— Occupational IQ research

Teachers — average IQ & cognitive profile

Published occupational IQ research consistently places teachers at an average IQ of around 112 — the 79th percentile of the general adult population. This sits modestly above the population mean.

Why teachers cluster at this level

Teachers average above the population mean with particular strength in verbal-conceptual reasoning. Secondary STEM teachers average noticeably higher than elementary teachers.

What this number really means

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 teachers scoring well above 127
• And highly successful teachers scoring well below 97
• 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

How to interpret your own score against this average

If you're considering this profession or already in it, here's how to read a personal IQ result in context:

• If you score 102–122: you're right in the typical range for teachers
• If you score above 127: you have meaningful cognitive headroom; you'll likely find the abstract demands of the role easier than peers
• If you score below 97: the profession is still entirely accessible to you — many teachers succeed at this level — but you may rely more on persistence, structured systems, and specialisation than peers do

Related profession comparisons

• Nurses (RN) — average IQ 113
• Accountants — average IQ 114
• Visual Artists — average IQ 114
• Professional Athletes — average IQ 109
• Professional Musicians — average IQ 116

Related reading

• What does an IQ of 110 mean?
• Full IQ-to-percentile chart
• What is the average IQ?