There are several disparate threads on Tiktok PM levels and compensation here but none seem to have complete information. I am trying to summarize a few key points in this post, feel free to correct any outdated/incorrect info, and share more detailed info in comments. 1. To start, WLB issues seem real. There is no consensus on 996 culture but PMs are required to make themselves available based on their Chinese counterpart. Folks work anywhere from 40 hours to 60 hour weeks - depending on which team you are from. 2. Levels : There seems to be a lot of confusion on this. First some basics. Levels are 2-2, 3-1, 3-2, 4-1. Based off of a few comments, 4-1 is like head of Tiktok US product (I find it hard to believe). Others have shared that a google L7 should be equivalent to 4-1. On the lower end, I would say 2-2 is where most L4/5 google product managers would map to, and depending on their interview performance they may be leveled up at 3-1. I don’t have any better mapping than this. But I am trying a 3-1 with my 8 YOE, and joining a very specific team in Tiktok, in a space where I have relevant experience. 3. Compensation: this gets even more vague. Here is what I have managed to find out - 2-2: $300k 3-1: $400k (I think they may go a bit higher) 3-2:$600-700k (purely based on extrapolation) 4-1: can go up to $1M PS - I dont have an offer yet but the HR may ask for expectations, any help will be deeply appreciated. 8 yoe, 3 as PM. H/S/W MBA. Very relevant work experience to the tiktok role. tc is $250k. #product #tech #tc #compensation
I would add "compensation" to the hashtag or the post header so that relevant people get notified
Can you share the interview experience so far?
Need to add that of all the people I know that joined TikTok as PM, most were not product managers. They were project managers or product ops people. YMMV but I don’t think TikTok as a true product group or culture. Would love to be proven wrong, but even searching on LinkedIn shows this is true
Curious to learn more about this - a quick glance on LinkedIn does show most PMs weren’t PM before TikTok. Can any TikTok PMs comment on culture?
We have a hiring rule about hiring people who are a fit for the job and not for their past. This results us in hiring more non-traditional PMs compared to other companies. Having said that my observation is almost all of PM leadership comes from bread and butter FAANG + MSFT product management backgrounds. My group specifically have all career PMs in product roles.
My observation for PM level (PM myself): Fresh graduate: 1-2 or 2-1. Depending on how well you interviewed and if you have a masters; 2+ year experience: 2-1; Senior PM (Google L4-5): 2-2; 5 - 8yr experience with MBAs and/or FAANG background (like OP): 3-1 PM managers (Google L7): 3-2 at this level, you will be managing PMs Directors of FAANG or senior L7s: 4-1 and above.
Thanks! Are the compensation ranges in the ballpark?
Agreed, but 3-2s and 4-1s here can also be just ICs if they're experienced, people management is not a requirement
I’m not a PM. I’m in engineering in USA. I don’t know anyone’s comp or level who is a PM. There are 10 levels. 1-1 all the way up to 5-2. 3-2 is quite rare. I have 20+ yoe, multiple patents, and many years at FAANG and I was offered 3-1. I would guess a head of tiktok US product would be a 3-2. I believe a L7 would map to either high 3-1 or low 3-2. The comp numbers for each level you suggested would apply to engineering for 2-2, and 3-1. Not sure for PM. The numbers you provided for 3-2 are very high even for engineering.
On the business side maybe the scale is different but I feel there are quite a few people who are 4-1. I'd say 3-2 probably maps to a L7 and includes ICs any one who would be a FAANG Director L8 and manage teams would be at least 4-1