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We've always known that it pays to be a CPA, but now we have proof.

A new salary survey released by the Institute of Management Accountants shows that certified accountants -- those holding the CPA, Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Financial Manager (CFM) certifications -- earn about 27 percent more than their non-certified peers. The average 2006 salary of certified accountants was $102,393, compared to $80,738 for those without certifications.

The difference in total compensation – salary plus other incentives like bonuses and profit sharing – was even higher: $123,662 for certified accountants, compared to $94,191 for non-certified accountants.

• Download the survey in its entirety.

"The positive effects of certification run both ways," said IMA board Chair William L. Brower Jr. "First, to the organization, which gains a highly qualified professional, and second, to the individual, whose investment in advanced training yields substantial rewards.”

Compare the results of the IMA's survey with these other salary surveys found on the MACPA's Web site.