Average IQ in California: Estimates & Context
Estimated Avg IQ
~102
US Ranking
#14
of 50 states
Region
West
Note: No state administers IQ tests to its residents. These estimates are proxy conversions from standardized achievement scores (NAEP, SAT, ACT) — an approach popularized by McDaniel's 2006 state-IQ estimates in the journal Intelligence — combined with demographic data. Proxy conversions carry real limitations: SAT/ACT participation rates differ sharply by state and bias comparisons, and the variation within any state dwarfs the differences between states. Figures are shown rounded; decimal precision would overstate what these proxies can support. They say nothing about any individual resident.
About California's IQ Ranking
California's ranking reflects its extraordinary diversity — the state contains both the world's most innovative tech hub (Silicon Valley) and some of the nation's most impoverished communities. California has more top-100 universities than any other state and leads in patents and innovation, yet also has significant achievement gaps along socioeconomic and geographic lines. The state's average masks enormous internal variation.
What Shapes California's Cognitive Profile
The 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education built the tiered UC, CSU, and community college structure that still processes more students than any system on earth, yet California's K-12 results sit below national averages on NAEP, weighed down by the country's largest English learner population and the long shadow of Proposition 13, which capped the property taxes that once funded schools generously. The Local Control Funding Formula of 2013 redirected money toward high-need districts with modest measured gains so far. Cognitive demand at the top of the economy is extreme: Silicon Valley, San Diego's genomics cluster around UCSD, and the research workforces at Lawrence Livermore and JPL have no real parallel elsewhere. Central Valley agricultural counties like Tulare and Merced, by contrast, show degree attainment below 15 percent. Caltech, Stanford, and Berkeley give the state three of the world's leading research institutions within a few hundred miles. The estimated state average compresses what are effectively several different states.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
California vs Other West States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| California | ~102 | #14 |
| Oregon | ~103 | #6 |
| Washington | ~103 | #7 |
| Montana | ~103 | #7 |
| Colorado | ~103 | #11 |
| Wyoming | ~102 | #11 |
| Idaho | ~101 | #15 |
| Utah | ~101 | #17 |
| Hawaii | ~99 | #25 |
| Alaska | ~99 | #30 |
| Arizona | ~97 | #38 |
| Nevada | ~97 | #40 |
| New Mexico | ~95 | #47 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in California?
California's estimated average IQ is 101.5, ranking #14. This average masks enormous variation — Silicon Valley's tech workforce scores well above average, while some rural and low-income communities score below.
Why doesn't California rank higher given Silicon Valley?
California's vast size and diversity pull its average toward the middle. While the Bay Area and LA have extremely educated populations, the state also has large agricultural regions and communities with limited educational access.
How does California compare to Texas?
California (101.5) outranks Texas (99.6). California has more top universities and a larger tech sector, while Texas has been closing the gap through economic growth and in-migration of educated workers.
Explore Other States
Take our free IQ test to see how you compare, or learn what IQ actually measures.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Editorial team focused on cognitive testing & psychometrics research
Last updated
May 10, 2026
MyIQScores content is written and maintained by our editorial team using published research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics as its source base. We label estimates as estimates, link primary sources where available, correct errors when readers flag them, and update pages as research or feedback warrants — see our corrections policy.