In the U.S. today, about 25–30% of households have no current wage or salary earner, around 35–40% have one income earner, about 25–30% have two earners, and only 5–7% have more than two earners.
✅ Summary
- No earners: ~25–30%
- One earner: ~35–40%
- Two earners: ~25–30%
- More than two earners: ~5–7%
Stated another way, 55%-70% of US households have zero or one income in 2025.
⚖️ Historical Context
- 1960s–1970s: One‑earner households (often male breadwinner) dominated, with women’s labor force participation rising steadily.
- 1980s–2000s: Two‑earner households became increasingly common, reflecting cultural change and economics.
- 2020s–2025: Rising housing costs, caregiving needs, and delayed household formation mean more households with no earners (retirees students) and fewer with multiple earners. In the 1980s to the 2000s, the median age of the US was about 28-30; As of 2025, the median age in the U.S. is almost 40, reflecting the large baby boom cohort – now retired without labor income.
DETAILS
- No current wage/salary earner (≈25–30%)
- Includes retirees, households living on pensions, Social Security, investments, or other non‑labor income. Also includes households where members are unemployed, disabled, or students.
- Roughly 1 in 4 households fall into this category.
- One income earner (≈35–40%)
- The largest group.
- Often single‑adult households or families where one partner works while the other manages caregiving or other responsibilities.
- Reflects both lifestyle choice and economic necessity.
- Two income earners (≈25–30%)
- Common among married or partnered households.
- Dual‑earner families became a norm in the late 20th century, but housing costs and childcare expenses continue to drive this pattern.
- More than two earners (≈5–7%)
- Found in multi‑generational households or shared living arrangements.
- Includes adult children living with parents, or extended families pooling resources.
- Still relatively rare compared to one‑ or two‑earner households.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau – Current Population Survey, Income Tables; DQYDJ – Household Income Percentiles; Global Statistics – Average Family Income in U.S..
