$30,000 CD vs. $30,000 money market account: Which will earn more in 2026?

MoneyWatch: Managing Your Money $30,000 CD vs. $30,000 money market account: Which will earn more in 2026? We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Matt Richardson Matt Richardson Sr. Managing Editor, Managing Your Money Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance. Read Full Bio Matt Richardson April 21, 2026 / 10:59 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Savers should closely compare their CD and money market account options before making a five-figure deposit into either. Flavia Morlachetti/Getty Images After the Federal Reserve reduced interest rates three times in the final four months of 2024, many savers assumed that the era of big returns on their money was coming to a close. That year, after all, it wasn't uncommon to find interest rates as high as 6% on select certificate of deposit (CD) accounts. Rate cuts would presumably then reduce the value of these accounts. And after the Fed issued another three cuts in the closing months of 2025, it was assumed that the window of opportunity to open high-rate CDs and money market accounts, specifically, had closed once again.But that's not necessarily been the case so far in 2026. The Fed has kept its federal funds rate elevated and on pause. And rates on many savings accounts have remained competitive. Some lenders may have even raised them slightly amid a volatile and unpredictable interest rate climate. This not only leaves CDs and money market accounts as viable homes for your money, but it also makes both advantageous for those savers looking to store a large, five-figure amount, such as $30,000. To better decide on your next steps, it helps to crunch the interest-ea...