Wage Garnishment Calculator

Free payroll calculator

Wage garnishment calculator.

Estimate federal CCPA garnishment limits from disposable earnings for ordinary creditor garnishments, child support, and federal student loan or agency debt scenarios.

Use the calculatorPractice payroll math
Important: This calculator estimates federal CCPA limits only. State law, court orders, tax levies, bankruptcy orders, priority rules, and agency instructions can change the actual withholding result. Use it for education and quick checks, not as legal or payroll advice.

Calculator inputs

Earnings left after legally required deductions.
CCPA weekly restrictions are multiplied for longer pay periods.
Tax levies and bankruptcy orders are not modeled here.
Optional. Reduces remaining room under the modeled federal cap.
DOL Fact Sheet #30 currently uses $7.25.

What counts as disposable earnings?

Under DOL guidance, disposable earnings are what remains after legally required deductions. Voluntary deductions generally are not subtracted when calculating CCPA disposable earnings.

Ordinary debt

Lesser-of test

For ordinary garnishments, compare 25% of disposable earnings with the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Support orders

50% to 65%

Child support and alimony limits depend on whether the employee supports another family and whether payments are more than 12 weeks late.

State law

Use the lower limit

If state law protects more earnings than federal law, the lower garnishment amount generally applies.

Practice the calculation by hand.

The CPP Payroll Calculations Workbook gives you worked examples, practice questions, and explanations for the payroll math behind this calculator.

Download the free sample chapter See the full workbook
Primary sources: DOL Fact Sheet #30, CCPA wage garnishment protections and DOL minimum wage history. This page is for payroll study and quick-check support, not legal, tax, accounting, or payroll advice.