What your IQ score really means and the job you should be working if low, high, or average
It’s fair to say many of us have probably wondered how we’d fare on an IQ test, whether it’s after hearing a pal brag about their own score or coming across one of those online quizzes that claims to be able to calculate your intelligence in minutes.
However, beyond just satisfying your own curiosity about how smart you really are, intelligence quotient - or IQ - tests can apparently reveal the sort of careers you might be a natural fit for. Though it's worth noting that they don't take into account some human elements, such as emotions, creativity, and social skills, which can matter just as much.
And while having a higher score won't automatically bring you success in your chosen career path, there are some jobs that are typically filled by those who hit scores above average, and jobs that are usually occupied by those who score lower.
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So, whether you’re bang average, a little on the lower side, or flying high on 130, here’s what that might mean when it comes to your career.
Below average (under 90)
An IQ of under 90 is considered ‘below average’ and people in this range might find highly abstract reasoning or fast-paced thinking more challenging than those who score higher.
Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) reanalysis (Jouve, 2026), found that lower range occupations often featured structured routines and practical tasks.
These included:
- Janitors and cleaners, with a mean IQ of 84.5
- Hand packers and packagers with a mean IQ of 84.4
- Labourers, with a mean IQ of 82.5
- Farm workers, with a mean IQ of 81.1
- Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners, with a mean IQ of 76.4
Average (90 -109)
About half of the population has an average IQ in the range between 90 and 109, so it’s by far the most common category.
In real-life terms this means that those with an average IQ work in a huge range of jobs, across pretty much all industries, including chefs, plumbers, estate agents, actors, flight attendants and welders.
Some jobs noted by NLSY79 include:
- Police officers, with a mean IQ of 99.4
- Nurses, with a mean IQ of 104
- Public administrator, with a mean IQ of 104.1
- Electronic engineer, with a mean IQ of 105.8
Above average (110 -119)
Those who sit slightly above the average range, with a score between 110 and 119, can likely learn new information and skills more quickly and are better adept at handling complex work.
According to IQ Career Lab, this category can include software engineers, architects, veterinarians, financial analysts, air traffic controllers, civil engineers, dentists, and marine biologists.
This range actually contains two of the top three jobs with the highest mean IQ:
- Computer systems analyst, with a mean IQ of 111.1
- Computer programmer, with a mean IQ of 116.2
High (120 - 129)
Scores of between 120 and 129 are considered high IQ and place someone in the well above average range.
Folks in this range have a high cognitive ability and can go for careers that require learning large amounts of information, solving difficult or unfamiliar problems and making complex decisions.
The job that scores the highest on the NLSY79 dataset is in this category:
- Physician or surgeon with a mean IQ of 123.7
Very high (130+)
There is a group with an even higher score, who are known as ‘very high IQ’ individuals, who score 130 or above.
Overall, 98 percent of people have a score lower than 130, so if you manage to top that you’re in the two percent of outliers and officially have a high IQ.
For some context, the high IQ society Mensa typically accepts members who score 132 or higher.
Career paths for this bunch include theoretical physicists and neurosurgeons.
Topics: Jobs
Claire Reid