IQ by profession

Average IQ of Doctors and Surgeons, by Specialty

Last updated: Personality Tests Center

Quick answer

The average IQ of a doctor is about 125, and most physicians score roughly between 110 and 130, the High Average to Superior bands. Surgeons are usually placed at the upper end of that range. In the IQ-by-job chart below, physicians and surgeons sit in the 130 group alongside lawyers and engineers.

No reliable study ranks IQ by individual medical specialty, so treat specialty-by-specialty IQ figures you see online with caution.

These are approximate occupational averages from older test data. Individual doctors vary widely, and IQ is only one of many factors in medical success.

Take the free IQ test Free online IQ test

Where doctors sit in the IQ-by-job chart

Approximate average IQ by occupation, as used in this guide. Physicians and surgeons are highlighted.

Average IQJobs
About 140Top civil servants, professors, research scientists
About 130Physicians, surgeons, lawyers, engineers
About 120School teachers, pharmacists, accountants, nurses, managers
About 110Foremen, clerks, telephone operators, salespeople, police officers, electricians
100+Machine operators, shopkeepers, butchers, welders, sheet metal workers
Below 100Warehouse workers, carpenters, cooks, bakers, small farmers, truck and van drivers
About 90Laborers, gardeners, miners, factory packers and sorters

Rough group averages from older occupational data; the range within each job is wide.

The average score of an IQ test, administered to a large sampling of the general population, has been consistently around 100. This is within the range most people would consider to be smart (or normal), and it's an appropriate baseline for establishing the standard deviation. If you were to take 10 people at random and test them for their IQ, you could expect that the average score would be 100, and you would also expect that most scores would fall within about 15 points of that average (one standard deviation). The average IQ of a doctor is approximately 125. Studies have determined that a doctor's IQ will normally fall within the 110-130 range, putting them into the 'high average' and 'superior' Wechsler classifications.

What is the Average IQ of a Doctor

The average doctor IQ generally ranges between 120 and 130, which is considered "above average" on most intelligence scales. Surgeons, who often require quick decision-making and advanced problem-solving skills, may have an average IQ of a surgeon closer to the higher end of that spectrum. While an IQ in this range indicates strong cognitive abilities, being a successful doctor or surgeon also requires emotional intelligence, dedication, and years of specialized training. Thus, the doctor average IQ is just one of many factors contributing to medical success.

Average IQ of doctors by specialty

Most IQ tests are scored so that the average is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 points. About two-thirds of people score between 85 and 115, within one standard deviation of the mean. For example, a score of 110 is 10 points above the average, and a score of 85 is one standard deviation (15 points) below it.

Average ‎IQ - Classification Table

IQ test rangeIQ Classification% of World Population
130 and aboveVery Superior2.1%
121-130Superior6.4%
111-120High Average15.7%
90-110Average51.6%
80-89Low Average13.7%
70-79Borderline6.4%
Scores under 70Extremely Low4.1%

Average IQ score by age

Age AverageThe average IQ score by age
16-17-year-olds100
Adults between 18 and 19 years100
For people between 20 and 24 years of age100
For people between 24 and 34 years of age100
For people between 35 and 44 years of age100
For people between the ages of 45 and 54,100
For people between the ages of 55 and 64100

Average IQ score for Children & Teens

IQ tests are normed separately for every age, so the average IQ for children and teenagers is also 100 at each age, and about half of them score between 90 and 110.



high iq score chart

Average IQ of doctors by specialty - iq scores

Average IQ score by Job

IQ test rangeThe average IQ score by Job
80 Factory Packers and Sorters, Laborers; Gardeners; Upholsterers; Farmhands; Miners, Sales Manager.
90 Truck and Van Drivers,Warehousemen; Carpenters; Cooks and Bakers; Small Farmers.
100 Sheet Metal Workers,Machine Operators; Shopkeepers; Butchers; Welders.
110 Salesmen; Foremen; Electricians;Clerks; Policemen,Telephone Operators.
120 Nurses; Accountants; Stenographers; Pharmacists; ;School Teachers; Managers.
130 Lawyers,Physicians,(Civil and Mechanical), Engineers and Surgeons.
140Research Scientists and Professors.
Average IQ of doctors by specialty

Average iq by country

The average iq by country has been a much debated topic. In order to truly understand the topic, you need to consider the different elements that influence intelligence. We will be looking at how these elements can influence intelligence and the average iq for different countries around the world. For example, some of the elements that contribute to intelligence include the health and education of the population. Countries can have a high average iq but still rank low in these elements. In order to truly understand how a country ranks, you need to consider all the different elements that influence intelligence.

RankingCountryAverage IQ
1Singapore108
2Hong Kong108
3Taiwan106
4South Korea106
5Japan105
6China104
7Switzerland102
8Netherlands102
9North Korea102
10Macao101
11Iceland101
12Finland101
13Canada101
14Belgium100
15Germany100
16United Kingdom100
17Austria100
18New Zealand100
19Norway99
20Sweden99
21Luxembourg99
22Denmark99
23Estonia99
24Australia99
25United States98
26Hungary98
27Italy97
28Spain97
29Slovenia97
30Poland97
31Russia96
32Croatia95
33Ukraine95
34Portugal95
35Ireland94
36Belarus93
37Malaysia93
38Lithuania93
39Cyprus92
40Kazakhstan92
41Greece92
42Bulgaria91
43Argentina90
44Turkey89
45Serbia89
46Chile89
47Cambodia88
48Bermuda88
49Samoa87
50Mauritius87
51Costa Rica86
52West Bank86
53Mexico86
54Kuwait85
55Trinidad and Tobago85
56Jordan84
57Albania84
58Indonesia84
59Ecuador83
60Burma83
61Turkmenistan83
62Tajikistan83
63Lebanon83
64Pakistan82
65Syria82
66Morocco82
67New Caledonia82
68India81
69Vanuatu80
70Afghanistan80
71Micronesia80
72Sri Lanka79
73Madagascar79
74Barbados78
75Guatemala78
76Nicaragua78
77Bahamas77
78Comoros74
79Botswana72
80Zambia72
81Sierra Leone71
82Tanzania71
83Mauritania71
84Sudan70
85Ghana69
86Namibia69
87Congo66
88Chad65
89Cameroon65
90Guinea64
91Mali64
92Central Africa64
93Djibouti63
94Eritrea63
95Guinea-Bissau62
96Ethiopia61
97Senegal60
98Gambia60
99Timor-Leste60
100Gabon60
101Sao Tome and Principe58
102Equatorial Guinea56

Average IQ doctor by specialty - IQ Score/ Average

Is a 140 IQ Good?

There is no definitive answer to this question as IQ is relative and can vary from person to person. However, a 140 IQ is considered very high: fewer than 1% of people score 140 or above.

What is normal IQ range?

Scores between 85 and 115 are generally considered the normal range: about two-thirds of people score within it, and the average is 100.

what is the average iq?

The average IQ is 100.

What is considered a genius IQ?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a person's definition of genius. However, generally speaking, an IQ of 130 or higher is considered to be a genius IQ.

average iq score chart

Average IQ of doctors by specialty - average iq score

What was the IQ of Einstein?

There is no definitive answer to this question as there is no scientific evidence to support or disprove the claim. Einstein never took a modern IQ test; the figure of about 160 that is often quoted is only an estimate.

What IQ Scores Really Mean - Average IQ of Physicians

Most IQ tests are scored so that the average is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 points. About two-thirds of people score between 85 and 115, within one standard deviation of the mean. For example, a score of 110 is 10 points above the average, and a score of 85 is one standard deviation (15 points) below it.

IQ is all about reasoning. Tests are designed to measure reasoning ability, which has a number of components and three main factors including fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence and performance IQ. Intelligence tests can determine your iq level as one score out of many complex variables - it only measures some aspects of overall intelligence, and your result is compared with people of the same age.

The average score on an IQ test is 100. Each test is normed on a large reference sample so that the average score is 100 and the standard deviation is 15 points.

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales are designed to test the intelligence of a person. It is used for identifying people with mental disabilities and measuring their cognitive ability in order to plan for services that can help them improve on their skills. The tests measure several different areas including verbal, performance, visual-spatial and processing speed.

Lewis Terman

Lewis Terman was a Stanford University psychologist who adapted Alfred Binet's test into the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, first published in 1916. The terman test is used to evaluate the mental capacity of an individual and assess his or her potential in various fields. It consists of several tasks that measure different skills such as intelligence, memory, problem solving ability and inductive reasoning etc.

The mental age (MA) is the mental age at a certain chronological age and reflects a child's intellectual development. In particular, MA represents children's performance in tasks that are typically solved by older children.

High range iq test

You should make a good attempt to perform well in this test. However, you may have scores lower than the norm if you are not familiar with all of the concepts that are present in your certain subject and spend too little time practicing on those unless one is near his/her relatives who take such tests regularly IQ Quiz . This top IQ test for adults provides individuals by placing them through different scenarios where their intelligence quotient score can be measured. This test is designed for executives who would like to prove their capabilities by taking an advanced level in areas that they have expertise on.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised (WAIS-R) was designed for adults aged 16 to 74 and consists of 11 subtests.


average iq chart

Average IQ of doctors by specialty



Average intelligence - Average Surgeon IQ by Specialty

1. Raw scores on IQ tests rose in many countries during the 20th century (the Flynn effect), which is why tests are re-normed regularly so that the average stays at 100.
2. The average intelligence level of an individual is called as Intelligence Quotient or IQ, which measures overall mental ability compared to peers within their age group .
3. If you are looking at differentiating between giftedness, genius and average Iq levels then average iq score will help you differentiate these types as per below definition:intelligence.

Which one is better: online or paper-based IQ tests?

There is no definitive answer as to which one is better: online or paper-based IQ tests. However, there are a few key points that should be considered when making this decision. First of all, online IQ tests are convenient and easy to take. This means that you can take them at any time and anywhere you want. They also have the advantage of being available in many languages. On the other hand, paper-based IQ tests are more accurate and reliable. They are also more difficult to cheat on, which makes them a better choice for people who want to ensure that their results are accurate.

What does it mean to have an IQ of 120 or higher?

There is no definitive answer to this question as IQ is a relative term. However, having an IQ of 120 or higher indicates above-average intelligence, roughly the top 10% of scores.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average IQ of a medical doctor?

About 125. Most doctors score between roughly 110 and 130, which puts them in the High Average and Superior bands of the Wechsler classification.

What is the average IQ of a surgeon?

Surgeons, whose work demands quick decisions and advanced problem-solving, are usually placed at the higher end of the doctor range, around 120 to 130. There is no solid data showing that surgeons score clearly higher than other physicians.

Which medical specialties require the most intelligence?

No reliable research ranks medical specialties by IQ. Every specialty requires a medical degree and years of training; what differs is the mix of skills, such as fast decision-making for surgeons.

Do you need a high IQ to become a doctor?

There is no IQ cut-off. Doctors' scores usually cluster above average, but emotional intelligence, dedication and years of specialised training matter just as much.

Where do you rank?

Take our free online IQ test and compare your score with the classification table in this guide.

Start the free IQ test