Average h-index: What’s a Good Score?

This page explains what an average h-index is and what a good score looks like across different fields. You enter an h-index value to see how it compares to typical scores, and you get a percentile ranking and context. The h-index is a widely used metric for measuring the productivity and citation impact of a researcher’s publications.

Formula

The percentile is estimated using a logistic-like function: Percentile ≈ 100 × (1 − 1 / (1 + (h / 12)^2.5)), where h is your h-index. This is a heuristic, not an official formula, but it approximates the observed distribution of h-indices across many scientific fields. The interpretation output simply echoes your input for reference.

Worked Example

Using the default value of h = 15:

1. Compute (15 / 12)^2.5 = (1.25)^2.5 ≈ 1.25^2 * 1.25^0.5 ≈ 1.5625 * 1.1180 ≈ 1.746
2. Add 1: 1 + 1.746 = 2.746
3. Take the reciprocal: 1 / 2.746 ≈ 0.364
4. Subtract from 1: 1 − 0.364 = 0.636
5. Multiply by 100: 63.6%

So an h-index of 15 puts you at roughly the 64th percentile – above the median but not in the top tier.

What Is the h-index?

The h-index was proposed in 2005 by physicist Jorge E. Hirsch as a single number to quantify both productivity and impact. A researcher has an h-index of h if they have published h papers that have each been cited at least h times. For example, an h-index of 20 means 20 papers with at least 20 citations each. It was originally intended for physicists, but it has spread across all disciplines.

What Is the Average h-index?

There is no single “average” h-index because it varies enormously by field, career stage, and database used. In general, for a scientist with a 20-year career, an h-index of 20 is considered good, 40 is outstanding, and 60 is truly exceptional. However, a young researcher might have an h-index of 5 after a few years, which is perfectly normal. In the social sciences and humanities, h-indices tend to be lower because citation cultures differ. In biomedicine, they tend to be higher due to more co-authors and faster publication cycles.

How to Find Your h-index

You can find your h-index in several databases, and they will often give different numbers:

• Google Scholar – Usually the highest because it includes preprints, conference papers, and many more sources. It also updates quickly.
• Scopus – A curated database of peer-reviewed literature; its h-index is typically lower than Google Scholar’s.
• Web of Science – The most selective, so it often gives the lowest h-index.

When comparing h-indices, always note which database was used. A difference of 5–10 points between databases is common.

Field and Career Stage Matter

An h-index that is “average” in one field would be exceptional in another. For example, a physicist with an h-index of 20 is doing well, but a biomedical researcher with the same score might be considered below average for their career stage. The following rough guidelines are often cited (based on general observations, not official standards):

• Biomedical sciences: h = 20 (good), h = 40 (outstanding), h = 60 (exceptional)
• Physics/chemistry: h = 15 (good), h = 30 (outstanding), h = 50 (exceptional)
• Social sciences: h = 10 (good), h = 20 (outstanding), h = 35 (exceptional)
• Early career (0–5 years): h = 3–7 is typical
• Mid-career (10–15 years): h = 10–20 is typical

These are rough numbers, not hard rules. Your field’s citation culture and typical co-author count affect your h-index more than your raw intelligence or effort.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

• Comparing across fields: An h-index of 20 in mathematics is much more impressive than in cell biology. Always compare within your own field.
• Ignoring career stage: A PhD student with h = 5 is on a great track; a full professor with h = 5 would be unusual. The h-index rewards cumulative output, so it increases with age.
• Self-citations: Some researchers inflate their h-index with excessive self-citation. Most databases exclude self-citations in the calculation, but not all.
• Using only one database: As noted, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science give different numbers. Pick one and be consistent when reporting.

Limitations of the h-index

The h-index has several known weaknesses. It does not account for the number of authors on a paper – a paper with 100 authors counts the same as a solo paper. It also gives no credit for a few extremely highly cited papers; a researcher with one paper cited 1,000 times and nothing else has an h-index of 1. It is also field-dependent and can be gamed by strategic self-citation. Many funding agencies and hiring committees now use the h-index alongside other metrics, not as a standalone measure.

Alternatives to the h-index

If you want a more nuanced picture, consider these alternatives:

• i10-index: The number of papers with at least 10 citations. Simple and used by Google Scholar.
• Field-Weighted Citation Impact: Normalizes citations by field and year, making cross-field comparison fairer.
• h-core citations: The total number of citations to the papers in your h-core. Rewards highly cited papers.
• Altmetrics: Measures attention from social media, news, and policy documents – useful for societal impact.

None is perfect. The best approach is to look at several metrics together, along with your actual publication list and the quality of the venues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good h-index for a PhD student?

For a PhD student, an h-index of 2–5 is already good, and 5–10 is exceptional. Many PhD students have an h-index of 0 or 1 because they haven’t published much yet. Focus on publishing solid papers; the h-index will follow.

What is the highest h-index ever recorded?

The highest h-indices are in the hundreds, but they are extremely rare. For example, some of the most cited scientists in biomedicine have h-indices over 200. These are once-in-a-generation figures.

Can my h-index go down?

No, your h-index can only stay the same or increase. Once you have h papers with h citations, that number never decreases. It can only go up as your papers gain more citations.

Does the h-index include self-citations?

It depends on the database. Google Scholar includes self-citations by default. Scopus and Web of Science allow you to exclude them. When reporting your h-index, specify whether self-citations are included.

What is the average h-index for a professor?

There is no universal average, but a common rule of thumb is that a full professor in the sciences has an h-index of 15–30, depending on the field. In the humanities, it might be 5–10. Again, field matters more than the raw number.

How long does it take to get an h-index of 10?

For a typical researcher in the sciences, reaching h = 10 usually takes 5–10 years after the first publication. It depends on your field, publication rate, and how often your work is cited. In fast-moving fields with many co-authors, it can be faster.

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in h | Your h-index | - | 15 | 0
out percentile | Percentile (approx.) | % | 100 * (1 - 1 / (1 + (h / 12)^2.5)) | 1
out interpretation | Typical interpretation | - | h | 0