# Most Americans believe hard work should pay off

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/money/most-americans-believe-hard-work-should-pay-off/

> Indexed question in Money & Finance.

## Reading

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

People who work hard should achieve greater success in life.

Most Americans believe hard work should pay off.

Net findings combine adjacent response options from the same scale.

- Somewhat agree: 37.6%
- Strongly agree: 35.1%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 19.8%
- Somewhat disagree: 3.9%
- Strongly disagree: 3.6%

## 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: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- 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

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-60](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-60)

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-60](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-60)