— Occupational IQ research
Programmers — average IQ & cognitive profile
— Don't just read about it
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Avg IQ
117
Percentile
87th
SD above mean
+1.13
Strongest axes
Logical & Pattern reasoning
Published occupational IQ research consistently places programmers at an average IQ of around 117 — the 87th percentile of the general adult population. This sits well above the population mean and reflects the cognitive demands of the role.
— Try one before you read on
Which number completes the sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?
Differences grow by 2 each time: +4, +6, +8, +10, +12 → 30+12=42.
That was 1 question. Take the full 20-min test →
Why programmers cluster at this level
→Pause. Find out YOUR IQ before you keep reading.Working programmer roles span a wide IQ range. Self-taught developers and senior engineers cluster higher; junior bootcamp grads average closer to the population mean. Algorithmic reasoning correlates strongest.
What this number really means
→Curious how YOU score? 20-min calibrated test.An occupational IQ average is a statistical mean, not a hiring criterion. The within-profession standard deviation is typically 10-15 IQ points, which means:
- There are highly successful programmers scoring well above 132
- And highly successful programmers scoring well below 102
- Conscientiousness, domain knowledge, emotional regulation, and motivation account for far more variance in actual job performance than the difference between, say, IQ 115 and IQ 125 does
Find out YOUR exact IQ
Take a 20-minute calibrated test and see how you compare — not just on overall IQ, but across all six cognitive axes.
How to interpret your own score against this average
→The numbers above? Find out where YOU land.If you're considering this profession or already in it, here's how to read a personal IQ result in context:
- If you score 107–127: you're right in the typical range for programmers
- If you score above 132: you have meaningful cognitive headroom; you'll likely find the abstract demands of the role easier than peers
- If you score below 102: the profession is still entirely accessible to you — many programmers succeed at this level — but you may rely more on persistence, structured systems, and specialisation than peers do
Related profession comparisons
→Knowing about IQ ≠ knowing yours. Take the test.- Professional Writers — average IQ 118
- Professional Musicians — average IQ 116
- Commercial Pilots — average IQ 119
- Software Engineers — average IQ 120
- Accountants — average IQ 114