We surveyed 724 technical product managers to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical technical product manager. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a technical product manager?

Low

High

Working as a technical product manager typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a technical product manager?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a technical product manager typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a technical product manager?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a technical product manager.

Info

Do technical product managers work full-time or part-time?

98% of technical product managers work in full-time roles while 2% work part-time.

Is being a technical product manager stressful?

Low

High

Stress is not uncommon amongst technical product managers, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.

Is being organized important as a technical product manager?

Low

High

Organization is not considered a particuarly important part of being a technical product manager.

How competitive is the workplace for technical product managers?

Low

High

Competition at work is not common for technical product managers.

Does being a technical product manager require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for technical product managers.

Are technical product managers allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Technical product managers are afforded a certain level of ability to express themselves creatively, compared to other careers.

Do technical product managers have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Technical product managers have high flexibility in the direction of their work, allowing them a lot of freedom in how they accomplish their goals.

Is being a technical product manager physically demanding?

Low

High

Work as a technical product managers is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.

Are technical product managers exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

While sometimes repetitive, technical product managers tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.

Does being a technical product manager require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as a technical product manager.

Does being a good technical product manager require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as a technical product manager.