CPA Exam Prep Course Discounts & Promo Codes in 2026

If you’re considering becoming a CMA, salaries are probably one of the first things on your mind and frankly, they should be. The Certified Management Accountant credential takes time, effort, and serious study (to the tune of ~300 hours, via the IMA). You want to know if it’s worth it, and as a finance aficionado, chances are, you’re concerned about that ROI.

The short answer? 

CMAs often earn more than non-certified accountants, especially as they move into leadership roles. That said, salary depends on experience, location, industry, and how you use the credential, so it isn’t the perfect fit for everyone.

Let’s break it down clearly so you know what to expect.

Key Takeaways

• CMA Salaries Are Strong: The average CMA salary is $133,000, with median pay at $122,000.
• Total Compensation Is Even Higher: Average total compensation reaches $158,000, with a median of $135,000.
• Certification Pays Off: CMA holders earn about 24% more in salary and 27% more in total compensation than non-holders.
• Some Industries Are More Lucrative: Industries like manufacturing, technology, and healthcare can be more lucrative than others.
• More Experience, Higher Pay: Naturally, the longer you work and the more experience you earn translates to a higher salary over time.

What Is the Average CMA Salary?

Let’s talk numbers. Here are some of the key facts to know, sourced from the IMA’s USA Salary Survey.

• $133,000 average salary ($122,000 median)
  • $158,000 average total compensation ($135,000 median)
• CMA holders earn a 24% higher salary than non-holders on average
  • This increases to 27% for total compensation

Here’s a look at how different certifications (or lack thereof) can affect your income as a management accountant:

The big takeaway: the credential often accelerates earning potential, especially in corporate finance environments. For an even bigger salary boost, consider earning both the CPA and CMA designations.

Entry-Level CMA Salary

If you’re just starting out, your salary will likely depend more on your role than the letters after your name.

Common entry-level roles include:

• Staff accountant
• Financial analyst
• Cost accountant
• Junior financial analyst

At this stage, the CMA designation signals ambition and technical strength. It may not instantly double your pay, but it can:

• Help you stand out in hiring
• Support faster promotions
• Strengthen salary negotiations

Early-career CMAs often earn more than peers over time because they move up more quickly.

Mid-Career and Senior-Level Earnings

This is where the CMA credential really starts to show its value.

Mid-career professionals with a CMA often move into roles like:

• Finance manager
• Senior financial analyst
• Corporate controller
• Director of Finance

At this level, compensation often crosses into six figures, especially in larger organizations or high-cost markets.

Senior-level CMAs can move into executive roles such as:

• VP of Finance
• CFO
• Strategic finance leader

At this point, compensation may include bonuses, equity, and performance incentives — not just base salary.

How Industry Affects CMA Salary

Not all industries pay the same.

CMAs working in the following fields often outearn those in small, private firms and/or nonprofit positions:

• Manufacturing
• Technology
• Healthcare
• Financial services

Corporate environments that rely heavily on cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and internal strategy tend to value the CMA skill set more directly.

The credential is especially aligned with internal decision-making roles, not public accounting.

Location Matters (A Lot)

Geography plays a significant role in compensation.

Major metropolitan areas generally offer higher salaries. However, higher pay often comes with higher living costs.

In smaller markets, salaries may be lower, but your purchasing power can be comparable or even better.

If you’re flexible about relocation, that can expand your earning ceiling.

Salary vs. CPA: How Do They Compare?

This question comes up often.

CPAs are typically associated with public accounting, audit, and tax. CMAs focus more on corporate finance, planning, and performance management.

In many corporate settings, CMA salaries are competitive with CPA salaries, especially in management roles. In public accounting firms, CPAs often have a clearer advantage.

If your goal is corporate leadership, the CMA can be just as financially rewarding.

Does the CMA Actually Increase Your Salary?

Research and industry surveys consistently show that professionals with the CMA credential earn more on average than non-certified peers.

But here’s the nuance.

The credential doesn’t magically raise your paycheck overnight. What it does is:

• Expand your skill set
• Increase your credibility
• Open doors to higher-level roles

The salary increase usually comes through promotion and responsibility, not an automatic bump.

Long-Term Earning Potential

The real value of the CMA isn’t just your first job after passing the exams. It’s the long-term trajectory.

CMAs are trained in:

• Financial planning
• Strategic analysis
• Cost management
• Decision support

Those skills translate directly into leadership roles. And leadership roles are where compensation climbs fastest.

If you plan to stay in corporate finance long term, the CMA can meaningfully increase your lifetime earnings.

CMA Salary Calculator

Final Thoughts

CMA salaries are generally strong, especially as you gain experience and move into management. Early on, the pay difference may be modest. Over time, it often becomes significant.

If your goal is to work inside organizations, influence financial decisions, and grow into leadership, the CMA can be both professionally and financially rewarding. Like most credentials, it’s not a shortcut. But for the right career path, it can absolutely pay off.

FAQs

If you want to move into higher-level financial and strategic decision-making, I’ve found the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation is one of the clearest ways to show expertise. 

The Certified Management Accountant credential is issued by the Institute of Management Accountants. It focuses on management accounting and strategic financial management, not bookkeeping.

As an exam and prep course reviewer, I’ve seen that many candidates are eager to understand the requirements and exam structure, and with the right guidance, it becomes much clearer.

In this certification guide, I will break down exactly how to become a CMA, including the education requirements, experience requirements, CMA exam structure, and what happens after passing the CMA.

Key Takeaways

• IMA Membership Required: You must join the Institute of Management Accountants before starting the CMA program.
• Education Flexibility: A bachelor's degree or approved professional certifications qualify.
• Two Years of Experience: You need real work in management accounting or financial management.
• Two-Part Exam: The CMA exam includes multiple-choice and essay scenarios.
• Ongoing CPE: You must complete 30 continuing education hours every year.

Step 1: Join the IMA

Before you can take the CMA certification exam, you must become an IMA member.

This includes:

• Paying the membership fee
• Enrolling in the CMA program
• Agreeing to follow IMA's professional ethics standards

IMA membership is required for the entire time you are completing the program.

Step 2: Meet the Education Requirements

To become a certified management accountant, you must meet one of the official education requirements:

• Get a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Hold one of the approved professional certifications recognized by IMA

You can take the CMA exam before finishing your degree. However, you must submit verification of your education within seven years of passing the exam. That seven-year window gives candidates flexibility while completing school or gaining experience.

Step 3: Enroll and Take the CMA Exam

The CMA exam has two separate parts:

• Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics
• Part 2: Strategic Financial Management

Each Part Includes:

• 100 multiple-choice questions
• 2 essay questions
• 4 hours total testing time

Key Facts:

• You must answer at least 50% of the MCQs correctly to unlock the essays
• Passing score: 360 out of 500 per part
• Results released: About 6 weeks after the testing window

Step 4: Complete the Experience Requirements

Passing the CMA exam is not enough by itself. To become CMA certified, you must complete two continuous years of professional experience in:

• Management accounting
• Financial management

Qualifying Experience Includes:

• Budgeting
• Cost analysis
• Financial reporting
• Forecasting
• Internal decision support

Internships and clerical roles do not count. The work must involve professional-level financial responsibility. You can fulfill the two-year professional experience requirement either before taking the CMA exams or anytime within seven years after passing them.

Step 5: Maintain Your Certification

After passing the CMA and completing the experience requirements, you officially earn the CMA certification.

To maintain it, you must:

• Remain an IMA member
• Complete 30 hours of continuing education every year
• Follow professional ethics standards

Important: Failing to meet continuing education requirements can put your certification at risk.

How Long Does It Take to Become a CMA?

Most candidates finish in 2–4 years. A typical timeline:

• Year 1: Join IMA, begin studying, take Part 1
• Year 2: Take Part 2, begin or continue professional experience
• Years 2–4: Complete the two continuous years of qualifying experience

Candidates have 7 years to complete all requirements, so timelines can vary.

Is the CMA Exam Hard?

The CMA exam focuses on application, not memorization. You'll see:

• Scenario-based multiple choice
• Data interpretation
• Written essay analysis

Essays are often the toughest part, as answers must be structured and graded offline. Most candidates need several months per part to prepare.

Pro Tip: I always recommend studying with one of the top CMA review courses, which can help candidates identify their weak spots and strengthen their scores. Becker or Gleim are my top picks.

After Passing Your Exam (And If You Don't)

Once you pass both parts and complete your professional experience, you earn the CMA designation. You can use the credential on your resume and show it to employers; it signals expertise in management, accounting, and financial strategy. You'll also maintain your IMA membership to keep your certification active.

If you don't pass a part, you can retake it. I have seen many candidates need multiple attempts. You have seven years to complete all requirements, so you can adjust your study plan and try again without penalty.

Final Verdict

Becoming a CMA takes time and focus, but it's a highly valuable credential in corporate finance. You'll gain the knowledge, skills, and credibility to support strategic decisions and manage financial performance effectively. Follow the steps: join IMA, complete Parts 1 and 2, and finish your professional experience. The CMA demonstrates professionalism and expertise in management accounting, making it a strong choice for anyone looking to advance their career.

FAQs

If you’re struggling to fit your favorite CPA prep course into your budget or you just want to see if you can save some of your money for a rainy day, we’ve got the best CPA review course discounts for you. These promotions have been gathered from the top-rated CPA exam prep companies that offer the most effective CPA study materials on the market today.

Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on these amazing deals!

These are the Best CPA Review Courses & Discounts in [y]:

If you want to land a rewarding job at one of the big 4 accounting firms, you’re going to have to hit the books. The best way to ensure you become an asset so valuable that one of the big 4 has to hire you is to master everything there is to know about public accounting.

There’s just one problem: this process can be very expensive.

If you’re studying to become a CPA and taking it seriously, you’re going to need a CPA exam review course. Although they’re definitely worth the money, and many providers offer helpful financing options, the truth of the matter is that these courses don’t come cheap.

If you’re struggling to fit your favorite CPA prep course into your budget or you just want to see if you can save some of your money for a rainy day, we’ve got the best CPA review course discounts for you. These promotions have been gathered from the top-rated CPA exam prep companies that offer the most effective CPA study materials on the market today.

Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on these amazing deals!

These are the Best CPA Review Courses & Discounts in [y]:

If you want to land a rewarding job at one of the big 4 accounting firms, you’re going to have to hit the books. The best way to ensure you become an asset so valuable that one of the big 4 has to hire you is to master everything there is to know about public accounting.

There’s just one problem: this process can be very expensive.

If you’re studying to become a CPA and taking it seriously, you’re going to need a CPA exam review course. Although they’re definitely worth the money, and many providers offer helpful financing options, the truth of the matter is that these courses don’t come cheap.

If you’re struggling to fit your favorite CPA prep course into your budget or you just want to see if you can save some of your money for a rainy day, we’ve got the best CPA review course discounts for you. These promotions have been gathered from the top-rated CPA exam prep companies that offer the most effective CPA study materials on the market today.

Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on these amazing deals!

These are the Best CPA Review Courses & Discounts in [y]:

If you want to land a rewarding job at one of the big 4 accounting firms, you’re going to have to hit the books. The best way to ensure you become an asset so valuable that one of the big 4 has to hire you is to master everything there is to know about public accounting.

There’s just one problem: this process can be very expensive.

If you’re studying to become a CPA and taking it seriously, you’re going to need a CPA exam review course. Although they’re definitely worth the money, and many providers offer helpful financing options, the truth of the matter is that these courses don’t come cheap.