Is an IQ of 117 Good? What It Means & Where You Stand

What Does an IQ of 117 Mean?

An IQ of 117 is at the upper end of the high average range at the 87th percentile. Only about 13% of people score higher. You are approaching the superior range (120+) and likely experience consistent cognitive advantages in most settings. Complex professional and academic work is well within your capabilities.

An IQ of 117 places you at the 87th percentile, which means you scored higher than approximately 87% 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 8, 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.

Career Context for an IQ of 117

At 117, the most demanding career paths are accessible. This is within the range (115-125) that research associates with the most effective leaders. Graduate school and professional certifications are natural fits.

Cognitive Profile at IQ 117

IQ 117 sits in the high-average to bright-normal range where cognitive advantages are consistently and substantially visible in the most demanding academic and professional settings. Verbal reasoning handles primary research literature in the most demanding disciplines with consistent and flexible critical, analytical, and synthetic reasoning at the level expected of doctoral researchers. Working memory holds 10 items. Processing speed is at the 78th percentile. Fluid intelligence shows genuine and reliable novel problem-solving with strong consistency even on the most challenging abstract reasoning problems. Mathematical competence includes advanced quantitative methods in all disciplines. The individual at IQ 117 learns new complex material at a rate substantially above average — an advantage that now produces clearly observable differences in academic productivity and professional learning rate in demanding long-form training contexts.

What Research Says About IQ 117

NLSY79 data show IQ 117 individuals achieving 4-year college enrollment at 87% and bachelor's degree completion at approximately 82%. Median earnings are approximately 27–28% above the US median. Gottfredson (1997) identifies IQ 115–125 as the range from which the vast majority of practicing physicians, lawyers, and doctoral researchers are drawn in norm studies of those professions. Schmidt & Hunter (1998) estimate that at IQ 117, job performance advantages in complex occupations are consistently in the very-large range. SMPY longitudinal research (Lubinski et al., 2006) found that IQ 117 individuals who entered STEM fields produced publication, patent, and tenure outcomes in the top quartile of their professional cohorts.

Day-to-Day Life with an IQ of 117

A person at IQ 117 works as a chief technology officer at a mid-sized technology company — developing multi-year technical strategy, managing a 200-person engineering organization, making architectural decisions on complex systems, collaborating with the CEO and board on product direction, and representing technical perspectives to investors. They completed a master's degree in computer science from a top-10 program and have 18 years of progressive technical and leadership experience. They own their home, manage complex finances, and are active in the technology community. They are regarded by their board, CEO, investors, and engineering team as a visionary technical leader whose cognitive contributions are foundational to the company's competitive position.

How Does an IQ of 117 Compare?

Here's how a score of 117 compares to nearby IQ scores:

Famous People with an IQ Around 117

The following well-known figures have estimated IQ scores close to 117:

• Floyd Mayweather — Undefeated boxing champion (50-0), pound-for-pound greatest boxer (estimated IQ: 122)
• Shaquille O'Neal — NBA champion, four-time champion, earned PhD, entertainer and businessman (estimated IQ: 120)
• Magic Johnson — NBA champion, HIV advocate, successful businessman (estimated IQ: 118)
• John F. Kennedy — 35th US President, Pulitzer Prize winner, Cold War leader (estimated IQ: 119)
• Kim Jong-un — North Korean Supreme Leader, Switzerland-educated, third-generation ruler (estimated IQ: 120)

Careers That Suit an IQ of 117

People with an IQ around 117 are well-suited for the following career paths:

• Marketing Manager — average IQ range: 108–120
• Registered Dietitian — average IQ range: 105–115
• Cybersecurity Analyst — average IQ range: 112–125
• Dentist Hygienist — average IQ range: 100–112
• Project Manager — average IQ range: 108–120

See the full IQ by career chart for all professions.

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