Purpose This paper aims to examine whether work-related emotional intelligence (W-EI) benefits job performance among knowledge-intensive workers. Design/methodology/approach Postdoctoral researchers (Study 1) and industry researchers (Study 2) were recruited (total N = 304). These knowledge workers completed an ability-based emotional intelligence (EI) test and characterized their work-related performance. Potential moderators were also assessed. Findings There were positive relations between W-EI scores and both task performance and creative performance. In addition, these relationships were stronger in the context of higher levels of job negative affect and/or role overload. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, these findings are among the first to demonstrate the value of the EI construct within a knowledge-intensive workforce.