Maryland · wage garnishment
Maryland wage garnishment: 75% or 30x the state minimum wage.
Maryland exempts from attachment the greater of 75% of disposable wages or 30 times the State minimum hourly wage, multiplied by the weeks in the pay period. At the $15.00 Maryland minimum wage that is $450 a week. Disposable wages below $600 a week are therefore limited by the $450 floor, and above $600 a week by the 75% rule (25% garnishable). Source: Md. Code, Commercial Law 15-601.1, read November 1, 2026.
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The short answer
Maryland exempts from attachment the greater of 75% of disposable wages or 30 times the State minimum hourly wage, multiplied by the weeks in the pay period. At the $15.00 Maryland minimum wage that is $450 a week. Disposable wages below $600 a week are therefore limited by the $450 floor, and above $600 a week by the 75% rule (25% garnishable). Source: Md. Code, Commercial Law 15-601.1, read November 1, 2026.
What the statute says
Section 15-601.1(a) defines "disposable wages" as the part of wages that remains after deducting any amount required to be withheld by law. Subsection (b) says two things are exempt from attachment: (1) the greater of (i) 75 percent of disposable wages due, or (ii) 30 times the State minimum hourly wage in effect when the wages are due, multiplied by the number of weeks during which the wages were earned; and (2) any medical insurance payment deducted from an employee's wages by the employer. Subsection (c) says the amount subject to attachment is calculated per pay period.
The State minimum wage is set in Md. Code, Labor and Employment 3-413(c): $15.00 an hour beginning January 1, 2024, for employers of all sizes. That is why the floor is 30 x $15.00 = $450 a week, more than double the federal $217.50.
Where the two rules cross
Seventy-five percent of disposable wages equals $450 when disposable wages are $600 a week. Below that, the exempt amount is the $450 floor and you keep the first $450 of each week's disposable wages. Above it, 75% is greater, so 25% is exposed, which matches the federal ceiling. The federal 25% / 30 x $7.25 cap still applies, so this page shows the lower of the Maryland and federal amounts.
Worked example
Gross pay $900.00 weekly, required deductions $200.00, weekly disposable $700, above the $600 crossover: disposable earnings $700.00. MD rule allows $175.00, the federal cap allows $175.00, so the most that can be garnished is $175.00 and $525.00 stays in the paycheck.
More examples (same engine as the calculator)
| Case | Pay | Disposable | MD rule | Federal cap | Most garnishable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| weekly disposable $700, above the $600 crossover | $900.00 gross, $200.00 deductions, weekly | $700.00 | $175.00 | $175.00 | $175.00 |
| weekly disposable $550, below the crossover | $700.00 gross, $150.00 deductions, weekly | $550.00 | $100.00 | $137.50 | $100.00 |
| biweekly disposable $1,900 | $2,400.00 gross, $500.00 deductions, every two weeks | $1,900.00 | $475.00 | $475.00 | $475.00 |
| biweekly disposable $1,100, where the $900 two-week floor binds | $1,500.00 gross, $400.00 deductions, every two weeks | $1,100.00 | $200.00 | $275.00 | $200.00 |
How it compares with the federal limit
Federal law (15 USC 1673(a)) caps garnishment for ordinary debts at the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount by which they exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which protects $217.50 a week. A state may protect more, never less. When both apply, the lower amount controls, and the calculator shows both. See the federal wage garnishment limit calculator for support orders and for Texas, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, or the state comparison table.
What this page does not cover
Child support income withholding, tax levies, federal student loans, bankruptcy orders and other exceptions outside 15-601.1. Tax levies, defaulted federal student loans and bankruptcy orders follow their own rules. Court costs, exemptions you must claim yourself, and the procedure for objecting are decided by the court that issued the judgment.
Frequently asked questions
How much can be garnished from my wages in Maryland?
The wages above the greater of 75% of disposable wages or 30 times the State minimum wage per week. At $15.00 that floor is $450 a week (Md. Commercial Law 15-601.1(b)(1)).
What is the Maryland minimum wage used?
$15.00 an hour, set in Md. Code, Labor and Employment 3-413(c)(1)(ii) beginning January 1, 2024.
Is Maryland more protective than the federal rule?
Yes for lower earners. At $7.25 the federal floor is $217.50 a week; Maryland's is $450 a week.
Is health insurance protected?
Section 15-601.1(b)(2) exempts any medical insurance payment the employer deducts from wages.
How is a biweekly check handled?
The amount is calculated per pay period (15-601.1(c)), with the floor multiplied by the number of weeks in which the wages were earned.
Sources
Statute text and agency pages read November 1, 2026. Statutes are amended; check the current version before relying on a figure.
- Md. Code, Commercial Law 15-601.1 (Maryland General Assembly): Disposable wages, the 75% / 30-times-minimum-wage exemption and the pay-period rule.
- Md. Code, Labor and Employment 3-413 (Maryland General Assembly): The $15.00 State minimum wage beginning January 1, 2024.
- 15 USC 1673 (Cornell LII): The federal 25% / 30-times-minimum-wage cap and the support-order percentages.
- 29 CFR 870.10 (Cornell LII): How the weekly formula converts to longer pay periods.
Not legal advice
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. A garnishment order, your facts and later law changes can differ from the formulas shown. Confirm with the court, a legal aid office or a lawyer before you act. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.