IQ, IQ Tests, Jobs By IQ, How Does It Matter?

IQ is a fascinating subject and one that is perhaps tested more than it should be for people’s own good. Nevertheless, the internet, as we all know, is a never-ending plethora of bullshit facts, well-researched articles and fascinating information to enhance our minds.

Since I’m a particular sucker for infographics and well-made lists the one below caught my eye.

It is very long which in itself is quite impressive. The subject is the average IQ of people who work in various occupations. Cool, I just couldn’t resist looking up the average IQ for all the jobs and careers that I had ever considered let alone worked.

Naturally, the list made an impression on me. So here it is in its entirety for all of you to scan. I’ll give you a few minutes and meet you at the bottom.

 

Average IQ represented by the people working in surveyed occupations: (Listed from highest to lowest IQ level.) 

Occupation	IQ
1. Surgeon	234.1 obviously an error
2. Physician	161.1
3. Corporate executive	148.0
4. Psychiatrist	147.7
5. Dentist	140.0
6. Orthodontist	131.2
7. Podiatrist	129.1
8. Judge	127.9
9. Attorney	127.8
10. Petroleum engineer	126.1
11. Pharmacist	126.1
12. Physicist	124.9
13. Commercial airline pilot	124.9
14. Astronomer	124.5
15. Financial planner	122.8
16. Nuclear engineer	121.1
17. Optometrist	120.7
18. Aerospace engineer	120.2
19. Mathematician	119.8
20. Public relations executive	118.1
21. Economist	116.9
22. Actuary	116.9
23. Software engineer	116.9
24. Meteorologist	116.0
25. School principal	116.0
26. Physician assistant	115.6
27. Electrical engineer	115.2
28. Web developer	115.2
29. Construction foreman	114.8
30. Geologist	114.4
31. Veterinarian	114.4
32. Computer systems analyst	112.7
33. Mechanical engineer	112.6
34. Civil engineer	112.2
35. Industrial engineer	111.8
36. Biologist	111.4
37. Physical therapist	111.4
38. Statistician	111.0
39. Architect	111.0
40. Computer programmer	110.1
41. Occupational therapist	109.7
42. Sociologist	109.7
43. Chiropractor	108.9
44. Chemist	108.9
45. Stockbroker	108.6
46. Dental hygienist	108.4
47. Psychologist	108.0
48. Speech pathologist	107.6
49. Registered nurse	107.2
50. Historian	106.8
51. Technical writer	106.8
52. Occupational safety/health inspector	106.7
53. Audiologist	106.7
54. Market research analyst	106.4
55. Advertising account executive	106.3
56. Fashion designer	106.0
57. Philosopher	105.9
58. Accountant	105.5
59. Farmer	105.1
60. Industrial designer	104.7
61. Insurance underwriter	104.7
62. Telephone installer and repairer	104.6
63. Zoologist	104.2
64. Communications equipment mechanic	103.8
65. Loan officer	103.4
66. Purchasing agent	103.4
67. Engineering technician	103.4
68. Medical technologist	103.4
69. Author	103.0
70. Undertaker	103.0
71. Librarian	103.0
72. Surveyor	103.0
73. Railroad conductor	103.0
74. Conservationist	102.9
75. Anthropologist	102.5
76. Vocational counselor	102.5
77. Highway patrol officer	102.5
78. Aircraft mechanic	102.5
79. Respiratory therapist	102.5
80. Dietitian	102.1
81. Mail carrier	102.1
82. Motion picture editor	101.8
83. Sales representative	101.8
84. Publication editor	101.7
85. Archeologist	101.7
86. Physiologist	101.7
87. Stationary engineer	101.7
88. Teacher	101.7
89. Electrical equipment repairer	101.7
90. Newscaster	101.4
91. Tax examiner	100.9
92. Buyer	100.9
93. Police officer	100.9
94. Actor	100.8
95. Stenographer	100.5
96. Museum curator	100.5
97. Electrician	100.0
98. Bricklayer	100.0
99. Parole officer	100.0
100. Paralegal assistant	100.0
101. Tool-and-die maker	100.0
102. Insurance agent	99.7
103. Personnel recruiter	99.6
104. Hotel manager	99.6
105. Plumber	99.6
106. Architectural drafter	99.6
107. Firefighter	99.2
108. Set designer	99.2
109. Artist (fine art)	98.8
110. Industrial machine repairer	98.7
111. Advertising salesperson	98.4
112. Clergy	98.4
113. Sheet metal worker	97.5
114. Heating and refrigeration mechanic	97.5
115. Real estate agent	97.1
116. Photojournalist	97.1
117. Flight attendant	97.1
118. Construction machinery operator	97.1
119. Social worker	97.1
120. Sewage plant operator	97.1
121. Licensed practical nurse	97.0
122. Stevedore	96.6
123. Carpenter	96.6
124. Corrections officer	96.6
125. Choreographer	96.3
126. Automobile body repairer	96.2
127. Plasterer	96.2
128. Office machine repairer	96.2
129. Machinist	96.2
130. Truck driver	96.2
131. Carpet and tile installer	95.8
132. Drywall Applicator and finisher	95.8
133. Computer service technician	95.8
134. Nuclear decontamination technician	95.8
135. Glazier	95.4
136. Sailor	95.4
137. Medical laboratory technician	95.4
138. Automobile mechanic	95.0
139. Dental laboratory technician	95.0
140. Welder	94.9
141. Newspaper reporter	94.6
142. Jeweler	94.5
143. Meter reader	94.5
144. Roofer	94.5
145. Bus driver	94.5
146. Appliance repairer	94.5
147. Painter	94.5
148. Agricultural scientist	94.5
149. Ironworker	94.5
150. Machine tool operator	94.5
151. Broadcast technician	94.2
152. Piano tuner	94.1
153. Musical instrument repairer	94.1
154. Compositor/typesetter	94.1
155. Optician	94.1
156. Bookkeeper	94.1
157. Typist	94.1
158. Electrical technician	94.0
159. Garbage collector	93.7
160. Roustabout	93.7
161. Dairy farmer	93.7
162. Lumberjack	93.7
163. Bookbinder	93.3
164. Telephone operator	93.3
165. Medical records technician	93.3
166. Travel agent	93.3
167. Drill-press operator	93.3
168. Photographer	92.9
169. Emergency medical technician	92.8
170. Vending machine repairer	92.8
171. Furniture upholsterer	92.8
172. Forklift operator	92.8
173. Medical secretary	92.8
174. Construction worker	92.4
175. Butcher	92.4
176. Disc jockey	92.1
177. Precision assembler	92.0
178. Shipping and receiving clerk	92.0
179. Automobile assembler	91.6
180. Dressmaker	91.6
181. Photographic process worker	91.2
182. Receptionist	90.7
183. Barber	90.3
184. Guard	90.3
185. Nurse’s aid	90.3
186. Bank teller	90.3
187. Cosmetologist	89.9
188. Teacher’s aide	89.9
189. Shoemaker and repairer	89.9
190. Recreation worker	89.5
191. Janitor	89.5
192. Chauffeur	89.5
193. Taxi driver	89.0
194. Retail salesman	88.6
195. Childcare worker	88.2
196. Maid	88.2
197. Bartender	87.8
198. Waiter	87.8
199. Cashier	87.7
200. Dishwasher	87.7

Careercast: Jobs Rated Methodology 2011 Report.

Dolphins: known for their intelligence and I love them!

As a refresher and for interest sake here is the breakdown of how each IQ score is rated:

IQ Scores & Ratings What is a good IQ score?  What is a high IQ score?  What is a low IQ score?  These are common questions, particularly after someone finds out their score from an IQ test. Lewis Terman (1916) developed the original notion of IQ and proposed this scale for classifying IQ scores: Over 140 – Genius or near genius 120 – 140 – Very superior intelligence 110 – 119 – Superior intelligence 90 – 109 – Normal or average intelligence 80 – 89 – Dullness 70 – 79 – Borderline deficiency Under 70 – Definite feeble-mindedness

(Wilderdom.com)

p.s. Everyone always wants to know:

• Einstein is considered to have had an IQ of around 160.
• Dr. Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds is said to have an IQ of 187.  (wikipedia.com)
• 115-124 IQ is considered above average! (If you went to University you are above average!)
• 140-145 IQ is considered where Genius starts and includes 25% of the world’s population. (Good for us!)

Wilderdom.com

In all fairness, I must be honest and admit my slight prejudice against IQ testing and numbers. In particular, I object to the suggestion that IQ is a measurement of a person’s superiority, greater odds of having a successful life, and increased health or happiness.

My father was obsessed with IQ (mostly his own) and spent his entire life seeking recognition for having a high IQ, only keeping company with people of similar IQs and sneering at those who were at lower IQ levels. However, he was a miserable, unhealthy dysfunctional individual.

I have successfully managed to avoid any IQ testing my entire life and am proud not to be one of my late Father’s numbers.

Moving on. There are a few things that caught my eye on this list and prompt me to wonder about the accuracy of the list or perhaps the appropriate requirements for certain occupations:

• Childcare Workers and Teacher’s aides are almost at the bottom of the list and fall under the “dullness” level of IQ scores! Pardon? These people are responsible for the safety and teaching of our children. Garbage collectors, plasterers, and forklift operators supposedly have higher IQs. This situation has to be wrong on so many levels.
• If your occupation choice is to stay home with your children and be a homemaker you are considered “dull.” Almost all of the duties of a homemaker coincidentally fall at the low end of the IQ standard.
• Surgeons have an average IQ of 234.1 and Physicians an average of 161.1. That’s a difference of 73 points! The difference itself represents a number that could equal one person’s IQ itself! I worked in Nursing to get myself through University and got to know a lot of dumb surgeons and brilliant physicians. To keep things polite I will limit myself to saying this has to be a typo.
• I consider the occupations of Doctor and Corporate Executive as generally potential careers and, therefore, am surprised that they are in the Genius category. I must be very naive because I must say I presumed for some reason that people with Genius IQs would usually have extraordinary and unique occupations.
• Understandably the vast majority of occupations have only very small deviations in IQ scores and are in the average or normal classification.
• However…….
• A Roustabout is listed under the average IQ range along with a lot of other occupations that require different education or training. However, according to Dic.ref.com, a Roustabout is an unskilled labourer who lives by odd jobs. Does this sound like it requires, at least, an average IQ?
• The average level does need to be subdivided into a lot of smaller categories. Is it feasible that it takes approximately the same amount of intelligence to work as a:
• Receptionist
• Butcher
• Telephone Operator
• Typist
• Painter
• Bus Driver
• Newspaper Reporter
• Plasterer
• Flight Attendant
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Insurance Agent
• Bricklayer
• Teacher
• Mail Carrier
• Anthropologist
• Registered Nurse
• Sociologist
• Chiropractor
• Veterinarian and…..
• Psychologist!!!!!

I certainly don’t want my neighbourhood Butcher or Brick Layer doing surgery on my precious pets the same as a veterinarian who has gone through years of schooling. In turn, I don’t want a plasterer administering medical treatment to me like an RN, who again has received years of education.

I’ll let you know from personal experience that a Sheet Metal Worker (my husband started out in this position) is the worst candidate for the occupation of a psychologist or anyone who has to think about anything concerning people’s thinking and emotions.

Please don’t get me wrong, I have a great respect for skilled labours Also I admire those that dedicate themselves to occupations that require much more than my horrible lack of patience and attention span could ever offer.

It’s the basic concept of slotting people into cubby holes based on arbitrary numbers from tests made up by only certain people that I question. I hate focusing on only one element of a person and then naming them that thing. We, as people, are a million different combinations of things and that, in essence, is what makes us, us.