Certified Management Accountant CMA Salary Guide

Senior and top management CMA employees can earn upwards of $50,000 depending on their position. Whether you work in private or state-owned enterprises will affect these numbers. Simply put, survey respondents found that having their CMA designation allows them to transition across all areas of business.

Compensation by CMA Designation in China

Since 2018, there has been an upward trend in salary figures across different regions in the United States. Now that we’ve addressed the global trends, let’s move on to specific regions. It is clear from these results that earning your CMA and CPA validate different skill sets. Each certification is valued as it signifies having a unique range of knowledge and skills. If you have ever wondered if taking the test on one of the upcoming CMA exam dates and earning your certification was worth it, then you are going to want to keep reading.

It’s important to note that the latest salary survey found that most women in CMA roles held lower management positions. This more than likely contributes to the lower salary figures and is something you may want to keep in mind if you are a female looking to become a CMA in China. Similar to some other regions surveyed in previous years, the average base CMA salary in China has decreased slightly. While it had the lowest mean and median base salary in the MEAI region, there were still improvements in various aspects. 76% of respondents in this region reported an increase in how much they made. And although the older group had higher salaries, younger respondents were more likely to experience a rise in earnings.

Younger CMAs are responding to the Global Salary Survey in greater numbers. The figure below represents the median 2020 CMA salary for countries with at least 1% of survey responses. Approximately 83% of CMAs felt that the certification gave them more confidence to perform their job at a high level. Becoming a CMA not only offers great salary benefits but also improves other aspects of your life and career. The figure below represents the median 2023 CMA salary for countries with at least 1% of survey responses.

• While it had the lowest mean and median base salary in the MEAI region, there were still improvements in various aspects.
• With deep knowledge of management accountancy, business acumen, and leadership skills, CMAs often rise faster than non-certified peers to top management roles.
• Read our in-depth CMA salary information or jump to the benefits of becoming a CMA.
• One interesting pay gap I’d like to discuss is the one between CMAs and their non-CMA peers.
• While salary numbers vary, there’s no doubt that citizens of European countries can make good money in this field.
• CMAs worldwide received about 84% of their total compensation via their base salary.

Who may earn the CMA?

Median total compensation for CMAs in the Americas is as high as $115,000. The median base salary for CMAs in the Americas in 2020 was $102,500, and the median for non-CMAs was $80,000. This region continues to maintain the highest salaries overall by a large margin, but it did experience a 10% decrease in 2020.

The median base salary for a CMA in the Americas was $110,000, and median total compensation was $125,000. In 2023, women respondents in Europe reported base salaries that were 88% that of men’s and total compensations that was 89% of what men earned. Due to the small numbers of respondents from UAE in 2023, there is a lack of comprehensive data comparing the salaries based on management level. The large majority fell into the middle management or lower management positions. The median salary in the Middle East was the highest in this region, with a mean base salary of over $44,000 and a median base salary of $30,000.

However, CMA premiums are highest in Europe (45%) and the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region (11%). As CMAs practice in over 100 countries, salaries range widely depending on region and overall cost of living. IMA’s Salary Surveys compare earnings specific to management accountants and those holding CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) certification. IMA’s latest survey findings show that there are clear earnings-specific advantages for CMAs. CMAs worldwide received about 84% of their total compensation via their base salary. The remainder of their compensation came in the form of bonuses, profit sharing, overtime, and other benefits.

For this region as a whole, individuals who had a CMA designation earned, on average, 33% more than those who did not. Impressively, this gap further widens to 143% for CMAs in top management and 99% for CMAs in senior management. This proves that getting your CMA can bring about various incentives in your career and salary progress. In this region, those aged 58 or older (Baby Boomer+) had a mean base salary of $77,858 and a median base salary of $77,543. In stark contrast, those aged 26 or younger (Gen Z) had a mean base salary of $10,829 and a median base salary of $4,833. Globally, accountants who have both the CMA and CPA designations had a median base salary that was around 50% higher than counterparts who had neither.

• Based on the 2023 United States survey, the median base salary for US-based CMAs was around $124,000.
• This impressive increase further proves the importance of earning your CMA certification.
• Here are the figures for the base salary for CMAs in the United States.
• CMAs are industry experts in cost accounting, financial management, and risk analysis who contribute to leadership decisions.
• Being armed with this information and the Annual Salary Calculator helps you identify whether you are getting a fair offer regardless of gender, age, or region.

CMA Compensation By Region

A CMA’s average salary in the U.S. can range from $130,000 to $153,000, depending on experience and location. More and more professionals are getting CMA certified every year, and it’s the fastest-growing global certification. Salaries for Certified Management Accountants vary by local and global region, but CMAs always earn more than non-CMAs. As mentioned earlier, CMAs worldwide earn 21% more in total compensation than non-CMAs.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) Salaries

Both globally and regionally, having both a CMA and CPA certification results in a higher median salary. To learn more about combining a CMA and CPA certification, visit our accounting certifications resource page. According to the IMA, the average base salary for a CMA in Europe in 2023 was $104,369. If you add in bonuses, overtime, and additional forms of compensation, Europeans can make a mean total salary of $124,024. Like all other regions, CMAs in the UAE tend to earn more than their non-CMA counterparts.

When comparing median base salaries, these numbers were a little more favorable, with women earning 86% of what men did. Based on the 2023 United States survey, the median base salary for US-based CMAs was around $124,000. Meanwhile, the median total compensation, which included bonus pay, profit-sharing, and other forms of compensation was around $139,000. When you compare this year’s CMA salary numbers to the previous year, you can see that base salary increased 3.5% and total compensation increased by 1.6%.

CMA (Certified Management Accountant) salaries continue to rise, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic, most CMAs reported their compensation either increasing or remaining the same. Certified Management Accountants are the strategic thinkers of the accounting industry. The Americas and Asia have experienced relatively little change in compensation.

Candidates in the Middle East, Africa, and India were impacted the most (54%), while respondents in Europe and the Americas had the least impact (33% and 30%, respectively). Those with a CMA certification were less likely to experience a salary cut than non-CMAs (35% vs. 38%). Certified Management Accountants are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, salary of certified management accountant or have a professional accounting certification. Additionally, candidates must have an active membership in the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Because more often than not, you see this weird occurrence where lower-ranked professionals can earn higher than those of higher ranks.

How Does a CMA Serve the Accounting Industry?

And while this article will break down a few key regions, let’s take a look at a Certified Management Accountant’s salary from a global perspective first. If you’re just starting out as a CMA, your salary will vary based on location and industry. However, your average salary can range from $80,000 to $95,000 annually. The starting salary doesn’t include a bonus, variables, or other payouts. While CMA gives you a competitive advantage in management accounting, stacking it with a CPA credential is doubly advantageous.