reporting structure
Responsibilities
30%Day-to-day tasks and expectations
Requirements
25%Must-have skills and experience
Nice-to-Haves
15%Preferred but not required skills
Benefits & Culture
20%Compensation, perks, company values
Typical Experience Requirements by Level
APM
0-2 yrs
PM
2-4 yrs
Senior PM
5-8 yrs
Director+
8+ yrs
Writing Great PM Job Descriptions
A well-written job description is your first product. It should clearly communicate the role, attract qualified candidates, and set accurate expectations. Poor JDs lead to poor candidate pools, wasted interviews, and bad hires.
The best PM job descriptions are specific about impact and scope, realistic about requirements, and transparent about compensation. They sell the opportunity while being honest about challenges. They attract diverse candidates by focusing on skills over credentials.
These templates provide a starting point. Customize them for your specific context, company culture, and role requirements. The templates include salary ranges based on 2026 market data for major tech hubs. Adjust based on your location and company stage.
The 5-Step PM Hiring Process
Define Role
Week 1
Scope, level, JD
Source
Week 1-2
Job boards, referrals
Screen
Week 2-4
Resume, phone screen
Interview
Week 4-6
4-5 rounds
Close
Week 6-8
Offer, negotiate
Product Role Salary Ranges (2026 Total Comp)
4 Core Qualities of a Good Product Manager
30%
Product Sense
User problems & solutions
25%
Analytical Rigor
Data-driven decisions
25%
Leadership
Influence without authority
20%
Execution
Track record of shipping
PM Hiring Key Stats
4-8 wks
Avg. time to hire
12%
YoY PM job growth
3-5
Offers top PMs evaluate
$99
Post a job (Best PM Jobs)
For the complete hiring process beyond job descriptions, see our step-by-step guide to hiring product managers.
Associate Product Manager
0-2 years experience • $100,000 - $150,000
About This Role
What You Will Do
- •Own small to medium features end-to-end, from discovery through launch
- •Write clear product requirements documents (PRDs) with guidance from senior PMs
- •Conduct user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing
- •Analyze product metrics and user data to inform decisions
- •Collaborate with engineering and design partners on a cross-functional team
- •Participate in sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives
- •Present product updates to stakeholders and gather feedback
What You Bring (Required)
- ✓Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience
- ✓0-2 years of experience in product management, engineering, design, or related field
- ✓Strong analytical skills and comfort with data (SQL experience a plus)
- ✓Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- ✓Demonstrated interest in technology and product development
- ✓Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Nice to Have
- +Experience building products (side projects, hackathons, etc.)
- +Prior internship in product management, engineering, or UX
- +Familiarity with agile development methodologies
- +Background in our industry or domain
Compensation
Total compensation range for this role
$100,000 - $150,000
Base + equity + bonus
Product Manager
2-5 years experience • $130,000 - $200,000
About This Role
What You Will Do
- •Define and own the product roadmap for your area based on user needs and business goals
- •Lead discovery efforts including user research, competitive analysis, and data analysis
- •Write detailed product specifications and success criteria
- •Partner with engineering leads on technical approach and feasibility
- •Drive alignment with stakeholders across the organization
- •Define, track, and analyze product metrics to measure success
- •Make data-informed prioritization decisions using frameworks like RICE
- •Mentor junior team members and contribute to PM team practices
What You Bring (Required)
- ✓2-5 years of product management experience at a technology company
- ✓Track record of shipping products that drove measurable business outcomes
- ✓Strong analytical skills with proficiency in SQL and analytics tools
- ✓Excellent communication skills - able to influence without authority
- ✓Experience with agile development and working closely with engineering
- ✓Customer-centric mindset with experience in user research
- ✓Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Nice to Have
- +Experience in [specific domain: fintech, e-commerce, B2B SaaS, etc.]
- +Technical background (CS degree, former engineer) - not required
- +Experience with A/B testing and experimentation
- +MBA or advanced degree
- +Experience at a high-growth startup or top tech company
Compensation
Total compensation range for this role
$130,000 - $200,000
Base + equity + bonus
Senior Product Manager
5-8 years experience • $180,000 - $300,000
About This Role
What You Will Do
- •Define and communicate product vision and strategy for your area
- •Own P&L or key metrics for your product area
- •Build and maintain relationships with executive stakeholders
- •Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple teams
- •Drive 0-to-1 product development or major product pivots
- •Mentor and develop junior product managers
- •Influence company-wide product strategy and direction
- •Represent the product organization externally with customers and partners
What You Bring (Required)
- ✓5-8 years of product management experience, with 3+ years at senior level
- ✓Proven track record of owning and delivering high-impact products
- ✓Experience leading cross-functional teams without direct authority
- ✓Strong strategic thinking with ability to translate vision into execution
- ✓Executive-level communication and presentation skills
- ✓Deep analytical skills and data-driven decision making
- ✓Experience with complex stakeholder management
Nice to Have
- +Experience at companies known for strong PM culture (FAANG, Stripe, Airbnb, etc.)
- +Track record of building products from 0-to-1
- +Experience in [specific industry/domain]
- +People management experience
- +MBA from top program
Compensation
Total compensation range for this role
$180,000 - $300,000
Base + equity + bonus
Director of Product
8-12 years experience • $250,000 - $400,000
About This Role
What You Will Do
- •Lead and develop a team of 4-8 product managers
- •Define product strategy and roadmap for your organization
- •Own significant business outcomes (revenue, growth, retention)
- •Partner with Engineering, Design, and Business leadership
- •Drive organizational initiatives and improve PM team practices
- •Represent product in executive and board-level discussions
- •Hire, develop, and retain top PM talent
- •Build cross-functional relationships and drive alignment
What You Bring (Required)
- ✓8-12 years of product management experience
- ✓3+ years of people management experience leading PM teams
- ✓Track record of building and scaling successful products
- ✓Experience driving significant business outcomes ($XM+ revenue impact)
- ✓Strong executive presence and communication skills
- ✓Experience with organizational design and team development
- ✓Demonstrated ability to attract and develop talent
Nice to Have
- +Experience scaling product organizations during growth phases
- +Track record at companies known for product excellence
- +Domain expertise in [relevant industry]
- +Experience with M&A integration or product portfolio management
- +MBA or advanced technical degree
Compensation
Total compensation range for this role
$250,000 - $400,000
Base + equity + bonus
VP of Product
12+ years experience • $350,000 - $600,000+
About This Role
What You Will Do
- •Set company-wide product vision and strategy
- •Build, lead, and develop the product organization (Directors, PMs)
- •Own product contribution to company OKRs and business outcomes
- •Partner with CEO and executive team on company strategy
- •Present product strategy and progress to the Board of Directors
- •Drive product-led growth initiatives
- •Represent the company externally with customers, partners, and industry
- •Build strong product culture and practices across the organization
What You Bring (Required)
- ✓12+ years of product management experience
- ✓5+ years of executive leadership managing product organizations
- ✓Track record of driving significant business outcomes at scale
- ✓Experience building and scaling product teams
- ✓Board-level communication and presentation skills
- ✓Strong business acumen and understanding of business models
- ✓Experience in [industry/stage] relevant to company
Nice to Have
- +Experience as VP/CPO at successful companies
- +Track record of product-led growth or market expansion
- +Experience with IPO preparation or M&A
- +Industry thought leadership and external profile
- +Technical or design background
Compensation
Total compensation range for this role
$350,000 - $600,000+
Base + equity + bonus
Job Description Best Practices
Follow these guidelines to write job descriptions that attract top PM talent while being inclusive and setting accurate expectations.
Structure
- →Lead with an engaging overview that sells the opportunity
- →Keep responsibilities to 6-8 bullet points
- →Separate required vs nice-to-have qualifications clearly
- →Include compensation range upfront
- →End with company culture and benefits
Language
- →Use gender-neutral language throughout
- →Write in active voice ("You will lead" not "The PM leads")
- →Be specific about scope and impact
- →Avoid jargon and buzzwords
- →Focus on outcomes over activities
Requirements
- →Focus on must-haves vs nice-to-haves (be honest)
- →Avoid "years of experience" as primary filter
- →List skills and accomplishments, not just credentials
- →Remove unnecessary degree requirements
- →Be realistic - unicorn candidates do not exist
Inclusion
- →Use tools like Textio to check for bias
- →Explicitly welcome diverse candidates
- →Highlight accommodations and flexibility
- →Include your D&I commitment
- →Remove gendered or coded language
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗ Listing every possible tool as required
- ✗ Requiring 10+ years for mid-level roles
- ✗ Using gendered language or "culture fit"
- ✗ Being vague about compensation
- ✗ Copy-pasting generic descriptions
- ✗ Focusing on activities over outcomes
PM Compensation by Level (2026)
| Level | Title | Experience | Total Comp Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM | Associate Product Manager | 0-2 years | $100,000 - $150,000 |
| PM | Product Manager | 2-5 years | $130,000 - $200,000 |
| Senior PM | Senior Product Manager | 5-8 years | $180,000 - $300,000 |
| Director | Director of Product | 8-12 years | $250,000 - $400,000 |
| VP | VP of Product | 12+ years | $350,000 - $600,000+ |
* Compensation ranges are for total compensation (base + equity + bonus) in major US tech hubs. Ranges may be lower in other markets. See our PM Salary Guide for detailed breakdowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a Product Manager job description include?
A good PM job description includes: 1) Role overview and team context, 2) Key responsibilities (5-8 bullet points), 3) Required qualifications (experience, skills, education), 4) Nice-to-have qualifications, 5) Compensation range and benefits, 6) Company culture and values. The best JDs are specific about the product area, impact opportunity, and growth path while avoiding jargon and unrealistic requirements.
How long should a PM job description be?
Aim for 500-800 words. Job descriptions that are too short (under 300 words) lack important details, while those that are too long (over 1000 words) lose candidate attention. Focus on clarity over comprehensiveness. Bullet points for responsibilities and requirements make scanning easier.
Should we include salary in PM job descriptions?
Yes, including salary ranges is increasingly important and required by law in many states (Colorado, California, New York, etc.). Job postings with salary ranges receive 30% more applications and attract more qualified candidates. Even when not required, transparency builds trust and reduces wasted time on mismatched expectations.
How many years of experience should we require for each PM level?
Typical requirements: APM (0-2 years), PM (2-4 years), Senior PM (4-7 years), Staff PM (6-10 years), Director (8-12 years), VP (12+ years). However, these are guidelines, not rules. Focus on demonstrated skills and impact rather than strict year requirements. Many companies are moving toward skills-based hiring.
What technical skills should PM job descriptions require?
It depends on the role and company. Common technical requirements include: SQL (intermediate), basic understanding of APIs and system design, familiarity with analytics tools, and ability to work with engineering teams. Avoid requiring coding skills unless truly necessary. Be specific about what "technical" means for your role.
How do we write inclusive PM job descriptions?
To write inclusive JDs: 1) Use gender-neutral language, 2) Focus on must-haves vs nice-to-haves (women apply when they meet 100% of requirements, men at 60%), 3) Avoid unnecessary degree requirements, 4) Include your D&I commitment, 5) Use tools like Textio to check for bias, 6) Describe culture specifically rather than using coded terms.
What is the difference between PM and TPM job descriptions?
PM job descriptions focus on product strategy, user problems, roadmap prioritization, and business outcomes. TPM (Technical Program Manager) JDs emphasize technical execution, cross-team coordination, risk management, and delivery. PMs decide "what" to build; TPMs focus on "how" to deliver it. Some companies blur these lines.
Should we list specific tools in PM job descriptions?
List tools only if proficiency is truly required (e.g., "Amplitude for analytics"). Avoid long lists of every tool you use. Candidates can learn tools; you want to hire for product thinking and judgment. Excessive tool requirements can discourage otherwise qualified candidates.
About the Author
Aditi Chaturvedi
·Founder, Best PM JobsAditi is the founder of Best PM Jobs, helping product managers find their dream roles at top tech companies. With experience in product management and recruiting, she creates resources to help PMs level up their careers.