Most Americans believe hard work should pay off
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from September 25 to 30, 2026. Most Americans (72.7%) agree that people who work hard should achieve greater success in life. Just 7.5% disagree.
Strong agreement accounts for 35.1%, and 19.8% neither agree nor disagree. The statement says what should happen, not what does.
Topline scale
Most Americans believe hard work should pay off.
People who work hard should achieve greater success in life.
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.3%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 25–30, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.3% |
| Module | Society, Culture, & Identity |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
People who work hard should achieve greater success in life.
Cite this question
APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.