I think you’re either overestimating an untrained person’s earning potential, underestimating the cost of living, not taking into account that he may want to spend his time learning and be unable to earn much, not taking into account that either or both of them may be in school and unable to earn much, or some combination of the above.
Each of these points should be dealt with individually:
overestimating an untrained person’s earning potential
20K (plus ETC and tax breaks) each if totally unskilled. That being said, wouldn’t it behoove someone who wants to get married to prepare by expanding their earning potential?
underestimating the cost of living
$500-$1000 for a basement, and they can eat pasta (when there is love in the heart, there is warmth in the home).
not taking into account that he may want to spend his time learning and be unable to earn much
So if learning means marrying for money, count Chazal out of that religion. As Chazal said “ika koormi b’agma”. So the guy will have to live without Allen Edmonds shoes and Hugo Boss suits.
Furthermore, if they agree for the male to learn, let them be Moser Nefesh for learning. Live in the basement with 7 children (as I know people who do) and live off of hand-me-downs, the government, and other people’s tuition payments. Or they can just have Bitachon in Hashem that they will learn as long as they can and if they do their part, Hashem will do His.
not taking into account that either or both of them may be in school and unable to earn much
They can take out additional school loans if needed, or get a side job. They can work their way through school, as was popular before student loans.
End story, none of these require the shver to bankroll the couple or to give up on one’s Bashert just because the shver is not supporting.