Footwear Product Development Manager Career Profile, Salary & Job Outlook
What does a Footwear Product Development Manager do?
Footwear Product Development Managers work side by side with the sneaker design and development teams on all aspects of the sneaker product development cycle, from materials to market preparation. Moreover, they are hands deep within the sneaker development process from working to initiate and organize material selections, research and organize mood boards, assist in tech pack preparations and hand-offs. They also work to master PLM, by entering specs and ensuring accuracy.
How much does a Footwear Product Development Manager make?
According to Comparably, Footwear Product Development Managers make a national average of $108,675 annually or $52.25 an hour. In general, entry-level footwear product development associates make around $86,940 annually, with senior-level product development managers making $130,410 a year.
What impact does this career have towards the sneaker industry?
Footwear Development Managers help drive the process of a sneaker concept into actualization. Without their expertise and organization, product lines would miss hitting their seasonal delivery timelines for the footwear market.
What is the job outlook for a Footwear Product Development Manager?
The Footwear market is expected to show a volume growth of 4.0%. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth in the fashion design industry (including Footwear Product Development Managers) is projected to grow one percent during the 2018-2028 decade.
How to kick-off your career:
- Stay up to date on sneaker releases pushing the capabilities of design, materials, and technology.
- Collect inspiration of sneakers with your favorite design details.
- Take a project management course to learn how to navigate timelines and working across a team.
- Download our Ultimate Sneaker Career Guide to understand the pathway into this career.
- Explore our Sneaker Essentials online course to understand the Design & Materials process.
Learn from:
Jon Tang
Sneaker Essentials contributor, Fronteer
Experiences: Founder & Creative Director, Fronteer
Senior Designer, Collaborations & Special Projects, K-Swiss
Related Careers:
Men’s Footwear Designer | Women’s Footwear Designer | Kid’s Footwear Designer | Footwear Graphic Designer | Materials Designer | Design Engineer | Color Designer | Athletic Footwear Designer | Product Developer | Product Line Manager | Footwear Product Tester | Product Manager
