Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws by State
The most-searched fact when your paycheck is on the line: how much a creditor can take, and the pay the law protects. For every state, with the exemption and the exact statute.
All 50 states covered. Each limit is checked against the statute and dated. Federal law caps ordinary garnishment nationwide; a state can only protect you more.Reviewed by Cholilurrohman · latest state review July 2026
Read this first: the number is a ceiling, and some states go further
Federal law sets the nationwide ceiling for an ordinary consumer debt: a creditor may take the lesser of 25% of your disposable earnings or the amount by which your weekly pay tops 30× the federal minimum wage ($217.50). No state can let a creditor take more than that. Many states simply follow the federal limit (17 here), and a handful protect you further with a lower cap or a larger exemption (28 here).
The pattern breaks entirely in a few states. Texas, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina bar garnishing wages for ordinary consumer debt at all (5 of the states here), but that does not mean a paycheck is untouchable, because child support, taxes, and defaulted federal student loans can still reach it. Each page shows which rule your state follows, and what you can do right now if a garnishment has already started.
Want the limit on your own paycheck? The wage garnishment calculator runs your state's formula and the federal ceiling on the pay you enter and shows which one governs.
Type a state to jump straight to its full wage garnishment guide.
Every state in one table
The cap on ordinary consumer debt, the pay that is fully protected, and the statute. Grouped by how far the state goes beyond the federal rule.
No garnishment for consumer debt (5)
Support orders, taxes, and federal student loans can still reach a paycheck.
| State | Max on consumer debt | Pay that is fully protected | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | None | Wages you earn after the garnishment writ is served on your employer are fully exempt, so a creditor cannot reach future paychecks. For the narrow pre-service snapshot the law allows on a judgment, wages up to 50 times the federal minimum wage per week ($362.50 at $7.25) are also exempt. | RSA 512:21 |
| North Carolina | None | Wages you earn for your own work are protected outright from ordinary consumer creditors. Pay you earned in the 60 days before a collection order is fully exempt when those earnings are needed to support your family. | N.C. Gen. Stat. §1-362 |
| Pennsylvania | None | Ordinary wages, salaries, and commissions are protected outright while they are in your employer’s hands. There is no percentage a consumer-debt creditor may take. | 42 Pa.C.S. § 8127 |
| South Carolina | None | Your unpaid earnings for personal services cannot be garnished by an ordinary creditor. There is no percentage taken, because the statute bars the garnishment itself rather than capping it. | S.C. Code §37-5-104; S.C. Code §15-39-410 |
| Texas | None | Current wages for personal services are fully protected from ordinary creditors while your employer holds them, so no part of your paycheck can be garnished for consumer debt. | Tex. Const. art. XVI, §28; Tex. Prop. Code §42.001(b) |
More protective than the federal rule (28)
| State | Max on consumer debt | Pay that is fully protected | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 25% | For weekly, biweekly, or monthly earners, Alaska exempts the greater of 75% of weekly disposable earnings or a fixed weekly amount set by Department of Labor regulation (about $473 a week). If your earnings alone support your household, you can raise the fixed floor to roughly $743 a week by filing an affidavit. The federal rule (the amount above $217.50 a week) still backstops this, but Alaska's dollar floor is far more protective. | AS 09.38.030; AS 09.38.050 |
| Arizona | 10% | Weekly disposable pay up to 60 times the highest applicable minimum hourly wage is fully protected. At the 2026 Arizona minimum wage of $15.15 an hour that is $909 a week. Where a higher city minimum wage applies, such as Flagstaff or Tucson, that higher rate is used, so the protected amount is larger. | A.R.S. §33-1131 (as amended by Proposition 209); A.R.S. §12-1598.10 |
| California | 20% | Weekly disposable pay up to 48 times the minimum hourly wage is fully protected. At the 2026 California state minimum wage of $16.90 an hour that is $811.20 a week. Where you work under a higher local city or county minimum wage, that higher rate is used, so the protected amount is larger. | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §706.050 |
| Colorado | 20% | Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the higher of the Colorado or federal minimum wage is fully protected. Because the Colorado minimum wage is well above the federal $7.25, that floor is far larger than the federal $217.50, which uses only 30 times the federal minimum wage. | C.R.S. §13-54-104 |
| Connecticut | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the higher of the federal minimum wage ($7.25) or the Connecticut minimum wage is fully protected. Because Connecticut's minimum wage is well above the federal floor, that protected amount is far larger than the federal $217.50 (which uses only 30 times the federal minimum wage). | Conn. Gen. Stat. §52-361a(f) |
| Delaware | 15% | Eighty-five percent of your wages for labor or service is exempt outright under 10 Del. C. §4913, so at least 85% of every paycheck is protected. The federal rule (the lesser of 25% or the amount above $217.50 a week) still backstops this, but Delaware's flat 15% cap is more protective for most workers. | 10 Del. C. §4913 |
| Florida | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is protected for everyone. If you qualify as head of family, all disposable pay up to $750 a week is fully protected instead. | Fla. Stat. §222.11 |
| Hawaii | Up to 25% | Hawaii applies whichever leaves you more: its monthly sliding scale (5% of the first $100, 10% of the next $100, 20% above $200) or the federal rule (the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week). For lower monthly incomes the state formula protects a much larger share of pay than the federal 25% cap. | Haw. Rev. Stat. §652-1 |
| Illinois | 15% | Weekly disposable pay up to $675 (45 times the $15 Illinois minimum wage) is fully protected in 2026. Because Illinois uses whichever of the state or federal minimum wage is greater, the state figure drives the floor, and only pay above that line can be reached, subject to the 15% cap. | 735 ILCS 5/12-803 |
| Iowa | 25% weekly, capped per year | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, which Iowa Code §642.21 adopts. On top of that weekly floor, an annual dollar cap limits what each creditor can take across the whole year. | Iowa Code §642.21 |
| Maine | 25%, with a high wage floor | Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the higher of the state or federal minimum wage is fully protected. With Maine’s 2026 state minimum wage of $15.10, that floor is about $604 a week, far above the $217.50 federal floor. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above that floor. | 9-A M.R.S. §5-105 |
| Maryland | 25%with a higher protected floor | Statewide, the greater of 75% of your disposable wages or 30 times the Maryland state minimum hourly wage is exempt, so a creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above that floor. At Maryland’s $15.00 minimum wage, 30 times the wage is $450 a week. | Md. Code, Com. Law §15-601.1 |
| Massachusetts | $750/week protected | Weekly gross pay up to 50 times the greater of the federal or Massachusetts minimum wage is fully protected. With the Massachusetts minimum wage at $15.00 an hour, that floor is $750 a week (50 x $15.00). Only wages above $750 a week can be reached, and the federal $217.50 floor never comes into play here because the state floor is much higher. | M.G.L. c. 246, s. 28 |
| Minnesota | Up to 25%10–15% for lower earners | Weekly disposable pay up to the greater of 40 times the Minnesota minimum wage or 40 times the federal minimum wage is fully protected. With the 2026 Minnesota minimum wage at $11.41, that floor is $456.40 a week, well above the federal 30x floor of $217.50. | Minn. Stat. §571.922 (with §571.912 exemption) |
| Missouri | 25%10% head of family | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected for everyone. A creditor can reach only the lesser of the applicable percentage cap or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Mo. Rev. Stat. §525.030 |
| Nebraska | 25%15% head of family | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected for everyone. A creditor can reach only the lesser of the applicable percentage cap or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Neb. Rev. Stat. §25-1558 |
| Nevada | Up to 25%18% if weekly pay ≤$770 | Weekly disposable pay up to $362.50 (50 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected, which is a higher floor than the federal 30x standard. A creditor can reach only the lesser of the applicable percentage cap or the amount above $362.50 a week. | Nev. Rev. Stat. §31.295 |
| New Jersey | 10% | The federal floor still protects weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage), and New Jersey adds its own protection: $48 a week of pay is always exempt from wage execution no matter what you earn. | N.J.S.A. 2A:17-50, 2A:17-56 |
| New Mexico | 25% | The exempt amount is the greater of 75% of your disposable earnings or 40 times the highest applicable minimum hourly wage for the week. Because New Mexico uses 40 times the highest of the federal, state, or local minimum wage, that floor is usually well above the federal $217.50. | N.M.S.A. §35-12-7 |
| New York | 10% | Nothing can be taken in any week your disposable earnings are below 30 times the higher of the federal or the New York minimum wage. In 2026 the New York minimum wage is $17.00 an hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 an hour in the rest of the state, so that protected floor is roughly $510 or $480 of weekly disposable pay depending on where you work. | N.Y. C.P.L.R. §5231 (income execution); §5205(d) |
| North Dakota | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $290 (40 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected, a larger floor than the federal $217.50. On top of that, the garnishable amount is reduced by $20 a week for each dependent family member living with you. | N.D.C.C. §32-09.1-03 |
| Oregon | 25% | The exempt amount is the greater of 75% of your disposable earnings or $400 a week (for wages payable on or after July 1, 2026, and before July 1, 2027). Whichever leaves you more is protected, so low earners keep more than the 75% figure alone would give. | ORS 18.385 |
| South Dakota | 20% | Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the minimum wage is fully protected, and South Dakota uses the federal rate ($7.25) or the state rate if it is higher. That is about $290 a week at the $7.25 rate, well above the roughly $217.50 the federal 30-times rule would protect, and the floor rises by $25 a week for every dependent who lives with you. | S.D. Codified Laws §21-18-51 |
| Vermont | 15% | For consumer debt, the greater of 85% of your weekly disposable earnings or 40 times the federal minimum wage ($290 a week at $7.25) is fully exempt, so a creditor can reach at most 15% of disposable pay and never dips below that 40-times floor. For non-consumer debt, the exemption is 75% or 30 times the federal minimum wage instead. | 12 V.S.A. §3170(b) |
| Virginia | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to 40 times the minimum wage is fully protected, and Virginia uses the greater of the federal rate ($7.25) or the Virginia rate ($12.77 in 2026). That puts the protected floor at about $510.80 a week in 2026, well above the roughly $217.50 the federal 30-times rule would protect. | Va. Code §34-29 |
| Washington | 20% | For a consumer debt, each week of disposable earnings is protected up to the greater of 80% of that pay or 35 times the Washington minimum wage. In 2026 the state minimum wage is $17.13 an hour, so the 35x floor is $599.55 a week. Below that weekly amount nothing can be garnished for consumer debt, and above it only the portion over the floor, capped at 20% of disposable pay, can be reached. | RCW 6.27.150 |
| West Virginia | 20% | Weekly wages after all state and federal taxes up to 50 times the federal minimum wage ($362.50 at $7.25) are fully protected. West Virginia uses 50 times the minimum wage, far above the federal 30-times figure of about $217.50, so a much larger slice of pay is off limits before any garnishment can begin. | W. Va. Code §38-5A-3 |
| Wisconsin | 20% | 80% of your disposable earnings is exempt from an earnings garnishment, so a creditor can reach no more than 20%. On top of that, all of your earnings are fully exempt if your household income is below the poverty line, and the garnishment is reduced so it can never push your household income below the poverty line. | Wis. Stat. §812.34(2) |
Follows the federal limit (25% of disposable pay) (17)
| State | Max on consumer debt | Pay that is fully protected | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Code of Ala. §5-19-15; see also §6-10-7 |
| Arkansas | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected, and a creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. Laborers and mechanics also get the first $25 a week of net wages protected automatically under Ark. Code §16-66-208. | Ark. Code §16-66-208; 15 U.S.C. §1673 (CCPA) |
| Georgia | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | O.C.G.A. §18-4-5 |
| Idaho | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Idaho Code §11-207 |
| Indiana | 25%10% possible for good cause | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Ind. Code §24-4.5-5-105 |
| Kansas | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | K.S.A. 60-2310 |
| Kentucky | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | KRS 427.010; definitions at KRS 427.005 |
| Louisiana | 25% | Seventy-five percent of your disposable earnings is exempt from seizure, and in no case can the exemption fall below 30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage ($217.50) a week. So a creditor reaches at most 25% of disposable pay, and the first $217.50 a week is always protected. | La. R.S. 13:3881(A)(1) |
| Michigan | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected and cannot be touched by a consumer-debt creditor. | MCL 600.4012; Michigan Court Rule 3.101 |
| Mississippi | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected once garnishment begins. On top of that, the first 30 days of wages after service of the writ are completely exempt, so nothing can be taken during that first month. | Miss. Code Ann. §85-3-4 |
| Montana | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. If your weekly disposable pay is $217.50 or less, none of it can be garnished. | Mont. Code Ann. §25-13-614 |
| Ohio | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. If your disposable pay for the week is $217.50 or less, nothing can be garnished at all. | Ohio Rev. Code §2716.03 (garnishment of personal earnings); §2329.66 (exemptions); §2716.02 (demand notice) |
| Oklahoma | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week, and a court can protect even more on an undue-hardship claim. | Okla. Stat. tit. 31, §1.1; Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1173.4 |
| Rhode Island | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected under the federal ceiling. Rhode Island adds its own exemption for the first $50 of earned but unpaid wages under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4. | R.I. Gen. Laws §9-26-4; R.I. Gen. Laws §10-5-8 |
| Tennessee | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week, and that reachable amount is reduced by $2.50 for each qualifying dependent child. | Tenn. Code §26-2-106; §26-2-107 |
| Utah | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week. | Utah Code §70C-7-103 |
| Wyoming | 25% | Weekly disposable pay up to $217.50 (30 times the $7.25 federal minimum wage) is fully protected. A creditor can reach only the lesser of 25% of your disposable pay or the amount above $217.50 a week, whichever leaves you more. | Wyo. Stat. §1-15-408 |
Jump to your state
Open any state for its full detail, cited to the statute.
What these pages are (and aren't)
Each state page is a reference for the garnishment limit, the pay that is protected, and the neutral steps you can take if you are being garnished. They are deliberately not legal advice for your specific case: exemption deadlines are short and court procedure is local, so each page links to the official statute and, where available, a free legal-aid resource. This is legal information, not legal advice.