CPA vs CMA
Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
CMA leads on market demand (17,841 vs 6,533 US job postings) and CMAalso leads on average salary ($120,000). CMA is the more accessible starting point at 4/5 difficulty versus 5/5 for CPA.
Side-by-Side Data
| CPA | CMA | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 6,533 | 17,841leads |
| Market Share | 0.11% | 0.30% |
| Demand Trend | Stable | Rising |
| Avg Salary | $115,000 | $120,000leads |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 5 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $1,000-$1,500 (4 sections) | $415-$495 per part |
| Study Time | 400-600 hours total | 300-400 hours |
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.
CMA
Certified Management Accountant
IMA's management accounting certification covering financial planning, analysis, and decision support. Two 4-hour exams (100 questions + 2 essays each) requiring 72% to pass. Requires bachelor's degree and 2 years of management accounting experience.
CPA vs CMA: FAQ
Which pays more, CPA or CMA?+
CMA is associated with the higher average salary: about $120,000 vs $115,000 for CPA, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, CPA or CMA?+
CMA currently appears in 17,841 US job postings versus 6,533 for CPA — roughly 2.7× the demand. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is CPA harder than CMA?+
Generally yes: we rate CPA 5/5 difficulty versus 4/5 for CMA, reflecting exam depth and experience requirements.
Should I get both CPA and CMA?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with CMA (4/5 difficulty) and progressing to CPA. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.