United States · payroll
Wage garnishment limits by state.
Enter your gross pay, the deductions the law requires and how often you are paid. See the most a creditor can take under the federal cap, and whether Texas, Pennsylvania or South Carolina blocks it outright.
General information, not legal advice
This applies the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act and three state statutes to your numbers. It does not cover tax levies, federal student loans, bankruptcy or other states' rules. Nothing you enter leaves your browser and nothing is stored.
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How it works
Step 1. Disposable earnings = gross pay minus legally required deductions. Step 2. For consumer and other private debts, the garnishable amount is the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or disposable earnings minus 30 x $7.25 x the number of workweeks in your pay period. That protected amount is $217.50 weekly, $435.00 biweekly, $471.25 semimonthly and $942.50 monthly; a month counts as 4 1/3 workweeks. Step 3. For support orders the cap is 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, plus 5 points for support more than 12 weeks old. Step 4. If your state is listed and its statute bars garnishment for that debt, the limit shows as $0.
| State | Rule applied |
|---|---|
| Texas | Current wages exempt from seizure; only court-ordered child support excepted in Prop. Code 42.001(b)(1) |
| Pennsylvania | Wages exempt, with exceptions for support, divorce proceedings, board of 4 weeks or less and residential landlord judgments (10% of net wages) |
| South Carolina | No garnishment of earnings for consumer credit sale, lease, loan or rental-purchase debts |
Not modeled: every other state's limits (several restrict garnishment further; confirm yours), tax levies, federal student loans, bankruptcy orders, the Pennsylvania landlord exception amount, and local court procedures. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 has been in effect since July 24, 2009; if it changes the protected amounts change with it.
Sources (checked October 2026).
- Federal: 15 USC 1673
- Pay periods: 29 CFR 870.10
- Summary: DOL Fact Sheet #30
- Texas: Prop. Code 42.001
- Pennsylvania: 42 Pa.C.S. 8127
- South Carolina: S.C. Code 37-5-104
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal limit on wage garnishment?
For ordinary debts such as credit cards and personal loans, federal law (15 USC 1673) caps garnishment at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. At $7.25 an hour that protected amount is $217.50 a week.
What counts as disposable earnings?
Disposable earnings are gross pay minus amounts the law requires to be withheld, such as federal, state and local income tax and Social Security and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like health insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions or union dues are not subtracted. Enter only the legally required withholdings in the deductions box.
How much can be taken for child support or alimony?
Up to 50% of disposable earnings if you support another spouse or dependent child, or 60% if you do not. Those rise to 55% and 65% if the order covers a period more than 12 weeks old. Some states set lower limits, so check your order.
Which states do not allow wage garnishment for private debts?
Texas exempts current wages from seizure except for court-ordered child support (Tex. Prop. Code 42.001(b)(1)). Pennsylvania exempts wages with listed exceptions such as support and certain landlord judgments (42 Pa.C.S. 8127). South Carolina bars garnishment for consumer credit debts (S.C. Code 37-5-104). Some other states also restrict it; this tool does not model them, so check your state's statute.
Can my wages be garnished for taxes or student loans?
Yes. Federal tax levies, defaulted federal student loans and bankruptcy orders follow their own rules and are not subject to the 25% cap. This calculator covers ordinary consumer debt judgments and support orders only.
Does the limit change if I am paid every two weeks or monthly?
The protected amount scales with the pay period: $435 biweekly, $471.25 semimonthly and $942.50 monthly at the current $7.25 federal minimum wage (29 CFR 870.10). The 25% share applies to the whole period's disposable pay.