A Guide to Understanding the IQ 80 & the Ideal Jobs for It

An IQ of 80 is somewhat below the average range of intelligence, indicating a lower development of cognitive abilities and greater difficulty in understanding complex and abstract concepts.

As a result, people with this IQ score may need to put in more effort to achieve their goals. However, contrary to popular belief, it certainly doesn’t indicate that they can’t thrive in their lives.

To clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding the IQ of 80, we’ve consulted our experts and learned how this score manifests itself, which careers are suitable for it, and how you can improve your chances of success.

Let’s explore some of our findings.

Key Takeaways

• An IQ of 80 is considered to be somewhat below average, as the average IQ range is 85–115.
• As a result, an IQ of 80 is characterized by slightly underdeveloped cognition, difficulty grasping complex and abstract concepts, and poorer academic performance.
• People with an IQ of 80 thrive in careers with clear guidelines and predictable responsibilities, so they make good librarians, dog walkers, and customer service officers.
• People with an IQ of 80 can succeed in their careers by focusing on their talents, learning new skills, and attending industry events.

What Is the Average IQ?

The average IQ is 100, although since 68% of the population scores between 85 and 115, that range is more commonly considered to indicate normal cognitive development.

To measure the intelligence quotient (IQ), we use a variety of IQ tests, the first of which was published in 1916 under the name of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. After its success, several other tests were made, the most popular being the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and Raven’s Progressive Matrices.

However, no matter which IQ test you take, the psychometric methods used to measure intelligence are the same. First, the test compares your performance to that of your peers from the same age group and then expresses it in a percentage, which can easily be translated into an IQ score.

In other words, if you’ve performed better than 75% of your peers, you’ll belong to the so-called 75th percentile. When this is turned into a score, it becomes an IQ of 110.

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What Does the IQ 80 Mean?

An IQ of 80 means that your IQ is slightly below average, and your cognitive abilities may be somewhat underdeveloped. Considering that the average IQ range begins at 85, this is not a dramatically low score, but it does indicate your cognition might need a bit of a boost.

To illustrate what this means, we will use a slightly outdated concept of mental age, first defined by the French psychologist Alfred Binet, who was also the original creator of the oldest IQ test.

For example, if we have a 10-year-old with an IQ of 80, their mental age will actually be equivalent to that of an 8-year-old. That’s because, using Binet’s formula, mental age can be calculated by multiplying the IQ score by chronological age and then dividing the result by 100.

Using newer methods for calculating IQ, we can determine that an IQ of 80 is the 9.12th percentile. In other words, people with this score have performed better than only 9.12% of IQ test takers.

But what does all this mean in practice?

Well, people with an IQ of 80 may be slower than average at grasping most concepts and struggle with abstract or complicated ideas. Due to their limited cognitive ability, they are less likely to excel academically or pursue higher education.

Ideal Jobs for People With an IQ of 80

Considering their limitations, people with an IQ of 80 are unlikely to find themselves on cognitively demanding career paths. Instead, they are more at home in jobs with clear guidelines where their responsibilities don’t significantly change from one day to another.

Of course, these jobs still come with a great deal of responsibility and particular skills that must be learned. In addition, they can be just as satisfying as a top position in a large company—that ultimately depends on your personal preferences.

That being said, here are some of the best jobs for an IQ of 80.

#1. Dog Walker

Being a dog walker is nowhere near as simple as it sounds—after all, you are responsible for other people’s pets and must ensure their comfort and safety. It’s not enough to take them for a few laps around the neighborhood and call it a day; you must also be in tune with their needs.

As a result, the best dog walkers are usually people who genuinely love animals and care for their well-being. Aside from giving them much-needed free time to run and explore, they keep them hydrated, relaxed, and away from potential dangers and unfavorable weather conditions.

In addition, dog walkers need to remain calm and attentive at all times. Dogs can be unpredictable, and it’s your job to ensure they don’t get into any trouble, as well as to be patient when they don’t immediately obey your orders.

#2. Librarian

A librarian’s job is generally considered to be relaxing and quiet, but that might not be as true as you may think.

As a rule, librarians are the ones who organize, manage, and categorize library stock, navigate computerized library systems, assist clients, and supervise library programs for children, teens, and other patrons.

Taking all that into account, it’s clear that a librarian needs to be a highly organized individual with excellent attention to detail and strong commitment. They should also have excellent interpersonal skills, allowing them to deal with a variety of clients on a daily basis.

Finally, it certainly helps when librarians are avid readers interested in various genres. That way, they remain aware of trending and popular literature and can make excellent recommendations to all ages.

#3. Customer Service Officer

Customer service officers can work for various companies as well as for customer service agencies hired by other companies. Regardless, their responsibilities are more or less the same—they are the first point of contact between a customer and a company they are reaching out to.

In other words, they must answer customer queries using phone calls, emails, or online chats and find appropriate solutions for their problems. As a result, their interpersonal intelligence must be highly developed, and they must work well under pressure.

How to Succeed in Your Career With an IQ of 80

To succeed in your career with an IQ of 80, you should focus on your strengths, learn new skills, and attend industry events that help you build connections and introduce you to recent trends. Even if it is somewhat harder to accomplish certain goals with below-average intelligence, it’s far from impossible.

Below, we will explore how you can advance in your career in more detail.

#1. Focus on Your Strengths and Talents

Even if intelligence isn’t one of your strengths, there are undoubtedly other skills and talents you possess.

For instance, you may be an excellent communicator who never struggles to establish a connection with people. Or you may be highly artistic, with an impeccable sense of color and perspective.

Whatever your unique talent may be, you can use it to build a successful career as long as you put in some real effort. Intelligence can only take you so far—truly accomplished people learn what they are good at and work hard to become the best.

#2. Learn and Practice New Skills

Even if picking up new skills might take you longer than it would for someone with a high IQ, it’s not beyond your capability. The more skills you have, the more opportunities there are for advancement as well as for landing a job in a field outside of your own.

So, take a course and learn something you’ve always been interested in, or check which skills a specific job position requires and practice those. Don’t stop practicing even once you feel like you’ve made good progress, though—there’s always room for improvement.

Learning new skills won’t only benefit you in a professional sense but also in a personal one. When you learn something new, you actually train and develop your cognition, meaning that your IQ can improve as well.

#3. Attend Industry Events

Industry events are excellent opportunities to strengthen the connections you already have, build new ones, and learn what is trending in your specific field. All this can help you become a better employee, which may ultimately lead to advancement in your career.

In addition, industry events give you a chance to practice your interpersonal skills, as they often introduce you to clients, investors, partners, and other employees. Depending on your industry, this practice can be extremely beneficial to your professional development.

IQ 80: Misconceptions and Half-Truths

Since an IQ of 80 is considered below average, there are numerous misconceptions and prejudices surrounding this intelligence level. In this section, we will introduce you to some and debunk them to help you gain a clearer picture of this IQ score.

Here are some common misconceptions about people with an IQ of 80:

• They can’t be successful. Although there’s somewhat of a correlation between high IQ and success, it’s nowhere near as straightforward as some believe. Other factors, such as emotional intelligence, hard work, and luck, often play a bigger, if not the biggest, role in achieving success.
• They aren’t intelligent. IQ tests measure only one component of intelligence—general intelligence. While this is an essential aspect, it’s certainly not the only one. There are nine other kinds of intelligence, according to the American psychologist Howard Gardner, and at least one type is highly developed in everyone.
• Their intelligence can’t improve. You can actually develop your intelligence by learning new skills, doing brain exercises, and living a healthy lifestyle. Although your IQ can’t jump from a score of 80 to a genius level, it can certainly improve by a few points—enough to reach average status.

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Final Thoughts

Although an IQ of 80 indicates a lower level of intelligence, it doesn’t mean that people with it can’t thrive in their personal and professional lives. They might need more time to master specific skills or grapple with certain concepts, but ultimately, they have their own unique strengths and talents.

Ultimately, remember that success isn’t just one thing, nor is it achieved in only one way. Even if you don’t become a renowned scientist or a CEO, you can be successful in your own right, especially if you work hard to achieve your goals.

Explore more about different IQ levels and what they signify:

• IQ 85
• IQ 90
• IQ 95