Ever wondered if being super smart means you’ll earn a lot of money? A recent study says otherwise!

Last year, a study was published in the European Sociological Review called “The plateauing of cognitive ability among top earners” by Marc Keuschnigg, Arnout van de Rijt, and Thijs Bol. It explored whether the people at the top of their fields were also the most intelligent.

The short answer is NO.

In reality, there are many factors that determine how people rise to become top earners, and few of them are related to a person’s IQ. Lets talk about them.

The Breakdown

The study hypothesizes that extreme intelligence alone cannot account for all top earners, leading to an investigation of how their cognitive abilities compare to those of average earners. The authors analyzed data from a sample of 59,000 Swedish men. These men were all tested for their cognitive abilities for required military training at around 18-19 years old; they then compared those results to the individual’s average wage and occupational prestige after 11 years (according to this study, “occupational prestige” means “accountants, doctors, lawyers, professors, judges and members of parliament”).

The end results showed that “cognitive ability plateaus around €60,000 (around US$65,000)”, meaning that just because you have a bigger job or a bigger salary does not mean you have a bigger IQ. Even jobs with higher prestige are unrelated to their cognitive abilities. In simple terms, having a high IQ might get you far, but it’s not the whole story when it comes to high earnings.

So, what does this mean for you? Can you still climb the career ladder even if you’re not the smartest person in the room?

The Plateauing Effect: Understanding Its Implications

The plateauing effect observed in the study suggests that as individuals ascend to the top levels of income, other factors beyond IQ come into play. What does this mean in everyday terms? As you climb higher in your career, other factors start to matter more than your IQ. These factors may include:

1. 
   

   Social Capital:

   Networking, relationships, and connections often play a pivotal role in achieving success. Top earners frequently have access to influential networks and mentors that open doors to opportunities.

2. 
   

   Familial Connections:

   This ties back to social capital. Numerous studies that show that people in higher tax brackets come from privileged backgrounds. They have access to better education, connections, and having “taste” that just can’t always be taught because it was in the environment they were raised. There is also some evidence that genetics may play a role in cognition.

3. 
   

   Luck and Timing:

   Serendipity and being in the right place at the right time can also contribute significantly to success. Top earners may have benefited from favorable circumstances or trends that propelled them forward.

4. 
   

   Specialized Expertise:

   At the pinnacle of income, individuals often possess unique, specialized skills or knowledge that distinguish them from their peers.

Rethinking Success and Its Drivers

This research challenges us to rethink what leads to success. While being smart is important, it’s not the only factor that determines high earnings. Don’t overlook the importance that social skills, connections, and luck can guide you in making better career choices and uncovering growth opportunities.

For those aiming to earn more, it’s essential to focus on more than just traditional intelligence. Building strong relationships, expanding your professional network, and being open to new experiences can improve your chances of success.

What does this mean for you?

In essence, a higher IQ does not guarantee career advancement, and there is always room for growth beyond just intelligence. There are things that you can do to move up the ladder, or out to a lateral move doing something you would find more fulfilling.

• Cultivate Non-Cognitive Skills:  Focus on developing emotional intelligence, adaptability, and leadership skills. Engage in activities that challenge you to think creatively and build resilience. For example, if you are interested in management, and you have the opportunity to go to any leadership trainings or seminars, go. Make sure you add it to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

• Use the Network you Already Have: Leverage your own leadership for opportunities to learn and expand. Involve them in your ambitions, they could have insight into opportunities for growth that you weren’t aware of. Participate in the happy hours or volunteer opportunities within your organization, and talk to people you don’t know while you are there. Make luck happen for you.

• Expand Your Network: Actively build and maintain professional relationships. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and seek mentorship opportunities to enhance your social capital. I’ve mentioned it before, but networking is a fantastic way to find out other types of non-clinical jobs that are out there. For example, networking is how I found my first non-clinical role. Go back and read about Josh, he found his first role by talking to the sales reps who came to his facility. People frequently get bonuses if they refer someone to a position who then gets hired by their employers; they will usually help you get your resume in front of the right people just for that potential bonus.

• Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay open to acquiring new skills and knowledge. Consider courses or workshops that develop both cognitive and non-cognitive abilities. Take advantage of work-sponsored certifications and advanced degrees.
• Leverage Unique Strengths: Identify and capitalize on your unique skills and expertise. Differentiate yourself by showcasing specialized knowledge that sets you apart. For example, if you are interested in possibly going into informatics, take advantage of opportunities on your unit or work space to become the unit or department super-user of the various programs that you use. Not only will you gain more knowledge on those systems, you will be seen as the expert and will be able to network with the company’s informatics team. Use that connection to find out what certifications, degrees or experience helped them get to where they are. Ask them to keep you in mind if a position becomes open. See if they will introduce you to the manager. Talk to the manager about how you can set yourself up to be hired on that team.

• Create Opportunities for Luck: Increase your exposure to new experiences and ideas. Be open to taking calculated risks and exploring diverse paths to create favorable opportunities. Luck is definitely a little trickier to manifest. Sometimes its just a matter of right-place-right-time. According to this study however, it seems that a little bit of luck can eventually snowball into bigger and better opportunities, so take advantage of that luck when it comes along.

This article definitely has some shortfalls, which the authors acknowledge. First, it only includes men, and only men from Sweden. Women and migrants were not included. People from other countries were not included. It also does not account for effort, or any other non-cognitive factors, such as motivation, social skills, creativity, or physical or mental abilities. It also doesn’t factor in that someone with a high IQ may pursue a career path that just doesn’t have a high pay or a high status.

Remember, your career isn’t just about how smart you are. It’s also about making the most of your connections, seizing opportunities, and continuously learning. So, get out there and make your own luck!

If you are interested in reading the entire paper, its called “The plateauing of cognitive ability among top earners”