Wage Garnishment Calculator

Federal Wage Garnishment Limits (Title III)

Title III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act caps consumer debt garnishment at the LESSER of: (1) 25% of disposable earnings, OR (2) the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 × federal minimum wage per week ($217.50/week at $7.25/hour). Disposable earnings = gross wages minus legally required deductions (federal/state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, unemployment).

Child Support and Alimony Garnishment

Higher limits than consumer debt: 50% of disposable earnings if you're supporting another spouse/child, 60% if not. Additional 5% for arrears over 12 weeks. Child support garnishment takes priority over almost all other garnishments. States may set lower limits — federal is the maximum cap.

IRS Wage Levy (Different Math)

IRS doesn't use the 25% rule. Instead, IRS uses Publication 1494 tables based on filing status, dependents, and pay period. Standard exemption typically leaves you with ~$200-500/week to live on regardless of income — the rest goes to the IRS. Very aggressive. File for installment agreement or Offer in Compromise to release the levy.

State Garnishment Protection Varies

Some states ban or severely limit consumer debt garnishment: Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina — generally prohibit wage garnishment for most consumer debts (still allow child support, taxes, student loans). Other states (CA, NY) follow federal 25% rule. Check your state law — protections can save thousands.

Sources: 15 USC §1671-1677 (Title III CCPA), IRS Publication 1494, state garnishment statutes. Last updated: 30 June 2026.

State-by-State Wage Garnishment Limits — Where You Live Changes the Math

Federal Title III is a ceiling, not a floor — states can (and many do) impose stricter limits or ban consumer-debt garnishment entirely. Per the US Department of Labor state garnishment law summary, here are the four states that broadly prohibit garnishment for most consumer debts (still allow child support, taxes, and federal student loans):

• Texas — Texas Constitution Art. XVI §28 prohibits garnishment of current wages for consumer debt. Only court-ordered child support, spousal maintenance, student loans, and federal taxes can reach Texas wages. The strictest state protection in the US.
• Pennsylvania — 42 Pa. C.S. §8127 prohibits consumer-debt garnishment with narrow exceptions (back rent, divorce judgments, taxes). Pennsylvania is the second-strongest protection state.
• North Carolina — General Statute §1-362 prohibits garnishment of earnings for most debts. NC creditors must rely on bank-account attachment after wages have been deposited (different rules apply).
• South Carolina — Similar to NC: prohibits consumer-debt wage garnishment but allows child support, taxes, and federal student loans via § 15-39-410.

The 46 other states broadly follow federal Title III (25% / 30× minimum-wage formula), but with state-specific tweaks. Examples worth knowing:

• California — 25% federal cap applies, BUT the threshold is 40× state minimum wage (much higher than federal). At California's 2026 state minimum of $16.50/hour, the threshold is $660/week — meaning many CA workers below ~$880/week are fully protected from consumer-debt garnishment even though federal Title III would allow garnishment.
• New York — 10% of gross OR 25% of disposable, whichever is less. The 10%-of-gross cap is more protective for lower earners than the federal formula.
• Massachusetts — exempts the first $750/week of disposable from garnishment (highest weekly exemption in the country except prohibition states).
• Illinois — 15% of gross OR 45× federal minimum wage threshold. Lower percentage cap than federal.

Before signing a settlement or letting a default judgment proceed, check your state's specific statute — many debtors who think they're stuck under the federal 25% formula are actually fully protected under state law. Free state-specific lookup tools and legal-aid resources are listed on the CFPB wage garnishment Q&A page.

Wage Garnishment Calculation Example: $1,000/Week Gross

Worked example for a typical wage-garnishment scenario under federal Title III rules. Default inputs: gross weekly earnings $1,000, required deductions (taxes + FICA) $250, consumer-debt garnishment:

1. Disposable earnings: $1,000 − $250 = $750/week. This is the base for Title III calculations under US DOL Wage Garnishment Title III rules.
2. 25% cap: $750 × 25% = $187.50.
3. 30× federal minimum wage threshold: 30 × $7.25 = $217.50. Excess over threshold = $750 − $217.50 = $532.50.
4. Federal max (LESSER of 25% or excess): min($187.50, $532.50) = $187.50/week. Annual: $9,750/year.
5. If child support (supporting another family): 50% of disposable = $375/week. Annual: $19,500/year.
6. If child support (alone, 12+ weeks arrears): 65% of disposable = $487.50/week. Annual: $25,350/year.
7. If federal student loan: 15% of disposable = $112.50/week. Annual: $5,850/year.

IRS levy comparison: Different rules — IRS Publication 1494 uses filing status + dependents tables to determine a fixed weekly exempt amount. A single filer with 0 dependents in 2026 keeps roughly $251/week ($13,050/year); the rest of the disposable earnings goes to the IRS. That can be 60-70% of disposable for a $1,000/week earner — far more aggressive than the 25% consumer cap. Resolve IRS levies via Installment Agreement (Form 9465) or Offer in Compromise (Form 656) — not via Title III protections.