Clear, evidence-based answers to the questions people actually search: what a specific IQ score means, how rare it is, what counts as a good score, how IQ relates to jobs, and how far to trust a test. Every percentile is computed from the standard IQ scale (mean 100, SD 15), and every factual claim cites published research.
What does my IQ score mean?
Pick a score for its percentile, rarity, classification, measurement error and what research says.
IQ basics and charts
- What Is a Good IQ Score?Average, above average and high ranges, and what IQ predicts.
- IQ Percentile Chart (55–160)Every score with percentile, % higher and 1-in-N rarity.
- IQ Score Ranges & ClassificationWAIS-IV, WISC-V and Stanford-Binet 5 labels side by side.
- Average IQ by AgeWhy the average is 100 at every age and what changes over the lifespan.
- How Accurate Are Online IQ Tests?Warning signs, better options and how to get a proper assessment.
Careers and IQ
What published data show about IQ by occupation — with sample sizes and the large overlap between jobs.
- Average IQ by OccupationOverview table, Wonderlic and Army data, and how strongly IQ predicts occupation.
- Average IQ of doctors
- Average IQ of lawyers
- Average IQ of engineers
- Average IQ of teachers
- Average IQ of programmers
- Average IQ of nurses
- Average IQ of accountants
- Average IQ of scientists
Our approach
IQ is a well-studied measure that predicts some outcomes on average, and it is easy to misuse. We therefore show ranges and uncertainty rather than single numbers, cite peer-reviewed sources and test manuals, skip occupations where reliable data are not available, and do not publish rankings of countries or ethnic groups. Nothing here is a diagnosis; for a valid score, see a qualified psychologist.