Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Fortune
Fortune
Eleanor Pringle

Single Americans want potential partners earning at least six figures, according to new study. Millennials set the ‘ideal’ bar at $160,000

Couple on a date (Credit: Tom Werner—Getty Images)

They say you can’t put a price on love—but in today’s economy, it might be common sense.

Single U.S. adults were asked in a new survey how much they ideally would like potential partners to earn—and were given the caveat that the expectations had to be “realistic.” Respondents who said the income of a would-be partner is important to them on average noted $139,000 per year was an acceptable salary.

According to the study from insurance giant Northwestern Mutual, millennials (ages 30 to 45) had the highest income expectations for a potential attachment, at $160,000. Meanwhile, Gen Zers (currently between ages 14 and 29)—who are earlier in their careers—said $135,000 was an ideal sum. The survey spoke to those age 18 and up.

Older generations had slightly lower expectations: Gen X (41 to 64 years old) said $123,000 a year is ideal, while boomers (65 and up) said $125,000 was a healthy salary.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.