Data & Methodology
Last updated: April 2026
Federal Baseline
The starting point for all garnishment calculations is the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), Title III, codified at 15 U.S.C. §§ 1671–1677. Federal law sets the maximum garnishment at the lesser of:
- 25% of an employee's disposable earnings per pay period, or
- The amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage per week (currently $7.25/hr × 30 = $217.50/week)
"Disposable earnings" under federal law means the amount remaining after legally required deductions — taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and state unemployment insurance — are withheld. Voluntary deductions (retirement contributions, health insurance premiums) do not reduce the disposable earnings figure.
State-Level Rules
States may enact stronger protections than federal law but cannot reduce protections below the federal floor. For each state, we record:
- Maximum garnishment percentage — the applicable state cap, or 0% where garnishment is banned for consumer debt
- Protection level — classified as None (banned), Strong (≤15%), Moderate (16–24%), or Federal (25%)
- Statute of limitations — the period within which a creditor may successfully sue on a consumer debt claim
- Lawsuit requirement — whether a court judgment is required before garnishment (true for all 50 states for private consumer debt)
- Alternative formula — the precise statutory language or formula where the state deviates from the federal standard
Protection Level Classifications
| Level | Max Rate | States |
|---|---|---|
| None (Banned) | 0% | TX, PA, NC, SC |
| Strong | ≤ 15% | NJ, NY (10%); HI (5%); DE, IL, MA, NE (15%) |
| Moderate | 16–24% | SD, WV, WI (20%) |
| Federal | 25% | All remaining states and D.C. |
Scope and Assumptions
All data on this site applies specifically to:
- Private consumer debt (medical, credit card, personal loan)
- W-2 employment income (wages, salaries)
- Civil court judgments obtained in standard litigation
The following are outside the scope of this tool:
- Federal tax debt (IRS levy rules differ significantly)
- Child support and alimony (federal limits allow up to 50–65% garnishment)
- Federal student loan default (administrative wage garnishment without a court order)
- Bankruptcy proceedings
- Self-employed/contractor income (which may not qualify as "wages" under state law)
Primary Sources
Update Process
State garnishment statutes are reviewed quarterly or when credible reports of legislative changes are identified. Per-state official court links are verified at each review cycle. The "last updated" date reflects the most recent comprehensive review.
If you identify an error or outdated rule, please contact us. We prioritize corrections to legal data.