How Much Child Support Will I Pay or Receive?
Enter your income, the other parent's income, number of children, and custody schedule to get an estimated child support payment based on your state's guidelines.
The Three Child Support Models Used in the U.S.
Every state in the U.S. uses one of three models to calculate child support. Understanding which model your state uses is the first step to estimating how much you will pay or receive.
Income Shares Model (41 states + DC): The most widely used approach. Both parents' gross incomes are combined and looked up in a table to determine the total child support obligation. Each parent then pays their proportional share based on income. For example, if the combined monthly income is $8,000 and you earn $5,000 (62.5%), you would owe 62.5% of the table amount. Custody time further adjusts the number, with more overnights reducing the payment.
Percentage of Income Model (6 states): Used by Texas, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Nevada, Alaska, and North Dakota. Only the noncustodial parent's income is used. A flat percentage is applied based on the number of children: typically 20% for one child, 25% for two, and up to 40-50% for five or six children. This model is simpler but does not account for the custodial parent's income.
Melson Formula (3 states): Used by Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana. This is the most complex model. It first subtracts a self-support reserve from each parent's income to ensure basic living needs are met. Then it calculates a primary support amount for the child's basic needs. Finally, it adds a Standard of Living Adjustment (SOLA) from any remaining income to maintain the child's standard of living.
Typical Child Support Ranges
Child support amounts vary enormously depending on income, the number of children, and custody time. As a rough guide for one child with standard visitation (every other weekend):
- $30,000/year income: ~$350-$500/month
- $50,000/year income: ~$600-$900/month
- $75,000/year income: ~$900-$1,300/month
- $100,000/year income: ~$1,200-$1,800/month
- $150,000/year income: ~$1,500-$2,500/month
These ranges assume the other parent earns roughly half of the payor's income. If the other parent earns significantly less, the payment is higher. If they earn a similar amount, or if you have more overnight custody time, the payment will be lower.
What Affects the Amount?
Income: The single biggest factor. Both parents' gross incomes are considered in income-shares states, while only the noncustodial parent's income matters in percentage states. Gross income includes wages, bonuses, commissions, overtime, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, and most other sources.
Number of children: More children means a higher total payment, but not proportionally. The second child typically adds 5-10 percentage points, not a full doubling of the amount.
Custody time: States with shared-custody adjustments reduce the support obligation as the noncustodial parent's time increases. In many states, once you cross a threshold (often 90-110 overnights), a formula reduces the payment. At 50/50 custody with equal incomes, the payment may be zero or near-zero.
Additional costs: Health insurance premiums for the children, childcare costs, and extraordinary expenses (private school, special needs, travel for visitation) are often added to or credited against the base support amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much child support will I pay on a $50,000 salary?
On a $50,000 annual salary ($4,167/month gross), child support for one child typically ranges from $600 to $1,000 per month depending on your state and custody arrangement. In Texas (percentage model), you would pay about 20% of net resources, roughly $700-$830 per month. In California (income shares), the amount depends on both parents' incomes and custody time, but with a standard visitation schedule and a co-parent earning $30,000, expect about $700-$900 per month.
What's the average child support payment in the U.S.?
According to Census Bureau data, the average child support payment is approximately $5,700 per year ($475 per month). However, this includes all orders, many of which are for lower-income families. For median-income parents ($50,000-$70,000 annual salary), the average payment is typically $500-$800 per month for one child. State averages vary significantly: states with higher costs of living (California, New York, Massachusetts) tend to produce higher support orders.
Can I reduce my child support?
You can request a modification if there has been a substantial change in circumstances. Common grounds include a significant income decrease (involuntary job loss, disability, retirement), a change in the custody arrangement, the child's changing needs, or the other parent's income increasing substantially. Most states require at least a 10-20% change in the calculated obligation. File a formal modification petition with the court; do not simply reduce payments on your own, as unpaid amounts become enforceable arrears.
Does overtime count toward child support?
In most states, overtime is included in gross income if it is regular and historically consistent. Courts typically average overtime from the past two to three years. If you regularly earned $10,000 per year in overtime during the marriage, the court will likely include it. If you just started working overtime after separation, the court may exclude it. Some states give judges discretion to include or exclude overtime based on the specific facts. Voluntary overtime taken on to increase income after separation is sometimes treated differently than overtime that was part of the established lifestyle.