MN Garnishment Law

Minnesota Wage Garnishment Calculator

Minnesota provides enhanced wage garnishment protections compared to federal law. The state protects 40 times the Minnesota minimum wage from garnishment. With the state minimum wage at $11.13 per hour, this means $445.20 per week is protected — more than double the federal protection of $217.50 per week.

Minnesota Wage Garnishment Calculator

Enter your income details to estimate the maximum that can legally be taken from your paycheck under Minnesota and federal rules.

Key Minnesota garnishment facts

State abbreviationMN
Consumer debt limit25% of disposable earnings, subject to the 40x minimum wage test
Child support limit50% if supporting another family, 60% otherwise, plus 5% for arrears
Federal student loans15% administrative garnishment cap
State minimum wage$11.13
Minimum wage source used in calculatorMinnesota minimum wage
Head of household protectionNo additional protection listed
Statute referenceMinnesota Statutes §571.922

Additional notes

Minnesota protects 40 times the state minimum wage from garnishment, providing stronger protection than federal law.

Tax levy note: Minnesota Department of Revenue can levy wages for state tax debts.

Key protections and reminders

  • • 40x state minimum wage protected ($445.20/week)
  • • Stronger protection than federal CCPA baseline
  • • Court judgment required for consumer debt garnishment
  • • Exemption claims can be filed within 14 days

Run the numbers: three Minnesota paychecks

These weekly examples assume roughly 25% of gross pay goes to legally required deductions; the calculator above lets you use your own numbers and pay schedule.

Gross weekly payEst. disposableMax consumer-debt garnishment
$800.00$600.00$150.00
$1,200.00$900.00$225.00
$2,000.00$1,500.00$375.00

For the full legal picture — process, exemptions, and how to respond — read the companion guide: Minnesota Wage Garnishment Laws Explained.

Calculator questions, answered

What are “disposable earnings”?

Your pay after legally required deductions — federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions usually do NOT reduce disposable earnings for garnishment purposes. The calculator estimates deductions at 25% of gross; your paystub has the real figure.

How much of my paycheck is completely safe in Minnesota?

Weekly disposable earnings at or below $445.20 (40× the Minnesota minimum wage) cannot be touched for consumer debts, and the percentage cap limits what can be taken above that line.

How accurate is this calculator?

It applies the current Minnesota and federal formulas to the numbers you enter, but it estimates your deductions and cannot know case-specific court orders. Treat the result as a close estimate, and the court order as the final word. Minnesota Department of Revenue can levy wages for state tax debts.

What if I have more than one garnishment?

Federal law caps the combined total, and priority matters: child support first, then tax levies, then other debts. A second creditor generally has to wait if the first already takes the legal maximum.