New survey results from MyIQ reveal a consistent link between higher cognitive scores and annual income, with notable differences across job sectors.
A new analysis from MyIQ, based on responses from 14,926 working adults, shows that people who score higher on cognitive tests tend to earn more money. The data, drawn from self-reported salaries and job types, points to a clear trend: for every 10-point increase in MyIQ’s cognitive score, respondents reported earning about 7% more per year.
"Intelligence doesn’t guarantee wealth, but it seems to open better doors", that is how one MyIQ analyst summarized the findings. The correlation held even after factoring in education, work experience, and industry. While the survey doesn’t prove that a higher IQ causes higher income, the pattern was consistent enough to suggest that cognitive skills often align with better-paying roles.
The link was especially strong in technology and finance, where a 10-point increase in test score was associated with nearly a 9% salary boost. In education and the public sector, the figure dropped to 4%. Jobs in trades and services showed smaller increases, but the relationship between test scores and pay remained positive.
Part of the explanation lies in how different industries value and deploy cognitive effort. In high-margin, project-based fields like tech and finance, problems are often novel, complex, and time-sensitive, creating direct incentives to hire for raw cognitive horsepower. Pay is also more flexible and often linked to performance metrics, which amplifies individual differences. In contrast, education and public service roles tend to follow standardized pay scales, with limited variation across roles and little room for negotiation based on personal attributes. Even where cognitive skills help on the job, they may not show up on a paycheck.
Take Leila, a 31-year-old UX designer in the States. She scored in the top quartile of MyIQ’s test and reports earning about 25% more than the average for her role, attributing part of that to her ability to solve complex interface problems quickly. In contrast, Jorge, a public school teacher in Europe, also scored highly but says his salary has barely changed in five years. "It helps me teach better," he says, "but it doesn’t change my paycheck."
The survey also asked about job demands. Among those who said their work regularly involved problem-solving or abstract thinking, 68% were in higher salary bands compared to peers with similar education. That suggests it isn’t just about scoring well; it is about having the chance to use those skills on the job.
MyIQ notes that the results come from a voluntary, self-selecting sample. People who take cognitive tests online may differ in important ways from the general workforce. But even with that caveat, the patterns in the data were clear and consistent.
For employers and job seekers alike, the takeaway is practical: in fields that reward mental agility, cognitive ability seems to offer an edge. But the size of that edge depends on the role. Intelligence matters, but so does whether it has room to work.
About MyIQ:
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.