Wage garnishment calculator

If a creditor has a judgment against you, federal law limits how much of your paycheck they can take — and several states block it entirely for ordinary consumer debt. Estimate your number below. Everything runs in your browser; we never see or store what you enter.

How the federal limit works

For an ordinary consumer-debt judgment, federal law (the Consumer Credit Protection Act) caps garnishment at the lesser of two numbers: 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30× the federal minimum wage ($7.25 × 30 = $217.50 a week). "Disposable" means what's left after legally required deductions like taxes — not after rent or car payments. If you earn at or below that floor, a creditor generally can't garnish ordinary consumer debt at all.

States that protect more

The federal cap is a ceiling, not a floor — your state can protect you further, and several do. Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Hampshire effectively prohibit wage garnishment for ordinary consumer debt. Others, like Delaware (15%), cap below the federal 25%. Select your state in the calculator, then open your state's page for the exact rule and exemptions.

When the limits are higher

These figures are for ordinary consumer debt. Child support and alimony can reach 50–65% of disposable earnings, federal student loans up to 15% (administrative garnishment, no court needed), and unpaid taxes follow their own IRS/state formulas. If the debt being collected is one of these, expect a higher number than the calculator shows.

Frequently asked questions

Can a creditor garnish my wages without going to court first?

For ordinary consumer debt, generally no — a creditor must sue you and win a money judgment before it can garnish your paycheck. Two big exceptions skip the courtroom: federal student loans (administrative wage garnishment) and unpaid federal taxes (an IRS levy) can take part of your pay without a lawsuit.

Can more than one creditor garnish me at the same time?

For ordinary consumer debt, federal law caps the total taken at 25% of disposable earnings no matter how many judgments exist, so creditors generally share that ceiling rather than stacking on top of each other. Child support, alimony, and tax garnishments sit outside that cap and can be added on top.

Can they take money from my bank account too?

That is a separate process called a bank levy, not wage garnishment, and this calculator only estimates paycheck garnishment. A levy can freeze funds already sitting in your account — but federal benefits like Social Security, SSI, and VA payments are protected even after they land there.

Will quitting or changing jobs stop a garnishment?

Only briefly. A garnishment order is served on a specific employer, so starting a new job can pause it — but the creditor can locate your new employer and serve a fresh order, and the underlying judgment does not go away on its own.

Can I be fired because of a wage garnishment?

Federal law (CCPA Title III) bars an employer from firing you over a garnishment for a single debt. That protection does not extend to a second garnishment for a separate debt, so it is not absolute — check your state, which may protect you further.