Wage Garnishment Calculator
Estimate the most that can legally be taken from your paycheck for an ordinary consumer judgment debt. Federal law sets a hard ceiling with two tests, and whichever produces the smaller number wins. Four states take wage garnishment off the table entirely.
Four states generally do not allow wage garnishment for ordinary consumer debts. Everywhere else, federal law sets the ceiling and your state may protect more.
Your pay after legally required deductions only: federal, state, and local taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and legally mandated retirement. Health insurance you elected, 401(k) contributions, rent, and other bills do not reduce this number.
Most that can be garnished from this paycheck
$0
Estimate for ordinary consumer judgment debts under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act. Child support, alimony, taxes, student loans, and bankruptcy orders follow different rules with higher limits. Many states protect more than the federal floor; a court order and your state's exemption forms control the real number. General information, not legal advice.
The federal math, in plain terms
The Consumer Credit Protection Act limits garnishment for ordinary debts to the lesser of two amounts: 25 percent of your disposable earnings for the pay period, or the amount by which those earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. At the current $7.25 minimum wage that protected floor works out to:
| Pay period | Nothing garnishable at or below | Full 25% possible at or above |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $217.50 | $290.00 |
| Every two weeks | $435.00 | $580.00 |
| Twice a month | $471.25 | $628.33 |
| Monthly | $942.50 | $1,256.67 |
Between the two columns, only the amount above the protected floor can be taken. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet 30. Figures derive from the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
Disposable earnings is a legal term, not your take-home pay
It means pay left after legally required deductions: taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and legally mandated retirement contributions. Health insurance you chose, voluntary 401(k) contributions, union dues, and your actual bills do not reduce it. That is why the number in the calculator may be higher than what you think of as take-home pay.
What this calculator does not cover
- Child support and alimony: limits run up to 50 to 65 percent under separate CCPA rules.
- Federal taxes and student loans: collected under their own authorities with different limits.
- Bankruptcy court orders: outside the ordinary garnishment caps.
- State formulas that protect more: several states use higher floors or lower percentages than the federal ceiling. State by state pages are coming to this site; until then, treat the federal number as the worst case for consumer debts.
Two protections worth knowing
Federal law prohibits firing an employee because their earnings are garnished for any single debt. And a garnishment for an ordinary debt cannot begin until a creditor sues, wins a judgment, and serves a garnishment order; the paperwork that starts it usually carries a short deadline to claim exemptions your state provides. Our wage garnishment stage guide covers the process end to end, and the collection process decoder maps everything that leads up to it.
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Frequently asked questions
How much of my paycheck can be garnished?
For ordinary consumer judgment debts: the lesser of 25 percent of disposable earnings or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed $217.50. Your state may protect more, and four states generally bar consumer debt garnishment entirely.
What counts as disposable earnings?
Pay after legally required deductions only: taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and legally mandated retirement. Voluntary deductions do not count, so disposable earnings are usually higher than take-home pay.
Which states do not allow wage garnishment for consumer debt?
Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina generally bar it for ordinary consumer debts, with exceptions such as support, taxes, and federal student loans. Pick your state in the calculator to see how this applies.
Can I be fired over a garnishment?
Federal law prohibits discharging an employee because earnings are garnished for any single debt. The protection narrows if separate debts produce multiple garnishments, where state law may add more.
Is this the exact amount that will be garnished?
No. This is the federal ceiling for ordinary consumer debts. The actual amount depends on the court order, your state's rules and exemptions, and other garnishments already in place. It is an estimate, not legal advice.
Facing a garnishment over a debt you cannot pay?
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