How much of your paycheck a creditor can garnish for ordinary consumer debt (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) — by state. Four states ban it entirely. General information, not legal advice.
| State | Consumer-debt garnishment limit |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Alaska | Up to 25% of disposable earnings, after a weekly exempt floor |
| Arizona | Generally up to 25%, reducible to 15% on a hardship showing |
| Arkansas | Federal-style cap, with state wage exemptions |
| California | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40× the state minimum wage |
| Colorado | More protective than federal (reduced percentage of disposable earnings) |
| Connecticut | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40× the state minimum wage |
| Delaware | Up to 15% of disposable earnings |
| District of Columbia | Up to 25%, but with a high low-income exemption |
| Florida | Up to 25% — but head-of-household wages are largely exempt |
| Georgia | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Hawaii | Graduated: 5% of the first $100/month, 10% of the next $100, 20% of pay above $200/month |
| Idaho | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Illinois | Lesser of 15% of disposable earnings or the amount above 45× the state minimum wage |
| Indiana | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Iowa | Up to 25%, but capped by an annual dollar limit that scales with income |
| Kansas | Federal-style cap (lesser of 25% or amount above the federal floor) |
| Kentucky | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Louisiana | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Maine | More protective than federal (lesser of 25% or amount above a higher state floor) |
| Maryland | 25% in most counties; some counties protect the amount above 30× the state (not federal) minimum wage |
| Massachusetts | Lesser of 15% of disposable earnings or the amount above 50× the state minimum wage |
| Michigan | Up to 25%, with low-income protections |
| Minnesota | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40× the federal minimum wage |
| Mississippi | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Missouri | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Montana | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Nebraska | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Nevada | Up to 25%, reduced for lower earners (18% of disposable pay if gross weekly pay is $770 or less) |
| New Hampshire | Wages are largely exempt; garnishment requires a separate court process |
| New Jersey | 10% of income if you earn under 250% of the federal poverty line, otherwise up to 25% |
| New Mexico | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| New York | Least of 10% of gross income, 25% of disposable earnings, or the amount above 30× the state minimum wage |
| North Carolina | Banned for consumer debt |
| North Dakota | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Ohio | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Oklahoma | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Oregon | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or a fixed weekly dollar minimum |
| Pennsylvania | Banned for consumer debt |
| Rhode Island | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| South Carolina | Banned for consumer debt |
| South Dakota | Up to 20% of disposable earnings, with a per-dependent reduction |
| Tennessee | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Texas | Banned for consumer debt |
| Utah | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |
| Vermont | More protective than federal (lesser of 25% or amount above a higher state floor) |
| Virginia | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 40× the federal minimum wage |
| Washington | Lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount above 35× the state minimum wage |
| West Virginia | Lesser of 20% of disposable earnings or the amount above 30× the federal minimum wage |
| Wisconsin | Up to 20% of disposable earnings; debtors below the poverty line are fully exempt |
| Wyoming | Up to 25% of disposable earnings |