IQ 100: All You Need to Know About the Average IQ Score

With its position at the center of the IQ scale, an IQ of 100 is the perfect representation of average intelligence. As a result, people with this intelligence level don’t particularly stand out when it comes to smarts, but they don’t lag behind their peers either.

To gain a better grasp on this IQ score, we’ve consulted our experts and discovered how an IQ of 100 manifests itself, what its position on the IQ scale means, and which careers are suitable for those with it.

Let’s explore these findings in more detail.

Key Takeaways

• An IQ of 100 is considered average—in fact, it is at the very center of the IQ scale.
• People with an IQ of 100 are characterized by a normal development of their cognitive skills, including memory, logical reasoning, deduction, and critical thinking.
• An IQ of 100 can thrive in both mentally and physically challenging careers, as long as those with it are willing to put in enough effort.
• People with an IQ of 100 make excellent electricians, dispatchers, cashiers, and data entry clerks, among many other professions.

Understanding the Average IQ Score

The average IQ score is considered to be 100, although the 85–115 range is more frequently taken as normal IQ, as it is characteristic of the majority (68%) of the population.

Of course, scores below this range are considered low IQ, while scores above indicate high IQ. These broad categories of intelligence can be further divided into subcategories that, if we rely on Stanford-Binet’s test.

Although this classification looks slightly different depending on the IQ test of your choice, the gist is essentially the same: IQ scores below 70 indicate a potential intellectual disability, while scores above 130 signify giftedness.

Regardless of which IQ test you use, the method of measuring intelligence is largely the same. Once you complete the test, your performance is compared to that of your peers and expressed as a percentage. Then, this percentage is transformed into a corresponding score.

So, for instance, if you perform better than 91% of your peers, you’ll belong to the 91st percentile, which can be translated into an IQ of 120. Similarly, an IQ of 110 corresponds to the 75th percentile, and every other score has its corresponding percentile.

The highest IQ score on the current IQ scale is 160, while the lowest is 40. That doesn’t mean IQ can’t go beyond these thresholds, but rather that current IQ tests can only accurately measure results on this scale.

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What Does an IQ 100 Mean?

An IQ of 100 means that your intelligence is perfectly average and your cognition is as developed as it should be for someone your age. In other words, your IQ allows you to be well-adjusted in society and perform most regular tasks with relative ease.

So, while your IQ may not be on the same level as Einstein’s IQ, it still indicates that your memory, logical reasoning, critical thinking, and deduction are well-developed. You also have no particular difficulties dealing with abstract concepts unless they are highly complex. Yet, even in that case, you’ll likely grasp them with extra effort.

An IQ of 100 is at the very center of the intelligence scale, meaning that you’ve performed better than precisely 50% of your peers on an IQ test. As a result, an IQ of 100 is also known as the 50th percentile.

What Are the Ideal Jobs for People With an IQ of 100?

Considering that society was primarily built for people with average intelligence, an IQ of 100 allows you to pursue most careers and succeed in most job positions. It doesn’t matter if you pick a physically or mentally demanding job—as long as you’re willing to put in effort, your performance will be satisfying.

Of course, careers in science and research may be more challenging for someone with an IQ of 100, even if they aren’t entirely out of reach. Still, if that’s where your interest lies, you should pursue them regardless.

That said, here are some ideal jobs for an IQ of 100.

#1. Electrician

Electricians install and maintain wiring, identify problems with circuits and various electrical components, and repair and replace faulty wiring and equipment.

Therefore, they must be excellent problem solvers with superb attention to detail, allowing them to spot potential issues and ensure everything is up to code. In addition, they need to have highly developed fine motor skills, as their job requires them to work with small equipment and tools.

Finally, electricians should also have solid communication skills, especially when working in a team. Aside from other electricians, they might be required to communicate with other coworkers in their workplace or clients, so they need to be able to describe the issue and the potential solution in words that a layman can understand.

#2. Dispatcher

Dispatchers are the main point of contact for drivers who make deliveries, ensuring that the entire delivery process runs smoothly by developing routes, providing precise instructions to the drivers, and coordinating with customers.

As a result, dispatchers must be organized, precise, and excellent at handling multiple tasks at once. In addition, they should be great communicators and quick thinkers who can instantly assess the situation and think of a solution for any potential issues.

Aside from helping with deliveries, dispatchers may work with police and medical teams to respond to emergencies.

In these cases, they must still possess all the qualities listed above, with the additional trait of staying calm under pressure. After all, it’s their job to soothe the caller and extract as much information as possible.

#3. Cashier

Cashiers are in charge of the cash register in stores, supermarkets, and other retail businesses, meaning that they check out the products, receive payments, process transactions, and issue receipts. Moreover, they are responsible for assisting the customer and answering potential questions.

Consequently, cashiers should have excellent communication skills as well as the ability to quickly perform basic numerical calculations and handle money. They must also be very precise and highly focused—mistakes while dealing with cash could hurt the business and lead to their firing.

In addition, cashiers must be skilled multi-taskers who can answer a customer’s question while simultaneously scanning the items and operating the cash register. As a result, this job is far more challenging cognitively than most people think.

#4. Data Entry Clerks

Data entry clerks maintain and update customer databases by gathering data and entering it into dedicated software. Before they do that, they usually organize and categorize the information as well, making sure that it’s ready to enter the database.

Since they have to deal with large amounts of data, data entry clerks must be highly organized with excellent attention to detail. Their time management and typing accuracy are also of vital importance, as are their grammar and language.

What’s more, since data entry clerks must use specific software on a regular basis, they should have a decent understanding of computers and be willing to learn and grow in their position.

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Final Thoughts

Since it’s in the very middle of the IQ scale, an IQ of 100 indicates that you have average intelligence sufficiently developed to allow you to function normally in society. In fact, with this IQ, you won’t struggle with most tasks, even when they are mentally challenging to some degree.

However, if you’d like to improve your cognition further and achieve a higher IQ score, you can train your brain and push it beyond its limits. IQtest.net can help you with that, as long as you come back to it frequently and practice regularly.

Learn more about different IQ scores and what they mean:

• IQ 95
• IQ 105
• IQ 110