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

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.

These expectations perhaps reflect the arc of individual earning expectations. Data from the St. Louis Fed, analyzed by Investopedia, shows the median annual earnings ...