State Child Support Guidelines Compared

This guide is compiled from the child support statutes and published guideline worksheets of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, cross-checked against the federal Office of Child Support Services FY2023 preliminary data report; each state page on this site links to the statute behind its entry, and our methodology records the vintage of each source. Guideline structures differ in their definitions, so what follows compares how states build their published schedules rather than ranking them or recommending a jurisdiction.

Child support is a state-by-state system. Federal law requires each state to establish guidelines, while the source rules and schedules remain state-specific. This guide explains which recorded differences can be compared safely and which facts a real order still needs.

Selected State Guideline Records

These five records are rendered from PlainChildSupport's state table. The percentage is a starting comparison field, not a complete order or a substitute for a state schedule.

1. 4 13-15%
2. 30 16-18%
3. 15 California 19-21%
4. 1 22-24%
5. 1 25-27%

These are starting percentages from published schedules, not comparable dollar outcomes -- the spread reflects different formula models, income definitions and caps, not "generosity."

Source: State guideline records, jurisdictions with published one-child base rates

What a Comparable Order Would Require

A comparable order needs the applicable state schedule, both parents' defined income, the number of children, parenting-time treatment, permitted deductions, and any legally available deviations. Those inputs are not interchangeable across states, so this guide does not infer a dollar outcome from a headline percentage.

For the federal baseline, see 42 U.S.C. § 667. For a state-specific calculation, start with the linked source on that state's profile or consult a qualified family-law professional.

Why State Guidelines Differ So Much

Federal law (42 U.S.C. Section 667) requires states to establish child support guidelines that courts must follow as a rebuttable presumption. But the law does not dictate the formula, the income definition, or the adjustments. Each state legislature makes those choices, reflecting local economic conditions, policy priorities, and political dynamics.

The three formula models - Income Shares, Percentage of Income, and Melson - create the first layer of variation. But within the same model, states make different choices about every variable: how income is defined, what deductions are allowed, how parenting time affects the obligation, and whether healthcare and childcare costs are added on top or built in.

Key Variable: Income Definition

What it tells you: The definition of "income" for child support purposes varies by state. A guideline may use gross income, net income, or a state-defined adjusted figure. That definition can materially change the starting calculation.

What it does not tell you: Even within "gross income" states, what counts as income differs. Most states include wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment income. But states disagree on overtime pay (mandatory vs. voluntary), investment income, rental income, and in-kind benefits like employer-provided housing. Some states include workers' compensation and disability benefits; others exclude them.

How to use it: When reviewing child support calculations, always confirm which income definition your state uses. If you are comparing potential obligations across states (relevant in interstate cases under UIFSA), the income definition matters as much as the formula model. Check your state on PlainChildSupport to see the specific guidelines and income rules.

Key Variable: Parenting Time Credits

What it tells you: Parenting-time treatment can change a guideline calculation, but states implement it differently.

What it does not tell you: The portal does not model every state's threshold, credit, or schedule. Confirm the current state rule before relying on a parenting-time adjustment.

How to use it: If you have or are negotiating a parenting time arrangement, understanding your state's credit threshold is critical. A difference of just a few overnights per year can mean crossing a threshold that changes the support calculation significantly. Review your state's specific approach on PlainChildSupport and discuss with your attorney how your parenting plan affects the financial obligation.

Healthcare and Childcare: Built-In vs Add-On

States handle healthcare and childcare costs through two approaches:

Built-in approach: Some states' income schedules already account for average healthcare and childcare costs. The base obligation amount assumes these expenses exist at typical levels. This simplifies the calculation but does not reflect the actual costs a specific family faces.

Add-on approach: Most Income Shares states add actual healthcare premiums and work-related childcare costs on top of the base obligation, divided proportionally between parents. This creates a more accurate order but makes the calculation more complex and the obligation less predictable.

Extraordinary medical expenses (orthodontia, therapy, chronic conditions) are handled separately in nearly every state, typically split proportionally. But states differ on what qualifies as "extraordinary" versus routine, and whether court approval is required before incurring the expense.

Income Caps and Floors

Every state's guideline has practical limits on both ends of the income spectrum:

Income caps: Some state schedules have an upper limit or a separate treatment for higher incomes. The current state source controls how that treatment applies.

Self-support reserves: Some models account for a parent's basic living needs before calculating support. Whether and how a reserve applies is state-specific.

Low-income adjustments: A state may use a separate schedule, a reduced percentage, or another rule for lower incomes. Check the applicable source rather than carrying a rule from one state to another.

Practical Framework: Understanding Your State's Approach

Step 1, Identify your state's formula model. Start with the basics: does your state use Income Shares, Percentage of Income, or Melson? This determines the fundamental structure of the calculation. See our formulas explained guide.

Step 2, Check the income definition. Is your state gross-income or net-income? What specific income sources are included and excluded? This affects the base number everything else is calculated from.

Step 3, Understand parenting time adjustments. What is the threshold for credits in your state? How does your current or proposed parenting schedule map to the credit structure? Even small changes in overnights can cross thresholds.

Step 4, Identify add-ons. Are healthcare and childcare costs built into the schedule or added on top? If added on, how are they split? Understanding this prevents surprises when the final order includes costs beyond the base amount.

Step 5, Know the deviation factors. Every state allows courts to deviate from guidelines under specific circumstances, read our deviation factors guide to understand when and how courts adjust orders.

Frequently Asked Questions