Single Americans want their romantic partners to make 6 figures: Study

( NewsNation ) — Many single adults in the U.S. who say income is important in a lasting relationship believe their partners should make at least six figures annually, according to a new study.

The data, part of Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study , found that respondents expect their partners to earn an average of $139,000 per year, with the figures varying widely by gender and age.

How much do Americans expect their partners to make?

Women expected the highest salary from their potential mates at $172,000, while men were satisfied with $101,000.

Millennials ( ages 30 to 45 ) had the highest expectations of any generation, $160,000, followed by Gen Z (ages 18-29) at $135,000, Gen X (ages 46 to 61) at $123,000, and Baby Boomers (ages 62-plus) at $125,000.

“The silver lining for singles who don’t earn six-figure salaries: 59% of singles don’t believe a potential partner’s income is important,” Northwestern Mutual noted.

The lofty financial expectations come as recent reports show young Americans are dating less in 2026, contributing to what industry experts are calling a “dating recession.” Just 31 percent of Americans aged 22 to 35 are actively seeking relationships or going on a date once a month or more, according to the Institute for Family Studies .

Among those who are dating, studies show that some are making up stories about their financial situations to find love. A 2025 Credit One Bank survey of 1,000 Gen Z and millennial adults found that more than half said they’d lied about or exaggerated their finances to someone either online or in person.

NewsNation’s Ashley N. Soriano contributed to this report.