I am a PW who has had a regular job for years. It started with us mostly needing additional finances to get our kids music lessons, dental visits, orthodontia, etc. I never taught piano or anything, so we just needed to find a way to make ends meet. I’ve been working for 19 years either part-time or full-time.
I have an aunt that has been a PW for nearly 40 years and she has been a nurse for all those years. She now treats cancer patients and finds it a calling just as much as all the church ministry she does.

I’m not a PW but my sister was/is. Her husband is currently a lay pastor while teaching and coaching in high school.
When he was previously a full time pastor (I hate that description shouldn’t we always be pastoring whether in the occupation or as a lay person) the subject of my sister came up. Specifically ini the interview for the position one of the folks on the search committee asked what his wife would bring to the church. The proverbial two for one bonus. The senior pastor stepped in before my brother-in-law could reply and told the gentleman that she would be lovingly supporting her husband, attending the church, and continuing to complete her doctorate.
I think your observation on the cultural shift/differences based on age would be appropriate for this example. Additionally the senior pastor might have some personal experience with similar situations.

I am not a pastor, and I have a husband and not a wife . BUT I am “in full time ministry.” I was once told by an organization that if I were to join them, I would probably need to work for free because my husband is an attorney. Because of his job, the organization wouldn’t be able to justify giving me a salary.

Darby (#3) – I have been through a similar experience …
Would you mind sharing a bit about how this “offer” made you feel?

I am a PW and have been our entire marriage – 33+ years. I have worked at least part-time during most of those years – not for extras – but to just pay the monthly bills. We did make a decision that I would ONLY work as much as I needed to in order to pay the bills (in order to be home more when our children were young).
Whenever a church has asked my husband about what I might bring to the table, he has always answered something along the lines of: Karen will serve as her gifts, time and health allow. But we were usually only asked this back in the 1970′s and early 80′s.