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

A recent survey conducted by insurance company Northwestern Mutual reveals that single Americans, particularly Millennials, have high expectations for their potential partners' income. Millennials, aged 30 to 45, set an ideal earning target of $160,000 per year for a partner, while Gen Z, aged 14 to 29, considered $135,000 as their ideal sum.

Older generations, such as Gen X (41 to 64 years old) and Boomers (65 and up), had slightly lower expectations, with $123,000 and $125,000 respectively. These expectations may reflect the earning potential of individuals as they age, but the gap between "ideal" income and actual earning is still significant. Men in the survey preferred partners earning $101,000, while women desired partners earning $172,000.

The gender pay gap is believed to contribute to these differences. Interestingly, 59% of singles surveyed do not consider a potential partner's income to be important. The study also found that younger people are more likely to discuss finances with their partners early on in the relationship, and financial challenges are a significant barrier to milestones like buying a house or having children for younger generations.