Is an IQ of 111 Good? What It Means & Where You Stand

What Does an IQ of 111 Mean?

An IQ of 111 is in the high average range at the 77th percentile. You score higher than about 77% of people. At this level, cognitive advantages start becoming noticeable — you likely pick up new concepts faster than most and perform well on standardized tests.

An IQ of 111 places you at the 77th percentile, which means you scored higher than approximately 77% of the general population on a standardized intelligence test. This score falls into the High Average range on the IQ scale. With a rarity of 1 in 4, this score is within the range where most people score.

To understand how IQ scores are calculated and what they measure, see our complete guide on what IQ is and how it works. For a full breakdown of all score ranges and their meanings, visit our IQ score ranges page.

How Precise Is a Score of 111?

Less precise than a single number suggests. Professionally administered IQ tests carry a standard error of measurement of roughly 3–5 points, which means a measured score of 111is best read as a range of about 106 to 116 — and scores from short online tests vary even more. Test-retest studies show the same person's score can shift by several points between sessions due to sleep, stress, motivation, practice effects, and simple chance. Different tests (WAIS, Stanford-Binet, Raven's) can also yield somewhat different numbers for the same person. Treat any single figure — including this one — as an estimate with a margin of error, not a fixed property. Our methodology page explains how our own estimate is calculated.

What an IQ of 111 Does Not Establish

An IQ score summarizes performance on abstract reasoning tasks at one point in time. It is not a medical or psychological diagnosis, and a score of 111 on its own does not determine your career ceiling, academic future, creativity, emotional intelligence, judgment, or character. Research links IQ to average outcomes across large groups, but individual outcomes vary enormously at every score level. If you need a clinically valid assessment — for educational placement, a disability evaluation, or gifted-program admission — only a licensed psychologist can provide one. See our disclaimer for the full limitations.

Career Context for an IQ of 111

At 111, most professional careers are accessible. Teaching, nursing, accounting, IT, and business management are all natural fits. The cognitive advantage is real but modest.

A note on career framing: occupational IQ averages describe broad group tendencies from research samples — they are not entry requirements, and employers do not screen candidates by IQ. Interest, training, persistence, and opportunity shape careers far more than a test score.

Cognitive Profile at IQ 111

At IQ 111, the high-average profile shows consistently strong verbal reasoning across the most complex and technical academic domains, solid and reliable fluid intelligence with consistent performance on demanding novel and abstract problems, and academic capacity supporting confident success in competitive doctoral and professional programs across virtually all fields. Verbal comprehension handles advanced academic texts in demanding disciplines with reliable and flexible analytical reasoning. Working memory holds 9–10 items. Processing speed is at the 68th–69th percentile. Fluid intelligence shows genuine reliable novel problem-solving with strong consistency on the most demanding structured abstract problems. Mathematical competence includes graduate-level quantitative methods in demanding fields. The individual at IQ 111 learns new complex material notably faster than average, an advantage that compounds over multi-year academic programs. The single-point difference from IQ 110 is entirely negligible — both represent the same cognitive profile.

What Research Says About IQ 111

NLSY79 data show IQ 111 individuals achieving 4-year college enrollment at 74% and bachelor's degree completion at approximately 69%. Median earnings are approximately 16–17% above the US median. Research by Deary et al. (2007) found that IQ 111 predicts professional and managerial occupational attainment with high consistency in UK longitudinal cohorts. Schmidt & Hunter (1998) estimate that at IQ 111, job performance advantages over average in complex occupations are substantial and reliably detected in large organizational samples. Lubinski (2004, High Ability Studies) documents that IQ 111 individuals who pursued graduate education achieved occupational outcomes at age 35 largely indistinguishable from peers scoring 5–8 points higher.

Day-to-Day Life with an IQ of 111

A person at IQ 111 works as a neuroscientist at a research university — leading a lab studying neural plasticity, directing doctoral students, writing NIH grant proposals, publishing research in high-impact journals, and teaching graduate seminars. They completed a PhD at a top-20 program with a well-received dissertation and 3 publications. They own their home, manage complex finances, and are active in their scientific community. They are regarded by colleagues, granting agencies, and trainees as a rigorous, creative scientist making genuine contributions to their field. Their h-index places them in the upper half of their cohort at the same career stage.

How Does an IQ of 111 Compare?

Here's how a score of 111 compares to nearby IQ scores:

Famous People with an IQ Around 111

The following well-known figures have estimated IQ scores close to 111:

• Simone Biles — Greatest gymnast of all time, 37 Olympic/World medals (estimated IQ: 100–115)
• Kobe Bryant — NBA legend, 5x champion, Mamba Mentality (estimated IQ: 110–120)
• Kylie Jenner — Kylie Cosmetics founder, media personality, billionaire (estimated IQ: 105–115)
• Billie Eilish — Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, youngest album of year winner (estimated IQ: 110–120)
• Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson — Actor, wrestler, entrepreneur, highest-paid actor (estimated IQ: 105–118)

Careers That Suit an IQ of 111

People with an IQ around 111 are well-suited for the following career paths:

• Cybersecurity Analyst — average IQ range: 112–125
• Dentist Hygienist — average IQ range: 100–112
• Project Manager — average IQ range: 108–120
• Occupational Therapist — average IQ range: 108–118
• Electrician (Master) — average IQ range: 105–115

See the full IQ by career chart for all professions.

Explore Other IQ Scores

Take our free IQ test to find out where you stand, or learn more about what IQ really measures.