I’m 47 and my dating age range would be 39 to 60 so it’s not much of a stretch to expect he would earn at least what I do which is below avg income these days 50-55k.
Depends on their age, but Ambition is more important to me than salary. It’s more important to be of the mindset of increasing your earning power, especially if you plan to build a life together
I’m lucky enough to be financially independent, they will need to make enough to support themselves currently and the future. Preferable with some disposable income for the occasional travelling.
Not only do I need my partner not to make less than me I also need them not to make too much more. I wish I could be more open to financial support but I just can’t. Emotional support is easy for me to ask for but I’d get a second job before I accept money from others.
Kind of important. I don’t care about any specific numbers, but I want to be with someone who won’t need me to change my lifestyle to spend time with them.
So, they could make less than me, but I’d want to be compatible with things like going out, taking trips, generally living independently as an adult, etc.
They gotta make enough to support themselves, to save adequately for the future and to go on like a fun little trip or something like that every once in a while. That’s important to me, how much exactly they make not as much.
I’ll be real: I was hoping to find someone who made a good living because I love my teaching job and I also want to spend time with our kids. This works for us because my husband loves that I still work but can have summers with the kids and be freer earlier in the day to pick them up, etc. it’s the best of both worlds for me because I love my job and don’t want to quit, and I don’t want to work 49-50 weeks a year like most jobs. I also really appreciate the lifestyle that his salary affords us.
I have changed my view on this as I’ve gotten older. In my early twenties I didn’t care at all.
Now, I would not date someone who could not contribute meaningfully toward our goals. I make very good money. I am on track for a nice lifestyle, home ownership, etc. I would expect my partner to be able to contribute toward those goals too
It matters a lot to me. I don’t want to be with a bum. Not only does ambition matter to me but execution. I don’t want someone who has ambition but never acts on it or produces results. I worked hard to get where I am and I want to be matched. Just because someone says they’re going to do it, does not mean they will.
I am in the US in a MCOL city and I make 92k. My partner for 3 years made 78k and recently started making 102k.
To me, a man making a good salary is sexy. I don’t want to be the one hustling for our future or building resentment. I may be old school in that way but I am who I am.
As long as they can support themselves, I don’t really care. However, I have dated men in the past who got massively insecure when they realised that my salary was higher than theirs, and felt immaculated by me wanting to treat them. That is something that I am not interested in again.
Extremely important. I would not date someone who could not fully support themselves.
Even more important than salary would be spending/saving habits. If someone makes 6 figures, blows it all on unnecessary things, and has no retirement savings, I’m not interested. If someone is making $50k, lives within their means, and is actively planning for the future, I’m interested.
I think it’s important to me that someone is in a stable career with opportunity for growth. There isn’t a specific number I’m looking for, but I have financial goals for my future household ten years down the line. If I didn’t feel that they were ambitious enough to work with me towards that goal, that would be a big concern. The salary itself doesn’t matter so much as ability to financial plan, work as a team, and set goals.
I’d prefer them to be making around about the same as me. I don’t want to be relied on for anything, I’d like another financially independent partner. (I have one, but if I was dating again this would be important)
He’s made less than me before, and now makes more than me, but in a couple weeks after switching jobs I’ll be making more than him again. Doesn’t matter to me 🙂
My salary is around $120-150k, I do contract work and take time off so depends on how much I want to work in a year. In the past I would say I don’t mind if a guy is in the $70-80k range. Honestly in my experience, dating guys that make significantly less, or tbh close to equal, becomes a whole mental game. I definitely dont always pick the best men, but several guys after asking ME (I never ask) how much I make start acting WEIRD when they compare our salaries!!! I do not have the mental energy to assure you that “ooh you’re so manly you provide so much even not financially”.
So I didn’t care, but due to men’s actions and being in my 30s now I do have to care. I have been hustling to pay off my massive student loans and now I can treat myself to travel. If I want to buy I house and have kids I’m going to be looking for someone that makes similar or more than me.
The amount doesn’t matter to me so much, although enough to maintain a reasonable standard of living for himself is a necessity. But I’d hope to be with someone who has a steady income because mine is not. I make more than enough when I do work that I’m fine when I don’t, but if I’m going to be building a life with someone more stability would be appreciated, even if they make less overall than I do. At the same time, I don’t want to be with someone who will push me to change industries or work full time regular hours. Not sure if such a person exists. But I’m older and fine on my own so if I can’t find that, it’s okay.
Enough to support us both, no exceptions. I’m so over dating men making less than me and I’m fine solo. But if you’re gonna disturb my peace at least pay for it 😭
I make a good salary, own my own house in a HCOL area so I want someone who is at least in the same range as me professionally and in life. Not looking for someone else to take care of, or for someone to take care of me financiallly.
I find it much easier to go 50/50 with someone who makes around the same amount that I do. It’s much easier to be on the same page about cost of living, splurges, and investments when you’re in the same bracket.
I’ve never dated anyone with a much higher income than me, but I’ve dated someone who made half of what I made and it was awful. If I wanted to go on vacation, I had to pay for both of us. I grew resentful and it didn’t last.
That said, I don’t combine finances. I own a home, he pays me rent, and we split the rest.
I would never date someone who is unemployed by choice unless they’re retired or something; basically they must have an income that is independent from mine
I would also never seriously date someone who makes less money than I do; the bar isn’t high since I don’t make a lot, but I can’t afford to support a grown-ass person in addition to myself, or make up the difference it would take to maintain my current lifestyle
Something I’ve had to explain over and over: I’m not attracted to pay checks. I’m attracted to potential and aptitude. Sometimes that means you’re the best at your obscure hobby that doesn’t pay a dime. Sometimes money reflects talent. But it’s the capability, drive and passion that I want in a partner. Not the pay check.
It’s not so much the salary in and of itself as it is the personal characteristics that accompany high-earning men. Intelligence, ambition, respect from his peers, perseverance, pride, leadership skills… these things naturally go with men who move up in their careers.
Comments
I don’t really care as long as they can support themselves, and aren’t looking for me to support them.
Been there, done that!
I’m 47 and my dating age range would be 39 to 60 so it’s not much of a stretch to expect he would earn at least what I do which is below avg income these days 50-55k.
It’s important enough because they need to be able to support themselves and it’s also important if you want to have children.
Depends on their age, but Ambition is more important to me than salary. It’s more important to be of the mindset of increasing your earning power, especially if you plan to build a life together
I’m lucky enough to be financially independent, they will need to make enough to support themselves currently and the future. Preferable with some disposable income for the occasional travelling.
Not only do I need my partner not to make less than me I also need them not to make too much more. I wish I could be more open to financial support but I just can’t. Emotional support is easy for me to ask for but I’d get a second job before I accept money from others.
Not at all.
In this economy? VERY.
Kind of important. I don’t care about any specific numbers, but I want to be with someone who won’t need me to change my lifestyle to spend time with them.
So, they could make less than me, but I’d want to be compatible with things like going out, taking trips, generally living independently as an adult, etc.
They gotta make enough to support themselves, to save adequately for the future and to go on like a fun little trip or something like that every once in a while. That’s important to me, how much exactly they make not as much.
As long as they can pay their own bills, I don’t care. I don’t plan on ever combining finances with someone again.
It’s not the most important thing but I definitely wouldn’t date someone who was broken either.
Important to me. My SO makes more than 2x my salary. This was a serious reason for me to not start a relationship with him at the beginning.
Important enough.
It has to be where they can sustain themselves and back me up if we ever need it.
Financial literacy is extremely important.
I’ll be real: I was hoping to find someone who made a good living because I love my teaching job and I also want to spend time with our kids. This works for us because my husband loves that I still work but can have summers with the kids and be freer earlier in the day to pick them up, etc. it’s the best of both worlds for me because I love my job and don’t want to quit, and I don’t want to work 49-50 weeks a year like most jobs. I also really appreciate the lifestyle that his salary affords us.
Equal to me or greater.
Also well in control of finances.
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I have changed my view on this as I’ve gotten older. In my early twenties I didn’t care at all.
Now, I would not date someone who could not contribute meaningfully toward our goals. I make very good money. I am on track for a nice lifestyle, home ownership, etc. I would expect my partner to be able to contribute toward those goals too
It matters a lot to me. I don’t want to be with a bum. Not only does ambition matter to me but execution. I don’t want someone who has ambition but never acts on it or produces results. I worked hard to get where I am and I want to be matched. Just because someone says they’re going to do it, does not mean they will.
I am in the US in a MCOL city and I make 92k. My partner for 3 years made 78k and recently started making 102k.
To me, a man making a good salary is sexy. I don’t want to be the one hustling for our future or building resentment. I may be old school in that way but I am who I am.
As long as they can support themselves, I don’t really care. However, I have dated men in the past who got massively insecure when they realised that my salary was higher than theirs, and felt immaculated by me wanting to treat them. That is something that I am not interested in again.
Extremely important. I would not date someone who could not fully support themselves.
Even more important than salary would be spending/saving habits. If someone makes 6 figures, blows it all on unnecessary things, and has no retirement savings, I’m not interested. If someone is making $50k, lives within their means, and is actively planning for the future, I’m interested.
Financially independent, for both of us. I don’t care about the number as long as we’re comfortable.
I think it’s important to me that someone is in a stable career with opportunity for growth. There isn’t a specific number I’m looking for, but I have financial goals for my future household ten years down the line. If I didn’t feel that they were ambitious enough to work with me towards that goal, that would be a big concern. The salary itself doesn’t matter so much as ability to financial plan, work as a team, and set goals.
Not incredibly important to me. I would like for them to be able to pay their own bills and not be in a shit ton of debt or be a crazy over-spender.
I’d prefer them to be making around about the same as me. I don’t want to be relied on for anything, I’d like another financially independent partner. (I have one, but if I was dating again this would be important)
He’s made less than me before, and now makes more than me, but in a couple weeks after switching jobs I’ll be making more than him again. Doesn’t matter to me 🙂
My salary is around $120-150k, I do contract work and take time off so depends on how much I want to work in a year. In the past I would say I don’t mind if a guy is in the $70-80k range. Honestly in my experience, dating guys that make significantly less, or tbh close to equal, becomes a whole mental game. I definitely dont always pick the best men, but several guys after asking ME (I never ask) how much I make start acting WEIRD when they compare our salaries!!! I do not have the mental energy to assure you that “ooh you’re so manly you provide so much even not financially”.
So I didn’t care, but due to men’s actions and being in my 30s now I do have to care. I have been hustling to pay off my massive student loans and now I can treat myself to travel. If I want to buy I house and have kids I’m going to be looking for someone that makes similar or more than me.
The amount doesn’t matter to me so much, although enough to maintain a reasonable standard of living for himself is a necessity. But I’d hope to be with someone who has a steady income because mine is not. I make more than enough when I do work that I’m fine when I don’t, but if I’m going to be building a life with someone more stability would be appreciated, even if they make less overall than I do. At the same time, I don’t want to be with someone who will push me to change industries or work full time regular hours. Not sure if such a person exists. But I’m older and fine on my own so if I can’t find that, it’s okay.
Im bigger on financial stability and work-life balance than a number.
I dont want a jobless guy, but I also dont want someone frivolous or uptight about money.
I incorporate spending money into my budget so anyone that demands to sit in front of a tv every week as date night wouldn’t get very far.
I would like to stay at home for at least a few years once we have kids so it is somewhat important
Enough to support us both, no exceptions. I’m so over dating men making less than me and I’m fine solo. But if you’re gonna disturb my peace at least pay for it 😭
The actual number matters less than his stability. My ex made $140k but was still living paycheck to paycheck.
I would only date someone who made ~$90K or above because my city is so expensive. I don’t mind making more than a partner.
I don’t ask. They aren’t paying my bills.
I make a good salary, own my own house in a HCOL area so I want someone who is at least in the same range as me professionally and in life. Not looking for someone else to take care of, or for someone to take care of me financiallly.
It’s not.
I find it much easier to go 50/50 with someone who makes around the same amount that I do. It’s much easier to be on the same page about cost of living, splurges, and investments when you’re in the same bracket.
I’ve never dated anyone with a much higher income than me, but I’ve dated someone who made half of what I made and it was awful. If I wanted to go on vacation, I had to pay for both of us. I grew resentful and it didn’t last.
That said, I don’t combine finances. I own a home, he pays me rent, and we split the rest.
Very, but it requires some explanation:
I would never date someone who is unemployed by choice unless they’re retired or something; basically they must have an income that is independent from mine
I would also never seriously date someone who makes less money than I do; the bar isn’t high since I don’t make a lot, but I can’t afford to support a grown-ass person in addition to myself, or make up the difference it would take to maintain my current lifestyle
Something I’ve had to explain over and over: I’m not attracted to pay checks. I’m attracted to potential and aptitude. Sometimes that means you’re the best at your obscure hobby that doesn’t pay a dime. Sometimes money reflects talent. But it’s the capability, drive and passion that I want in a partner. Not the pay check.
It’s not so much the salary in and of itself as it is the personal characteristics that accompany high-earning men. Intelligence, ambition, respect from his peers, perseverance, pride, leadership skills… these things naturally go with men who move up in their careers.