Married Men Work Harder And Make More Money Than Their Single Peers

Married men work harder and earn more money than single men who are just as qualified.

This was the conclusion of recent research conducted by W. Bradford Wilcox, who directs the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, and Robert Lerman, who teaches economics at American University.

According to the Washington Post, the two found that married men work around 400 hours more a year than single men who have the same educational achievements and come from similar economic classes.

Married men aged 28-30 also make $15,900 more than single men of the same ages while married men between 44 and 46 years old make $18,800 more than similarly aged single men.

Easily the most incredible finding, however, was that married men made more money than equally qualified single men even if they lack higher education.

When it comes to two men with just a high school diploma or less, the married man made at least $17,000 more a year.

Wilcox and Lerman outlined four reasons married men are more motivated to work and are viewed in a more favorable light by employers.

The first supports sociologist Steven Nock's saying that marriage is a "rite of passage into manhood."

Marriage transforms men into much more responsible and prideful people who see themselves as far more important than in their single days.

Next is the effect marriage has on the desire for a higher income.

Not only do married men seek more money to support their wives and/or children, but their new identity also influences them to make better choices to increase their chances of promotions or raises.

Then there's the undeniable fact that people work harder when others' well-being depends on their success.

The wives of married men also provide valuable tips for getting ahead at work and their husbands strive to make them happy in exchange for their love and support.

Lastly, married men are traditionally perceived as stable, loyal and more willing to take on heavier workloads.

This stereotype works to their advantage because employers have previously been proven to be more likely to promote married men with children.

Married men additionally need money more than single men and can typically identify with their employers on a higher level.

Citations: Why married men work harder smarter and make more money (The Washington Post)