23. Is IQ Destiny? The Science Behind Intelligence and Jobs

There are generally two schools of thought when it comes to intelligence:

Nature (genetics) vs. Nurture (education & environment)

Most experts agree that education matters a great deal, but research also shows that your genetic predisposition (natural tendancy) plays a surprisingly large role. In fact, for certain cognitive domains, genetics might even outweigh environment.

But don’t worry, this blog post isn’t about being deterministic. If you remember from our previous class (Week 23), we discussed how intelligence is multi-faceted (diverse). We watched a video explaining how IQ isn’t everything. There are 5 different types of intelligence:

• 🗣️ Verbal

• 🧩 Visual-spatial

• 🧮 Quantitative

• 🧬 General reasoning

• 🧠 Cognitive speed and memory

  
  

And as that video (timestamped 13:25) explained, your gender, race, or age stereotypes can actually affect test performance, a phenomenon known as Stereotype Threat (Steele & Aronson, 1995).

Jordan Peterson on IQ and the Job Market

One of the more controversial yet fascinating ideas we explored comes from Dr. Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and former professor at the University of Toronto (and formerly Harvard). In his lecture “IQ and the Job Market” (timestamp 1:18), he suggests that IQ is a statistically reliable predictor of where people tend to land on the job complexity ladder.

BUT❗ IQ does not predict life success. According to Peterson, two other factors matter even more:

1. Stress Tolerance: Your ability to function under pressure.

2. Conscientiousness: Your capacity to stay organized, disciplined, and focused.

Let’s take a closer look at how IQ ranges tend to correspond with job types, based on research and Peterson’s summary:

📊 IQ-Based Job Complexity Tiers

🔻 IQ 80~89

Tier: Low-Complexity Roles (Below 25th Percentile)

Typical Roles:

• 🧹 Janitorial Staff

• 📦 Warehouse Laborers

• 🌿 Landscaping Workers

• 🏭 Assembly Line Operators

• 🍳 Food Prep Assistants

🔹 IQ 90~99

Tier: Lower-Mid Complexity Roles (25th~50th Percentile)

Typical Roles:

• 🛠 Machine Operators

• 🚚 Delivery Drivers

• 🛒 Retail Clerks

• 🧱 Construction Workers

• 🍔 Food Service Workers

🔸 IQ 100~109

Tier: Mid-Complexity Roles (50th~75th Percentile)

Typical Roles:

• 🗂 Administrative Assistants

• 📞 Customer Service Representatives

• 💼 Sales Associates

• 🚓 Police Officers

• 🔧 Skilled Tradespeople (Electricians, Plumbers)

🟨 IQ 110~119

Tier: Upper-Mid Complexity Roles (75th~90th Percentile)

Typical Roles:

• 💻 Software Developers

• 🧮 Accountants & Financial Analysts

• 🧪 Engineers (Various Fields)

• 🏥 Registered Nurses

• 📚 High School Teachers

🟩 IQ 120~130

Tier: High-Complexity Roles (Top 10%)

Typical Roles:

• 🧠 Physicists, Mathematicians

• 🩺 Surgeons, Medical Specialists

• 🎓 University Professors

• ⚖️ Patent Attorneys, Legal Scholars

• 🤖 AI Researchers, Data Scientists

🟦 IQ 131~145

Tier: Very High Complexity Roles (Top 2%~0.1% / Mensa Range)

Typical Roles:

• 🌌 Theoretical Physicist

• 🔍 Philosopher, Logician, Epistemologist

• 🛰 Intelligence Analyst, National Security Strategist

• 🧠 Neurosurgeon, Specialized Medical Expert

• 🧾 Policy Architect, Think Tank Fellow

• 🧱 Senior Software/System Architect

🟪 IQ 145~159

Tier: Highly Gifted (~0.1% of Population)

Cognitive Traits:

• Rapid abstract pattern recognition

• Accelerated learning (5~10x faster than a normal person)

• Broad conceptual synthesis across disciplines

Typical Roles:

• 🤖 AI Researcher

• 🧠 Neurosurgeon

• 📊 Systems Theorist

• 🎮 Conceptual Game Designer

• 🎓 Elite University Professor

🟥 IQ 160~179

Tier: Profoundly Gifted (~0.01% of Population)

Cognitive Traits:

• Original domain creation (paradigm shifting)

• Sparse-data multivariate reasoning

• Exceptional symbolic memory and problem-solving

Typical Roles:

• 🧪 Nobel-level Scientists

• 🔐 Cryptographic Architects

• 🧠 Inventors of Theoretical Systems

• ♟ Strategic Masters (e.g., Go champions, futurists)

But Here's the Catch...

While IQ can help predict what level of complexity you might be comfortable working in, it doesn't determine success. Many brilliant people burn out because they lack resilience or discipline.

As Peterson puts it:

So ultimately, your life outcome is best predicted by:✅ IQ + ✅ Stress Tolerance + ✅ Conscientiousness

📝 Homework: Test Yourself

Take the Mensa IQ Challenge — a valid sample IQ test (35 questions in 25 minutes).

P.S — If you are serious about getting a clearer estimate of your IQ, try the RIOT IQ Test. It is one of the closer online alternatives to the actual WAIS, or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and it feels more structured, valid, and reliable than typical online IQ quizzes.

In the comments section below, do one of the following:

Option 1: Reflect

• Share your result (optional)

• What tier does it place you in?

• Do the job dispersion categories match with your actual interests or strengths?

Option 2: Challenge the Idea

• Do you agree or disagree that IQ is a good predictor of future jobs?

• What other traits could completely change someone’s future path?

• Could a person with an average IQ outperform a person with a high IQ?