California Wage Garnishment Calculator (2026 Limits)
Estimate A California Wage Garnishment
California uses the lesser of two limits and protects a minimum-wage floor. Enter your pay. Nothing is stored.
How Wage Garnishment Works In California
California garnishment is governed by Code of Civil Procedure 706.050. For an ordinary consumer debt, the maximum per week is the smaller of two figures: 20% of your disposable earnings, or 40% of the amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 48 times the minimum wage. Because the state minimum wage is $16.90 an hour in 2026, that floor is roughly $811.20 a week, and if you work where the local minimum wage is higher, California uses the higher local figure.
Why California Protects More Than Federal Law
The federal default lets a creditor take up to 25% of disposable earnings. California's 20% cap and its high minimum-wage floor mean many Californians can have far less garnished, and lower earners are fully protected. The rule applies to ordinary consumer debts; child support, taxes, and defaulted federal student loans follow their own, higher limits.
If A California Garnishment Has Started
A garnishment usually means a debt has reached the court stage, but options remain in California: claiming an exemption, negotiating a settlement to release it, arranging a payment plan, or addressing the debt through a broader relief program. CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can be garnished from my paycheck in California?
For an ordinary consumer debt, the lesser of 20% of your disposable earnings or 40% of the amount your weekly disposable pay exceeds 48 times the minimum wage. With the 2026 minimum wage of $16.90, that floor is about $811 a week, and higher local minimum wages raise it.
Did California change its garnishment law?
Yes. Effective September 1, 2023, Code of Civil Procedure 706.050 lowered the cap to 20% of disposable earnings and raised the protected floor, making California more protective than the 25% federal standard.
What are disposable earnings?
Disposable earnings are your pay after legally required deductions such as taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Garnishment limits apply to this figure, not to your pay after rent or other bills.
Can a wage garnishment be stopped or reduced in California?
Sometimes. Depending on your situation you may claim an exemption, negotiate a settlement to release the garnishment, or set up a payment arrangement. Because a garnishment usually means the debt has reached the court stage, review your options quickly.
Does CuraDebt calculate garnishment or give legal advice in California, and is it a law firm?
CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
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