Child Support Percentage by State 2025
State↑ | Avg. Amount Received | Avg. Annual Income Of Parent Receiving Support | % of Personal Income From Child Support | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | $5,474 | $39,633 | 13.8% |
 | Alaska | $4,499 | $39,972 | 11.3% |
 | Arizona | $5,090 | $53,270 | 9.6% |
 | Arkansas | $3,801 | $41,897 | 9.1% |
 | California | $6,497 | $55,897 | 11.6% |
 | Colorado | $7,846 | $59,365 | 13.2% |
 | Connecticut | $9,595 | $99,686 | 9.6% |
 | Delaware | $5,078 | $46,913 | 10.8% |
 | District of Columbia | $7,097 | $82,650 | 8.6% |
 | Florida | $5,971 | $48,497 | 12.3% |
 | Georgia | $6,953 | $50,043 | 13.9% |
 | Hawaii | $16,656 | $66,235 | 25.1% |
 | Idaho | $6,052 | $37,692 | 16.1% |
 | Illinois | $6,012 | $46,577 | 12.9% |
 | Indiana | $5,263 | $44,058 | 11.9% |
 | Iowa | $6,141 | $47,809 | 12.8% |
 | Kansas | $4,227 | $38,896 | 10.9% |
 | Kentucky | $3,183 | $33,735 | 9.4% |
 | Louisiana | $4,843 | $38,820 | 12.5% |
 | Maine | $4,450 | $44,596 | 10% |
 | Maryland | $9,684 | $74,823 | 12.9% |
 | Massachusetts | $7,266 | $56,516 | 12.9% |
 | Michigan | $5,397 | $49,596 | 10.9% |
 | Minnesota | $5,536 | $47,490 | 11.7% |
 | Mississippi | $4,879 | $36,465 | 13.4% |
 | Missouri | $4,515 | $41,568 | 10.9% |
 | Montana | $3,472 | $32,459 | 10.7% |
 | Nebraska | $6,250 | $47,115 | 13.3% |
 | Nevada | $8,672 | $43,712 | 19.8% |
 | New Hampshire | $5,491 | $53,563 | 10.3% |
 | New Jersey | $5,542 | $58,377 | 9.5% |
 | New Mexico | $7,284 | $45,085 | 16.2% |
 | New York | $6,249 | $56,091 | 11.1% |
 | North Carolina | $9,167 | $47,784 | 19.2% |
 | North Dakota | $5,535 | $44,157 | 12.5% |
 | Ohio | $3,293 | $39,991 | 8.2% |
 | Oklahoma | $5,111 | $37,493 | 13.6% |
 | Oregon | $4,646 | $49,342 | 9.4% |
 | Pennsylvania | $6,525 | $48,728 | 13.4% |
 | Rhode Island | $4,396 | $46,116 | 9.5% |
 | South Carolina | $3,234 | $38,110 | 8.5% |
 | South Dakota | $5,818 | $51,148 | 11.4% |
 | Tennessee | $4,274 | $36,899 | 11.6% |
 | Texas | $5,885 | $55,725 | 10.6% |
 | Utah | $5,610 | $49,481 | 11.3% |
 | Vermont | $6,413 | $41,606 | 15.4% |
 | Virginia | $6,238 | $52,872 | 11.8% |
 | Washington | $4,571 | $62,816 | 7.3% |
 | West Virginia | $5,354 | $37,309 | 14.4% |
 | Wisconsin | $5,858 | $51,073 | 11.5% |
 | Wyoming | $5,387 | $51,004 | 10.6% |
In family law, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship. Payment is made by an obligor, often the non-custodial parent, to an obligee, typically the custodial parent, a caregiver, a guardian, or the state.
Child support is often arranged as a result of a divorce, material separation, annulment, determination of parentage, or a dissolution of a civil union.
Child support laws vary between jurisdictions. Typically, one has the same obligation to pay the support irrespective of sex, so a mother is required to pay the father just as a father must pay the mother. In some jurisdictions where there is joint custody, the child is considered to have two custodial parents and no non-custodial parent. This might result in the parent with a higher income being required to pay the other custodial parent.
The 1992 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a being connection that was signed by every UN member state and formally ratified by all members except for the U.S. This convention declares that the upbringing and development of children and providing them a standard of living that is adequate for their development is a human the responsibility of both parents.
Child Support in the United States
In the United States, the Office of Child Support Enforcement is responsible for the federal child support enforcement program. Federal regulations, in accordance with Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, require the uniform application of child support guidelines throughout a state, but each state may determine its own method of calculating support. Code of Federal Regulations Title 45 302.56 requires each state to establish and publish a guideline and review the guideline every four years. Most states have adopted their own “Child Support Guidelines Worksheet” that determines the standard calculation of child support in that state.
How Child Support is Calculated
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, child support guidelines in each state follow one of three models: the income share model, the percentage of income model, and the Melson Formula.
The income shares model combines both parents’ income, determines the basic child support, \ adds expenses, and then an obligation is prorated between the parents based on their percentage of the combined income. Forty states use the income share model
The percentage of income model determines the non-custodial parent’s income, determines the percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income that will be applied, applies the percentage to the income, and finalizes the obligation by making adjustments for add-ons and deductions. Seven states use the percentage income model, four of which use the flat percentage model.
The Melson Formula is a more complicated version of the Income Shares model, which incorporates public policy judgments to unsure each parent’s basic needs are met in addition to the children. Only Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use the Melson Formula.
The District of Columbia uses a hybrid model that starts as a varying percentage of income model and is then reduced by a formula based on the custodial parent’s income.
Alabama
- Income shares model
- Basic Child Support Obligation Schedule
- Child Support Calculator
Alaska
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- Multiply the non-custodial parent’s (obligor’s) annual net income by 20% for one child, 27% for two children, and 33% for three children. For each additional child, add 3%.
- Child Support Calculator
Arizona
- Income shares model
- Basic Child Support Obligation Schedule
- Child Support Calculator
Arkansas
- Percentage of obligor’s income - percentage varies based on income
- Arkansas Administrative Order of the Supreme Court, Rule 10
- Child Support Estimator
California
- Income shares model
- California Courts Self-Help - Child Support
- Guidelines Calculator
Colorado
- Income shares model
- Child Support Commission Final Report
- Child Support Calculator
Delaware
- Melson Formula
- After determining each parent’s share of total available income, the primary support allowance for the number of children in each parent’s household can be found in the Forms 509 and 509-I
- Delaware Child Support Calculator
District of Columbia
- Because D.C. has a hybrid model, child support can be very complex and confusing. The best way to determine the child support obligation is to use the Child Support Guideline Calculator or contact an attorney.
Florida
- Income shares model
- If monthly income exceeds $10,000, child support is calculated by multiplying the amount of income over $10,000 by a percentage based on the number of children. For this, one child is 5%, two is 7.5%, three is 9.5%, four is 11%, five is 12%, and six is 12.5%.
- Florida Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
Georgia
- Incomes shares model
- Georgia Child Support Commission
- Child Support Calculator Georgia Courts
Hawaii
- Melson Formula
- Hawaii Child Support Guidelines
- Hawaii Child Support Calculator
Idaho
- Income shares model
- Idaho Child Support Guidelines
- Idaho Child Support Calculator
Illinois
- Income shares model
- Illinois Child Support Guidelines - Income Shares
- Child Support Estimator
Indiana
- Income shares model
- Indiana Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
Iowa
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Estimator
Kansas
- Income shares model
- Kansas Child Support Guidelines
- Kansas Child Support Worksheet
Kentucky
- Income share model
- Kentucky Child Support Guideline
- Kentucky Child Support Estimate
Louisiana
- Income shares model
- Louisiana Child Support Guideline Schedule
- Child Support Payment Calculator
Maine
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
Maryland
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Maryland Child Support Calculator
Massachusetts
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines
- Massachusetts Child Support Calculator
Michigan
- Incomes shares model
- Michigan Child Support Formula
Minnesota
- Income shares model
- Minnesota Guideline Used in Child Support Determinations
- Child Support Guidelines Calculator
Mississippi
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- The guideline formula for determining the amount of child support is 14% of noncustodial parent’s income for one child, 20% for two children, 22% for three children, 24% for four children and 26% for five or more children
- Mississippi Child Support Calculator
Missouri
- Income shares model
- Missouri Child Support Guidelines and Forms
Montana
- Melson Formula
- Montana Child Support Guidelines Information
Nebraska
- Income shares model
- Nebraska Child Support Guidelines and Worksheets
- Child Support Calculator
Nevada
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- Child Support Guidelines
- Nevada Child Support Guidelines Calculator
New Hampshire
- Income shares model
- New Hampshire Statute Chapter 485-C: Child Support Guidelines
- NH Child Support Calculator
New Jersey
- Income shares model
- NJ Child Support Guidelines and Worksheets
- Child Support Calculator
New Mexico
- Income shares model
- Child Support Statutes, Rules, and Regulations
- Child Support Calculator
New York
- Income shares model
- Child Support Standards
- Child Support Calculator
North Carolina
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator of North Carolina
North Dakota
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- Child Support Guidelines and Calculator
Ohio
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guideline Manual
- Child Support Calculator
Pennsylvania
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Estimator
Rhode Island
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Payment Calculator
South Carolina
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
South Dakota
- Income shares model
- Child Support Obligations
- Child Support Obligation Calculator
Tennessee
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculators and Worksheets
Texas
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- One child= 20% of Net Monthly Income, two children = 25%, three children = 30%, four children = 35%, five children = 40%, and six children = no less than 40%
- Monthly Child Support Calculator
Utah
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
Vermont
- Income shares model
- Child Support
- Child Support Calculator
Virginia
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Payments Calculator
Washington
- Income shares model
- Washington State Child Support Schedule
- Child Support Estimator
West Virginia
- Income shares model
- Child Supporter Guidelines
- Child Support Payments Calculator
Wisconsin
- Percentage of obligor’s income
- One child = 17%, two children = 25%, 3 children = 29%, 4 children = 31%, 5 or more children = 34%.
- Child Support Calculator and Worksheets
Wyoming
- Income shares model
- Child Support Guidelines
- Child Support Calculator
