They are doing good. Look at anyone who has been a PM in 2010 in LinkedIn. Most of them are either CPOs or VPs and last I know some of their salaries were around 3Cr + without ESOPs 
  
 It won't happen to the current crop of PMs when they are 40 since this is an overcrowded field now

Yes every other person is a product manager

Product Manager

Growth Manager

Unless you become DoP by then, you are at risk of competing with youngbloods.

For a PM to be above 40, they’d have to be at least 2005 graduate. Indian startups started hiring PMs in droves only in 2014 onwards. So, the base is too low to engage. Most of the PMs before 2009 were in big cos like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft. They would have stuck there or launched their companies or become DoP and above in startups.  
  
 The Ken article is more about the WITCH and less about startups.

https://theken.com/story/whymore40somethingsarebecomingunwillingretirees/?utmsource=daily&utmmedium=email&utmcampaign=dailynewsletter

Welcome to Product Managers's Private Community

https://the-ken.com/story/why-more-40-somethings-are-becoming-unwilling-retirees/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_newsletter

PMs, views on this? How are PMs above 40 faring in the industry ?

PMs, views on this? How are PMs above 40 faring in the industry ?- Grapevine

Sharing some reflections on this:

1. Product is not a function with a large hierarchy / multiple levels in the ladder. Managerial responsibility comes in very late in the product career and the spans are typically small (relative to other functions like engineering, sales, operations). This also means a steeper funnel to the top and only a handful VP Product roles in the industry.

2. Product is centered around technology and digital consumer trends, both of which are fast changing. This requires constant unlearning and relearning. But more critically, this also means that previous knowledge/experience hits a plateau on marginal value beyond a basic threshold (where you have developed some essential product semse and skills).

3. Product managers are also much higher-paid vs other functional peers, at comparable years of experience. This means that a PM gets to a very high salary (say, 1+ crore) by the age of 40 (15-20y into their career). Tech functions in non-tech companies (like FMCG, banking) cannot offer that kind of pay, meaning salary growth beyond a point is limited to tech-first companies / limiting addressable market for lateral moves.

All of these considererd, how should PMs think about the longevity of their careers? Unlike traditional roles, this does not seem like a "retire at 60" job. What would be the realistic age one should plan for, at which career growth and salary growth will stagnate? What are ways in which a 80%ile PM can extend their career (eg: also taking up engineering management or P&L responsibility or growth function etc., to increase scope)?

PS: this post is not for the top 5-10% PMs. They will always find roles at VP level etc, this is for the 50-90%ile bucket of PM talent.

Longevity of a product career

Will commend you on a very well written and well articulated post. 
  
 Options for the future will be apparent at ~40.  Most peak roles will be achieved between 45-50. 
  
 Possible exits: 
  
 1. Running Category roles at companies which have a broad canvas, multiple product categories. 
 2. Deputing for and eventually running a P&L or a LoB. 
 3. Sales or more critically Customer Success.  Don't shy away from revenue responsibilities. 
  
 Engineering is a sharp left turn imo.  It's not an overlapping skillset at best and don't see how that is part of a PMs likely roadmap.

Sales Manager

Investor

I was checking Linkedin. Some PMs in their mid 30s are Heads, Directors, VPs of startups. Meanwhile 30s who switched careers etc are just SPMs. What’s happening here?

Do 35 year okd SPMs feel ‘stuck’ career-wise?

Welcome to News Discussion's Private Community

When I joined corporate world  in 2012, there were many 45+  and some 55+ folks among us..... 

Gradually I have been witnessing slow but steady change in demography.... After 10 years, I am rarely seeing any 55+ folks...and noticeable reduction in 45+ folks. 

My prediction is AI will make this slow change very steep in next 5 years and we would rarely see any average  but highly paid 45+ folks

Is unofficial retirement in corporate world decreasing year by year?

Software Engineer

With the recent influx of talent who are trying to enter the world of PMing just because they overheard that PMs are CEO of the product, and they get paid really well, the bar throughout the industry is decreasing. 

While we need more PMs, I feel most of the 2-3yoe PMs i'm meeting either for interview or guidance are more like COGS in the wheel. They are doing more and more of Program Management. Any PM at any level should spend atleast 10-20% of their time thinking about product vision, and how will the world look like if their product succeeds in 1y). 

We need folks like Anuj, and other senior veterans, to come up and train the middle management of most of the companies to really improve PMing as a function in India

Future of PMing in India

Software Developer

Feel this is such a crucial story. The possibility of holding sufficiently dignified jobs in your 40s and not getting replaced by genz

Ken's article on  'Unwilling Retirees'

I am sick of PM junta acting so pricey when joining a Series A. Most junta are stuck in their jobs doing boring stuff, and they keep seeking exciting opportunity to arrive. But when it's knocking on the door suddenly everyone wants a 40-50% fixed pay hike and doesnt want risk sharing (say ESOP component higher than fixed). For what!! 

Dude Series A has lesser money that's 1, unlike the cushy companies to these PMs are leaving and then, all of a sudden , I derive my happiness from "intellectual stimulation" or "real work" just vanishes in thin air.
Btw, we are offering like 5-15% hike on their current fixed pay with atleast 1:1 ESOP min (giving more to people who negotiate on ESOPs).

Series A hiring is tough. 🥲

Hiring PMs at series A

Founder

Welcome to Office Gossip's Private Community

"Companies today have a young workforce, with even their CEOs being under the age of 40. With a low average age today, companies prefer hiring younger candidates, simply because they'd gel well with the company culture and work design."

Retirement age 40

Consultant

Met a PM from IIT / IIM with 4 years of experience. He is working at a  well know soonicorn at a salary of 17  lakhs per year . He used to draw 30 lakhs per year in his last role before we was laid off . Interesting Times ahead

PM Salaries Have Crashed.

A minute of silence to all the grapevine polls where salary expectations are so high 😁

Product Owner

This is not a question for the cocky new grad in the overvalued startup, but for the few seasoned PMs that still reply out here.

Where do PMs go after they peak?

By peaking I mean arriving at a GPM or Staff PM position at the top 10-15 companies (you can do your own ranking here).

Nobody has the true statistics but I will use the assumption that 75% (debatable) of those who peak, will get laid off within 2 years from their ‘peak role’. The remaining will be able to progress into DoP and VP in the same top company or another in the top 15.

Where do they go then?

I am pretty positive, from experience, that they don’t go any up.

Do they go down the ladder of new startups for titles and ending up in the worst ones after being laid off 4-5 times? Do they quit all together?

Do they open a farm?

Do they start their own startup?

Comments and thoughts folks!

Where Do PMs Go After They Peak?

Welcome to Indian Startups's Private Community

I am curious to understand how the future looks like. For now, I think we have a clear aim. Most might not want to startup as they are well satisfied with solving other's problems. But come to think of it, I have not seen much ppl above 50 years of age in the IT industry.

With  90's and 80's generation slowly inching towards that phase, how do you guys think it will shape up?

straight question : do we have a chance?

Folks, what does the future (after 50+) hold for us, the IT professionals (Dev, Design, PMs, etc) ?

What do you think? PM salaries look unpalatable to me now.

Someone is making 73L as a PM with 2 years experience

Product Marketing Manager

Have you guys think about early retirement 45-50 
Let’s discuss ways to achieve that

Early retirement

Today a poll was conducted in my WhatsApp group for people who are planning for ms by the fall 2025 at US that wha roles are they targeting post their masters and majority of them are voted for product management so I want to ask is the product management is becoming new norm or it's just fomo among engineering grads like it was for software development 2-4 yrs back. Also what's the future of PMs in terms of salary, growth with advancement in AI tools

The PM trend

Welcome to IT Company Discussion's Private Community

Planning out finances, hence this question. Also, we are the first generation (in most families) to retire from this sector. What is the age of the most senior employee you know in software. Hardly only 10% make it to the board/senior levels. How about the rest? And can we really take on this kind of stress and work after our 40s and compete with the younger generation?

What is the typical retirement age in the software industry?

Welcome to Software Engineers's Private Community

As a poll pointed out most people on platform are from 25-35 age group. We saw the tech bubble and are riding the wave comfortably.
What are your thoughts tech industry and job opportunity post 45. My plan is to get FIREd by that time but curious what roles if any do you take on at this age?
Do we all take up as managers and become the thing we hate?
Any scope of still remaining an IC and getting paid a similar income?
I have been mostly working in startups and the oldest guy I have worked with was 37 and I am generally see very few old people in tech, though I have 0 MNC exposure.

Jobs in tech post 45 age

I don't see pm working in team, rest everyone like engineers, designers and analyst tend to work together.
If you are a senior PM how does you feel

Does the pm role gets lonely down the line

Associate Product Manager

With careers now lasting only 20–25 years, those in their 40s and 50s are grappling with longer job hunts, mounting stress, and financial pressure. Agree?

Unwilling retirees

Welcome to Personal Finance's Private Community

Curious to know how much people end up earning in the long run. While there is a lot of buzz around current salaries in these threads, from a financial planning pov wanted to understand how salaries grow over time. Does a plateau come in percentage hike? Anyone who knows and can share some trajectories of people at 25-30-35-40-44

PMs, views on this? How are PMs above 40 faring in the industry ?

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