Child Support Percentage by State — Complete 2026 Guide
One of the most common questions parents ask is: "What percentage of my income goes to child support?" The answer depends entirely on your state, your income, the other parent's income, and how many children are involved. This guide covers all 50 states with an interactive table you can sort, filter, and search.
Why Percentages Differ by State
There is no federal child support formula. Each state sets its own guidelines based on one of three models: Income Shares (41 states), Percentage of Income (a handful of states including Texas and Wisconsin), or the Melson Formula (Delaware, Hawaii, Montana). The model your state uses fundamentally changes what the "percentage" means.
In income shares states, the percentage is applied to both parents' combined income. If the table shows 20% for one child in Virginia, that means 20% of the combined $10,000 household income ($2,000) is the base obligation, split between parents based on who earns what.
In percentage of income states, the percentage applies only to the noncustodial parent's income. If Texas shows 20% for one child, that means 20% of the noncustodial parent's net income — regardless of what the custodial parent earns.
This distinction is critical. A state showing "20%" under the income shares model may result in a very different dollar amount than "20%" under the percentage model, even with identical family incomes.
Interactive Child Support Percentage Table
Use the calculator at the top to see your personal effective rate, then explore the full table below. Click column headers to sort. Use filters to compare states by model type.
| State ▲ | Model | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | Shared Custody |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | Income Shares | 21% | 30% | 35% | 30% |
| Alaska (AK) | Percentage | 20% | 27% | 33% | 30% |
| Arizona (AZ) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 32% | 28% |
| Arkansas (AR) | Income Shares | 18% | 25% | 29% | 28% |
| California (CA) | Income Shares | 25% | 35% | 39% | 20% |
| Colorado (CO) | Income Shares | 20% | 30% | 34% | 25% |
| Connecticut (CT) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 36% |
| Delaware (DE) | Melson | 18% | 27% | 33% | 30% |
| District of Columbia (DC) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 35% |
| Florida (FL) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 31% | 20% |
| Georgia (GA) | Income Shares | 22% | 29% | 32% | 30% |
| Hawaii (HI) | Income Shares | 21% | 30% | 35% | 30% |
| Idaho (ID) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| Illinois (IL) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 28% |
| Indiana (IN) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 33% | 27% |
| Iowa (IA) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 34% | 28% |
| Kansas (KS) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 35% |
| Kentucky (KY) | Income Shares | 22% | 30% | 33% | 30% |
| Louisiana (LA) | Income Shares | 22% | 31% | 35% | 27% |
| Maine (ME) | Income Shares | 21% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
| Maryland (MD) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| Massachusetts (MA) | Income Shares | 22% | 29% | 33% | 33% |
| Michigan (MI) | Income Shares | 21% | 30% | 34% | 25% |
| Minnesota (MN) | Income Shares | 22% | 30% | 34% | 25% |
| Mississippi (MS) | Percentage | 14% | 20% | 22% | 30% |
| Missouri (MO) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
| Montana (MT) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 31% | 30% |
| Nebraska (NE) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 28% |
| Nevada (NV) | Percentage | 18% | 25% | 29% | 40% |
| New Hampshire (NH) | Income Shares | 22% | 30% | 34% | 30% |
| New Jersey (NJ) | Income Shares | 19% | 28% | 33% | 28% |
| New Mexico (NM) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 31% | 28% |
| New York (NY) | Income Shares | 17% | 25% | 29% | 30% |
| North Carolina (NC) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 31% | 34% |
| North Dakota (ND) | Percentage | 22% | 30% | 34% | 30% |
| Ohio (OH) | Income Shares | 19% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| Oklahoma (OK) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 30% |
| Oregon (OR) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | Income Shares | 20% | 29% | 33% | 40% |
| Rhode Island (RI) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
| South Carolina (SC) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 30% |
| South Dakota (SD) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
| Tennessee (TN) | Income Shares | 19% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
| Texas (TX) | Percentage | 20% | 25% | 30% | 40% |
| Utah (UT) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| Vermont (VT) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 30% |
| Virginia (VA) | Income Shares | 19% | 27% | 31% | 25% |
| Washington (WA) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 25% |
| West Virginia (WV) | Income Shares | 21% | 29% | 33% | 30% |
| Wisconsin (WI) | Percentage | 17% | 25% | 29% | 25% |
| Wyoming (WY) | Income Shares | 20% | 28% | 32% | 30% |
Showing 51 of 51 states. Percentages represent the base guideline rate applied to combined parental income (income shares/Melson) or noncustodial income (percentage). Actual amounts vary based on income level, deductions, and case-specific adjustments.
How to Read the Table
The table above shows five key data points for each state:
- Model: Whether your state uses Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or the Melson Formula. This determines how the percentages are applied.
- 1 Child / 2 Children / 3 Children: The base guideline percentage. In income shares states, this is the percentage of combined income. In percentage states, it is the percentage of the noncustodial parent's income.
- Shared Custody Threshold: The minimum parenting time percentage before a shared custody adjustment reduces the obligation. If this shows 28%, the noncustodial parent needs at least 28% of overnights (~102 nights per year) to qualify for a reduction.
Keep in mind that the percentages shown are base rates. Your actual effective rate may differ based on income level (higher incomes often have slightly lower effective rates), add-on costs (healthcare, childcare), and judicial discretion for deviation factors.
Income Shares States: How the Percentage Works
In the 41 states using the income shares model, the percentage represents the portion of combined parental income that should go toward raising the children. This approach is based on economic research into what intact families actually spend on their children.
For example, in a state with a 20% base rate for one child: if Parent A earns $5,000/month and Parent B earns $3,000/month, the combined income is $8,000. The base obligation is $1,600 (20%). Parent A, earning 62.5% of the combined income, would owe $1,000. Parent B's share ($600) is satisfied through the custodial care they provide.
Importantly, the actual schedules in income shares states are not perfectly flat percentages. They use detailed tables where the percentage gradually decreases as income rises. A family earning $5,000 combined might see an effective rate of 22%, while a family earning $15,000 combined might see 18%. The dollar amount increases, but the percentage decreases — reflecting the economic reality that higher-income families spend a smaller proportion of income on basic child needs.
Percentage of Income States: Flat-Rate Simplicity
States using the percentage model (Texas, Wisconsin, Alaska, Mississippi, North Dakota, and a few others) take a simpler approach. They apply a flat percentage to the noncustodial parent's income only, with the custodial parent's income not directly entering the formula.
Texas is the most well-known example: 20% of net resources for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five. Wisconsin uses similar rates: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and 34% for five or more.
The advantage of this model is simplicity and predictability. The disadvantage is that it ignores the custodial parent's income entirely, which can produce results that seem unfair when the custodial parent earns significantly more than the noncustodial parent.
Melson Formula States: The Self-Support Approach
Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use the Melson formula — a three-step variation of the income shares model. The key difference is that it explicitly protects each parent's ability to meet their own basic needs before calculating child support.
The self-support reserve (typically $1,000-$1,250/month) is subtracted from each parent's income first. Only the remaining income is used to calculate child support. If a parent's income is below the self-support reserve, their obligation may be minimal or zero.
After basic child support is calculated, the Melson formula adds a "standard of living adjustment" — a percentage of income above the self-support reserve that provides children with a share of any prosperity beyond basic needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of income goes to child support?
For one child, typical ranges are 17-25%. For two children, 25-35%. For three children, 29-39%. The exact percentage depends on your state's model and whether it applies to combined income (income shares) or just the noncustodial parent's income (percentage model).
Which states have the highest child support percentages?
Among income shares states, California (25%), Alabama (21%), and Massachusetts (23%) have some of the highest base rates for one child. In percentage-of-income states, Alaska (20%) and Texas (20%) apply their rates to the noncustodial parent's income alone, often resulting in higher actual dollar amounts.
How does income shares differ from percentage of income?
Income shares considers both parents' incomes and splits the obligation proportionally. Percentage of income considers only the noncustodial parent's income. A "20%" rate means very different things in each model.
What is a shared custody threshold?
It is the minimum percentage of parenting time the noncustodial parent must have before the child support obligation is reduced for shared custody. Common thresholds are 25-35% of overnights (91-128 nights per year). Above this threshold, the obligation decreases because the noncustodial parent is spending directly on the child.
Do percentages change based on income level?
In income shares states, yes — effective percentages decrease slightly as income rises, though the dollar amount increases. In percentage-of-income states, rates are generally flat, though some states cap the income subject to the percentage. Texas, for example, caps guideline support at a specific income level.
Related Resources
Child Support Calculator
Full-featured calculator with all 50 state formulas.
How to Calculate Child Support
Step-by-step walkthrough of every calculation model.
What Income Counts?
Complete checklist of income types included in calculations.
Percentages shown are base guideline rates and may not reflect your specific situation. Actual child support amounts depend on income levels, add-on costs, judicial discretion, and case-specific factors. Laws change frequently. Consult a family law attorney in your state for personalized guidance.