Married men earned 50% more than never-married men—but marriage may not be the cause
The wage gap is real; longitudinal data suggest much of it appears before the wedding.
In 2023, married men working full time had median weekly earnings of $1,421, compared with $945 for never-married men—a 50% gap. Married women earned $1,143 a week, compared with $876 for never-married women, a 30% gap.
