How Much Can Be Garnished From My Paycheck?

Understanding how much of your paycheck can be garnished is essential for financial planning when you are facing a garnishment order. The answer depends on three key factors: federal law, your state's specific protections, and the type of debt being collected. This guide breaks down each factor so you know exactly what to expect.

Federal Garnishment Limits (CCPA Baseline)

The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) sets the federal baseline that applies in all 50 states. For ordinary consumer debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans), the maximum garnishment is the lesser of:

• 25% of your disposable earnings, OR
• The amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25  30 = $217.50 per week)

The key word here is "disposable earnings" 2 this means your gross pay minus legally required deductions like federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and union dues are generally not subtracted.

Garnishment Limits by Debt Type

Different types of debt have different garnishment limits under federal law:

Consumer Debt (Credit Cards, Medical Bills, Personal Loans)

Maximum: 25% of disposable earnings or amount exceeding 30 minimum wage, whichever is less. This is the most common type of garnishment and the one where state protections vary the most. Use our wage garnishment calculator or a California Wage Garnishment Calculator, Texas Wage Garnishment Calculator, or New York Wage Garnishment Calculator to see your state's specific limits.

Child Support and Alimony

Child support garnishment can take significantly more than consumer debt:

• 50% of disposable earnings if you are currently supporting another spouse or child
• 60% of disposable earnings if you are not supporting another spouse or child
• An additional 5% if you are more than 12 weeks behind on payments

This means child support garnishment can reach up to 65% of your disposable earnings in the worst case. For a detailed breakdown by state, see our child support garnishment guide and also check out related insights in How to Stop Wage Garnishment in Florida.

Federal Student Loans

The Department of Education can garnish up to 15% of your disposable earnings for defaulted federal student loans through administrative wage garnishment. Unlike other debts, this does not require a court judgment 2 the Department of Education can initiate garnishment after providing notice and an opportunity to object.

Federal Tax Levies (IRS)

IRS tax levies use their own formula based on your filing status and number of dependents. The IRS determines the exempt amount using Publication 1494, which is updated annually. The exempt amount is roughly equivalent to the standard deduction plus personal exemptions divided by the number of pay periods. Everything above that amount can be levied.

State-by-State Variations

Many states provide stronger protections than the federal baseline. Here are the key categories:

States That Prohibit Consumer Debt Garnishment

Four states completely prohibit wage garnishment for consumer debts:

• Texas 2 Constitutional prohibition
• Pennsylvania 2 Complete exemption for consumer debts
• North Carolina 2 Generally prohibits consumer garnishment
• South Carolina 2 Complete exemption for consumer debts

States with Lower Limits

Several states cap garnishment below the federal 25%:

• New Jersey 2 10% for lower-income earners
• New York 2 10% of gross or 25% of disposable, whichever is less
• Illinois 2 15% of gross income
• Massachusetts 2 15% of gross income

States with Higher Minimum Wage Protection

Some states protect more than the federal 30 minimum wage threshold. States like California, Colorado, and Connecticut use 40 their state minimum wage, which can be significantly higher than the federal threshold. This means more of your income is protected before any garnishment can occur.

Real-World Examples

Consider someone earning $1,000 per week in gross income with approximately $750 in disposable earnings:

• Federal baseline: Lesser of $187.50 (25% of $750) or $532.50 ($750 - $217.50) = $187.50 garnished
• In Illinois: 15% of $1,000 gross = $150 garnished
• In Texas: $0 garnished (consumer debt garnishment prohibited)
• In New York: Lesser of $100 (10% of gross) or $187.50 = $100 garnished

The difference between states can be hundreds of dollars per paycheck. Use our state comparison tool to see how your state compares, or try our free calculator for your exact situation. For more details on your state, browse our complete state directory.

Can Multiple Creditors Garnish at the Same Time?

Generally, only one consumer debt garnishment can be active at a time. The total garnishment cannot exceed the federal or state maximum. However, child support garnishment takes priority and is calculated separately. If you have both a child support garnishment and a consumer debt garnishment, the child support is satisfied first, and the consumer debt garnishment only applies to any remaining amount within the legal limits.

Browse our complete state directory to find your state's specific garnishment rules and protections.