Have you struggled to pass a certification exam? Is your reaction to colleagues that place various three-lettered credentials behind their name on their résumés a resounding "Meh"? Not too hung up on money? Great! You won't be bothered by this at all:
The average reported salary of IMA members surveyed was $109,001 in 2011, down 0.2 percent from $109,265 in 2010. The average total compensation (including base pay and other incentives such as bonuses) rose to $129,591 in 2011, up 0.9 percent from $128,486 in 2010. Consistent with prior years, the survey reveals that holding one or more professional certifications, such as the CMA or the CPA, has a positive impact on earning power. The average total compensation for those with certification is $139,338, which is $33,411 (32 percent) more than for those without certification ($105,927). Certification especially impacted younger professionals in the 19- to 29-year-old age group, who earned $15,696 more in salary and $20,612 more in total compensation than their noncertified peers.
Don't let those 19-year-old certified accountants get you down. At least they can't go to the bar to drink their sorrows away like you can.
Accountants' Salaries Hold Steady Despite Turbulent Times, According to IMA Annual Salary Survey [IMA]
