Single Americans who consider earnings important in a relationship say their ideal partner would make an average of $139,000 (£105,000) a year, according to a new survey by Northwestern Mutual.
The figure is well above typical pay levels in the United States, highlighting the financial expectations facing people looking for a long-term partner during a period of high living costs and delayed milestones.
Millennials recorded the highest expectations, naming an annual income of $160,000 as ideal. Gen Z respondents put the figure at $135,000, while Gen X selected $123,000 and Baby Boomers $125,000.
The research was conducted by The Harris Poll for Northwestern Mutual among 4,375 US adults aged 18 and over. The survey was carried out online between 5 and 21 January 2026.
Expectations also differed sharply by gender. Women who said a partner’s income mattered put the ideal salary at $172,000, compared with $101,000 among men.
The gap comes as men continue to earn more than women on average. US Bureau of Labor Statistics data for the second quarter of 2026 showed median weekly earnings of $1,380 for men in full-time wage and salaried work, compared with $1,131 for women.
Among workers aged 25 and over, the median was $1,459 a week for men and $1,171 for women. The figures equate to annual earnings of roughly $75,900 and $60,900 respectively, before tax, if maintained throughout the year.
That places the $139,000 ideal partner income substantially ahead of the earnings of most American workers. Median weekly earnings were $1,436 for those aged 35 to 44 and $1,421 for those aged 45 to 54, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
However, income is not a priority for everyone. Fifty-nine per cent of single respondents said a potential partner’s earnings were not important to them.
Financial compatibility becomes part of the dating conversation
The survey also found that money is being discussed earlier in relationships, particularly by younger adults. Ten per cent of Gen Z respondents and 11 per cent of Millennials said they had spoken about finances during the first days or weeks of a relationship, compared with 6 per cent of both Gen X and Baby Boomers.
The most common point for a financial discussion was after a relationship had become serious but before a couple moved in together or married. Younger respondents were less likely than older generations to wait until after cohabitation or marriage before having the conversation.
Financial pressure is also affecting major life decisions. Nearly a third of Gen Z respondents and almost a quarter of Millennials said money problems were an obstacle to buying a home, while 24 per cent of Gen Z and 14 per cent of Millennials said financial concerns could delay or rule out having children.
Northwestern Mutual’s wider findings suggest that financial compatibility is increasingly viewed as central to the prospects of a long-term relationship, as Americans weigh not only romance but also housing costs, debt and the affordability of family life.
