CPA vs CFA
Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
CPA leads on market demand (6,533 vs 283 US job postings), while CFAleads on average salary ($142,000). Both carry a 5/5 difficulty rating, so the decision comes down to career direction rather than effort.
Side-by-Side Data
| CPA | CFA | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 6,533leads | 283 |
| Market Share | 0.11% | 0.00% |
| Demand Trend | Stable | Declining |
| Avg Salary | $115,000 | $142,000leads |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $1,000-$1,500 (4 sections) | $1,250 ($940 early) + $350 enrollment |
| Study Time | 400-600 hours total | 900+ hours (all 3 levels) |
Job counts and market share from live US job postings, updated weekly. Want a different matchup? Use theinteractive comparison tool.
CPA
Certified Public Accountant
The US accounting profession's premier license, now featuring CPA Evolution with 3 Core sections plus 1 Discipline. Requires 150 credit hours and 1-2 years of supervised experience. Overall pass rate is ~50% per section. State-regulated with varying requirements.
CFA
Chartered Financial Analyst
CFA Institute's rigorous 3-level program for investment professionals covering ethics, portfolio management, and asset valuation. Each level requires ~300 hours of study. Only 20% of candidates earn the charter. Level I pass rate is ~43%, Level III is ~50%.
CPA vs CFA: FAQ
Which pays more, CPA or CFA?+
CFA is associated with the higher average salary: about $142,000 vs $115,000 for CPA, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, CPA or CFA?+
CPA currently appears in 6,533 US job postings versus 283 for CFA — roughly 23.1× the demand. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is CFA harder than CPA?+
Both are rated 5/5 difficulty on our scale, though exam formats and prerequisites differ — see each certification's page for specifics.
Should I get both CPA and CFA?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with CPA (5/5 difficulty) and progressing to CFA. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.