{
  "slug": "wage-garnishment-calculator",
  "title": "Wage Garnishment Calculator",
  "heading": "Wage Garnishment Estimator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/wage-garnishment-calculator",
  "summary": "Estimate the maximum withholding from a paycheck under federal limits.",
  "description": "Federal law limits ordinary consumer garnishment to the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage for the pay period. Disposable earnings means gross pay minus legally required deductions — taxes and mandatory withholding, not voluntary items like retirement contributions or insurance. Many states cap garnishment more tightly, and different rules apply to child support, federal student loans, and tax levies. This calculator applies the federal consumer ceiling as a baseline so you can see the maximum a creditor could take from a single paycheck and what is protected. Estimate only; state law and order type can lower the amount substantially.",
  "formula": "Garnishment = min(25% × Disposable, Disposable − 30 × Minimum Wage × Weeks in Pay Period), floored at zero.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=wage-garnishment-calculator",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "grossPay",
      "label": "Gross pay this period",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2400,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100000
    },
    {
      "id": "taxes",
      "label": "Required deductions (taxes, FICA)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 520,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 100000
    },
    {
      "id": "frequency",
      "label": "Pay frequency",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "biweekly",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "weekly",
          "label": "Weekly"
        },
        {
          "value": "biweekly",
          "label": "Every 2 weeks"
        },
        {
          "value": "semimonthly",
          "label": "Twice a month"
        },
        {
          "value": "monthly",
          "label": "Monthly"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "minWage",
      "label": "Applicable minimum wage",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7.25,
      "unit": "$/hr",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 30
    },
    {
      "id": "statePct",
      "label": "State cap on disposable pay",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 25,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 25
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "garnish",
      "label": "Maximum garnished this paycheck",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "takeHome",
      "label": "Pay you keep",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "disposable",
      "label": "Disposable earnings",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "protectedFloor",
      "label": "Protected minimum (30× min wage)",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "capPct",
      "label": "Percentage cap amount",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Gross pay this period: 2400 $",
      "Required deductions (taxes, FICA): 520 $",
      "Pay frequency: Every 2 weeks",
      "Applicable minimum wage: 7.25 $/hr",
      "State cap on disposable pay: 25 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Maximum garnished this paycheck: $470",
      "Pay you keep: $1,410",
      "Disposable earnings: $1,880",
      "Protected minimum (30× min wage): $435",
      "Percentage cap amount: $470"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter gross pay this period ($).",
      "Enter required deductions (taxes, fica) ($).",
      "Enter pay frequency.",
      "Enter applicable minimum wage ($/hr).",
      "Enter state cap on disposable pay (%).",
      "Read your maximum garnished this paycheck on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "grossPay": 1450,
        "taxes": 310,
        "frequency": "biweekly",
        "minWage": 4.35,
        "statePct": 15
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "grossPay": 2400,
        "taxes": 520,
        "frequency": "biweekly",
        "minWage": 7.25,
        "statePct": 25
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "grossPay": 3850,
        "taxes": 830,
        "frequency": "biweekly",
        "minWage": 11.600000000000001,
        "statePct": 25
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Do 401(k) contributions reduce disposable earnings?",
      "a": "Generally no. Only legally required deductions count; voluntary retirement and insurance contributions usually do not."
    },
    {
      "q": "Are child support limits different?",
      "a": "Yes. Support orders can reach 50–65% of disposable earnings depending on circumstances, well above the consumer-debt ceiling."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can multiple creditors garnish at once?",
      "a": "The federal ceiling generally applies in total for ordinary consumer debts, so a second creditor usually waits in line rather than stacking."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can I stop a garnishment?",
      "a": "Sometimes — through a claim of exemption, a negotiated payment plan, or bankruptcy. Deadlines are short, so get advice quickly."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/collections-settlement-offer-calculator",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/debt-to-income-ratio-calculator"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Wage Garnishment Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/wage-garnishment-calculator)"
}