Money & Debt · Wage Garnishment
Wage Garnishment Laws in Washington
How much of your paycheck a creditor can take in Washington, the pay that is fully protected, and what to do right now if a garnishment has started, cited to the statute.
The limit and what is protected in Washington
How much a creditor can take, the pay that is exempt, and where it comes from in the code.
| Most a creditor can take | 20% of disposable earnings |
| How the limit works | A lower percentage cap than the federal 25% |
| Fully protected pay | 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. |
| Other exemptions |
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| Federal backstop | The federal 25% / 30× minimum-wage floor also applies; a creditor can never take more than federal law allows. |
| Statute | RCW 6.27.150 |
The 80% / 35x floor only applies to consumer debt, which the statute defines as debt incurred by a person mainly for personal, family, or household purposes. For a debt that is not consumer debt, such as a business judgment, the older federal-style rule applies: the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 35 times the federal minimum wage is protected, so a creditor can reach up to 25%. Whether a debt counts as consumer debt decides how much of your paycheck is safe, so it is worth confirming on the garnishment paperwork.
The 35x-state-minimum-wage floor rises every January because Washington indexes its minimum wage to inflation. The $17.13 rate and the $599.55 weekly floor are the 2026 figures and will change on January 1, 2027.
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if your wages are being garnished in Washington. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Check whether the 35x floor or the 80% rule already protects your pay
If the debt is a consumer debt and your weekly disposable pay is at or below $599.55, nothing can be garnished in 2026. If you earn more than that, only the amount over the floor can be taken, and never more than 20% of disposable earnings. Compare both numbers on your own pay stub before you assume the maximum applies.
- File a claim of exemption if too much is being withheld
Washington gives you the right to challenge a garnishment by filing an exemption claim with the court that issued the writ. Use it if the withholding ignores the consumer-debt floor, reaches exempt income like Social Security, or treats a consumer debt as an ordinary one. Deadlines are short, so act as soon as you get the notice.
- Watch your bank account, not just your paycheck
A creditor who is limited on wages may levy a bank account instead. Keep records showing which deposits are wages or exempt income such as Social Security or unemployment, because once money lands in an account it can be harder to prove it is protected.
- Get free Washington legal help
WashingtonLawHelp.org has plain-language guides and exemption forms, and the CLEAR legal aid hotline can screen you for free representation. Reach out early if a creditor is taking more than the consumer-debt limit or is threatening a bank levy.
You do not have to face a garnishment alone. This resource can help you check whether an exemption applies and how to file the paperwork.
→ WashingtonLawHelp.orgThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines to claim an exemption are short and vary by court, so act quickly and confirm the specifics for your case.
What Washington workers get wrong
Washington protects paychecks far more than the federal minimum for the most common kind of debt. Under RCW 6.27.150, if a creditor wins a judgment for a consumer debt, meaning debt you took on mainly for personal, family, or household reasons, each week of your disposable earnings is exempt up to the greater of 80% of that pay or 35 times the state minimum wage. Because Washington ties its minimum wage to inflation, the floor is high: at the 2026 rate of $17.13 an hour, 35 times comes to $599.55 a week that cannot be touched. The practical result is that a consumer creditor can reach at most 20% of your disposable pay, and often far less. A debt that is not a consumer debt falls under the older rule, where 75% is protected and up to 25% can be taken. Knowing which category your debt falls into decides how much of your paycheck stays with you.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish in Washington?
For a consumer debt, at most 20% of your disposable earnings. The law protects the greater of 80% of your disposable pay or 35 times the state minimum wage each week, so a creditor can only reach what is left over. In 2026 that means weekly disposable pay up to $599.55 is fully protected.
What counts as a consumer debt in Washington?
A consumer debt is money you borrowed or owed mainly for personal, family, or household purposes, such as credit cards, medical bills, or a car loan for personal use. That category gets the stronger 80% / 35x protection. A debt that is not consumer debt, like a business judgment, falls under the older rule that protects 75% and lets a creditor take up to 25%.
What is the weekly amount that is fully protected from garnishment?
For consumer debt, the greater of 80% of your disposable earnings or 35 times the Washington minimum wage. With the 2026 minimum wage of $17.13 an hour, 35 times equals $599.55 a week. If your disposable pay for the week is at or below that, nothing can be garnished for a consumer debt.
Does the federal garnishment limit still apply in Washington?
Yes, the federal 25% ceiling and the 30-times-federal-minimum-wage floor still backstop every garnishment, but Washington is more protective for consumer debt, so the state rule controls. A creditor can never take more than federal law allows and, for consumer debt here, gets far less than the federal maximum.
Are private student loans treated the same as other debts in Washington?
No, they get an even higher exemption. RCW 6.27.150 protects the greater of 85% of your disposable earnings or 50 times the state minimum wage per week for a private student loan garnishment, which leaves less for the creditor than the ordinary consumer-debt rule.
What should I do if my employer is withholding too much?
File a claim of exemption with the court that issued the garnishment. Use it if the withholding ignores the consumer-debt floor, treats a consumer debt as an ordinary one, or reaches exempt income like Social Security. Deadlines are short, so contact WashingtonLawHelp.org or the CLEAR legal aid hotline quickly.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.