What is a product administrator and how to become one

Updated April 25, 2024
5 min read

A product administrator is a professional who manages and oversees the entire lifecycle of a product. They are responsible for understanding and operating within guidelines established by regulatory agencies, updating product data, and managing data entry for cost and retail relationships. They also handle tasks like market analysis, technical support, and project management. They work with various departments and stakeholders to ensure the smooth functioning of the product. They also handle tasks like estimating prices, conducting internal process audits, and managing customer support. Their role involves a combination of technical and administrative tasks.

How long does it takes to become a product administrator?

It typically takes 5-6 years to become a product administrator:

  • Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business, management, or marketing.
  • Years 5-6: Accumulating the necessary work experience, often in roles such as administrative assistant or office manager, and undergoing on-the-job training for 6-12 months.

Product Administrator career paths

As a product administrator, there are various career paths you can take. You can move into an operations manager role, overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business or organization. Another option is to become a project manager, managing projects from start to finish. You can also move into a more senior role, such as a senior project manager or senior operations manager. Additionally, you can become an accounting manager or assistant controller, overseeing financial aspects of a business. Some product administrators even move into a management role, becoming a manager or director.

Key steps to become a product administrator

  1. Explore product administrator education requirements

    The educational requirements for a product administrator typically involve a bachelor's degree. According to the data, around 45.22% of product administrators hold a bachelor's degree. Top majors for this role include Business, Accounting, Marketing, Computer Science, and Psychology. Some of the best schools for product administrators are California State University - Bakersfield, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and Cornell University.

    According to Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy, Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University, "Anything done during a gap year would hopefully yield some knowledge, skill, or ability that can be listed as a bullet point on their resume that others may not have." This highlights the importance of gaining practical skills and experiences that can help a product administrator stand out in their career.

    Most common product administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.6 %

    Associate

    18.4 %

    Master's

    7.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific product administrator skills

    Product administrators use a variety of skills to manage product data, perform market analysis, and provide technical support. They must understand regulatory guidelines and have experience with data entry, product standards, and inventory management. They also provide administrative support to clients and internal teams, perform financial analysis, and manage warranty repairs. They may also assist in the development of new products and provide training to other employees.

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Entry11.01%
    Product Support8.12%
    Product Data7.49%
    Financial Analysis6.59%
    Purchase Orders5.54%
  3. Complete relevant product administrator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New product administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a product administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real product administrator resumes.
  4. Research product administrator duties and responsibilities

    They handle responsibilities such as understanding and operating within guidelines established by regulatory agencies, completing special projects, and managing data entry. They also market analysis, provide administrative and customer support, estimate and quote prices, and conduct internal process audits. They develop pricing and bom structures, provide technical support, manage and handle warranty repairs, and analyze and process product changes. They also manage purchase orders, update reference manager databases, and admin

    • Manage product updates via EDI.
    • Manage customer accounts, submitting payroll, and licensing documentation while providing excellent customer service to enroll families and potential families.
    • Rely upon to resolve and identify QA and other issues.
    • Develop pricing and BOM structure for more consistent results in quoting and design.
  5. Prepare your product administrator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your product administrator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a product administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Product Administrator Resume templates

    Build a professional Product Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Product Administrator resume.
    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
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    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
    Product Administrator Resume
  6. Apply for product administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a product administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams
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Average product administrator salary

The average Product Administrator salary in the United States is $79,253 per year or $38 per hour. Product administrator salaries range between $56,000 and $111,000 per year.

Average Product Administrator Salary
$79,253 Yearly
$38.10 hourly

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Cons

Non caring employer's , standing on my feet all day, working weekends, low pay


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Updated April 25, 2024

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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