How Much Child Support will I have to Pay?

The average child support order amount is $350 per month.  Child support is typically 20%-25% of the paying parent's income.

Child Support is calculated combining the income of the mother and the father of the child.  This combined figure is used to determine a total child support figure and the paying parent is obligated to pay his or her percentage of this amount.

For example, a 4 year old child lives with his Mother.  She earns $40,000 per year.  The Child's Father earns $60,000 per year.  Their total, combined income would therefore be $100,000 per year.  Based on this figure of $100,000 the court may determine child support to be $1000 per month.  The paying parent, in this case the father, makes 60% of the income so he would pay 60% of the child support obligation or $600 in this example.

This is a simplified example as there are also deviations the court can grant, such as credits if the child spends a significant amount of time with the non-custodial parent.  Or if they paying parents has other children he is supporting he may also get a reduced amount.

But, by and large, child support is based off of the parent's income.  Parents with higher incomes pay more child support than those making less.

A parent making the median income of $50,000 per year will pay roughly $600 in child support for 1 child.  The same parent making minimum wage would pay about $150 per child.