Average Child Support by State (2026)

Q: What is the average child support payment?

There is no single national average, because child support depends on income, the number of children, and each state's formula. Under a standard scenario — one parent earning $60,000 a year with two children — the estimated guideline amount across states has a midpoint of about $986 per month, ranging from $713 to $1,632 depending on the state.

Q: Which state has the highest child support?

Under this standard $60,000/year, two-child scenario, California produces the highest estimated guideline amount ($1,632/month) and South Dakota the lowest ($713/month). Rankings shift with different incomes and numbers of children, so treat this as one comparison point, not a fixed ranking.

Q: Is this a real statistical average of what parents pay?

No. These are guideline estimates computed from each state's official formula under one standardized scenario — not a survey of actual payments. Real orders vary with custody time, health insurance, child care, other children, and judge discretion. Use the figures to compare states, and use the calculator for your own numbers.

Q: Why is child support so different from state to state?

States use different formulas. Most use the Income Shares model (both parents' incomes combined), a few use Percentage of Income (only the paying parent's income), and Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use the Melson Formula. Each state also sets its own schedule amounts, income caps, and self-support reserves, which is why the same income can produce very different orders.

There is no single national "average" child support payment — the amount depends on your income, how many children you have, and your state's formula. To compare states fairly, we calculated the guideline estimate for the same standard scenario in all 51 U.S. jurisdictions: one parent earning $5,000/month ($60,000/year), the other earning $3,000/month, standard custody, no add-ons.

For two children under that scenario, the estimate ranges from $713/month in South Dakota to $1,632/month in California, with a midpoint of about $986/month. Change any input and the number changes — use our free calculator for your own situation.

Key findings

Typical range (2 children)

$713 – $1,632/mo

Midpoint about $986/month across 51 states.

State choice matters

+129%

The highest state (California) estimates about 129% more than the lowest (South Dakota) for the same family.

Midpoint by number of children

1 child: $669/mo

2 children: $986/mo

3 children: $1,128/mo

Formulas states use

Income Shares: 41

Percentage of Income: 4

Melson Formula: 3

California Formula: 1

Michigan Formula: 1

Nevada Tiered: 1

Estimated child support by state

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Estimated monthly support at $5,000/month gross income, standard custody. Click a column header to sort. Click a state for a full calculator with your own numbers.


Alabama	Income Shares	$642	$949	$1,114
Alaska	Percentage of Income	$1,000	$1,350	$1,650
Arizona	Income Shares	$683	$1,014	$1,195
Arkansas	Income Shares	$609	$872	$1,043
California	California Formula	$1,020	$1,632	$2,040
Colorado	Income Shares	$756	$1,130	$1,342
Connecticut	Income Shares	$525	$733	$869
Delaware	Melson Formula	$896	$1,280	$1,612
District of Columbia	Income Shares	$553	$769	$911
Florida	Income Shares	$570	$859	$1,031
Georgia	Income Shares	$719	$1,077	$1,281
Hawaii	Melson Formula	$624	$1,183	$1,677
Idaho	Income Shares	$639	$945	$1,121
Illinois	Income Shares	$903	$1,334	$1,564
Indiana	Income Shares	$569	$789	$958
Iowa	Income Shares	$844	$1,248	$1,467
Kansas	Income Shares	$539	$748	$885
Kentucky	Income Shares	$623	$891	$1,065
Louisiana	Income Shares	$756	$1,153	$1,396
Maine	Income Shares	$619	$838	$977
Maryland	Income Shares	$523	$726	$860
Massachusetts	Income Shares	$1,056	$1,479	$1,774
Michigan	Michigan Formula	$954	$1,411	$1,661
Minnesota	Income Shares	$691	$968	$1,103
Mississippi	Percentage of Income	$700	$1,000	$1,100
Missouri	Income Shares	$749	$1,122	$1,333
Montana	Melson Formula	$780	$1,278	$1,702
Nebraska	Income Shares	$513	$721	$858
Nevada	Nevada Tiered	$800	$1,100	$1,300
New Hampshire	Income Shares	$669	$906	$1,056
New Jersey	Income Shares	$1,105	$1,254	$1,519
New Mexico	Income Shares	$661	$989	$1,177
New York	Income Shares	$850	$1,250	$1,450
North Carolina	Income Shares	$720	$1,079	$1,284
North Dakota	Income Shares	$730	$986	$1,150
Ohio	Income Shares	$527	$731	$864
Oklahoma	Income Shares	$560	$817	$946
Oregon	Income Shares	$599	$873	$1,010
Pennsylvania	Income Shares	$843	$1,250	$1,469
Rhode Island	Income Shares	$534	$743	$880
South Carolina	Income Shares	$647	$959	$1,128
South Dakota	Income Shares	$513	$713	$843
Tennessee	Income Shares	$574	$838	$969
Texas	Percentage of Income	$1,000	$1,250	$1,500
Utah	Income Shares	$530	$735	$870
Vermont	Income Shares	$528	$734	$869
Virginia	Income Shares	$701	$1,026	$1,306
Washington	Income Shares	$794	$1,200	$1,438
West Virginia	Income Shares	$613	$829	$954
Wisconsin	Percentage of Income	$850	$1,250	$1,450
Wyoming	Income Shares	$525	$730	$865

Estimates assume you are the paying (non-custodial) parent. In states that count both parents' incomes, the other parent is modeled at $3,000/month. No adjustments for health insurance, child care, or shared custody. Actual amounts are set by a court and may differ.

How we calculated this

Every figure on this page is computed by the same engine that powers our state calculators — we do not hand-type dollar amounts, and we do not survey real payments. For each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, we ran that state's official guideline formula with one standardized set of inputs:

Paying parent gross income: $5,000/month ($60,000/year).
Other parent gross income: $3,000/month — used only in states whose formula counts both incomes (Income Shares, Melson, and state-specific formulas), not in Percentage of Income or Nevada's tiered model.
Standard custody (no shared-parenting reduction), and no add-ons for health insurance or child care.

These are therefore guideline estimates for one standard scenario, useful for comparing states on an apples-to-apples basis — not a statistical average of what parents actually pay. Each state's formula, schedule, income caps, and last-verified date are documented on its calculator page and on our methodology page.

What changes your number

Your real order can land well above or below these midpoints. The biggest factors:

Income. Both your income and (in most states) the other parent's income move the number.
Custody time. More overnights with the paying parent usually lowers support; near-50/50 can lower it a lot.
Health insurance and child care. These are typically added on top and split between parents.
Other children. Supporting children from another relationship can reduce the income counted.

To see your own estimate, pick your state on the calculator hub, or start from an income scenario: $60,000 a year · $1,000 a week.

Cite this data

This data is free to reference. If you use it in an article, blog post, or resource page, a link back to this page is appreciated. Suggested citation:

SupportSum. "Average Child Support by State (2026)." Estimated from official state guidelines. https://www.supportsum.com/average-child-support-by-state/

Last updated 2026-07-22 · Figures recomputed whenever a state's verified guidelines change.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average child support payment?

There is no single national average — it depends on income, the number of children, and your state's formula. Under a standard scenario (one parent earning $60,000 a year, two children), the estimated guideline amount across states has a midpoint of about $986/month, ranging from $713 to $1,632.

Which state has the highest and lowest child support?

Under this standard two-child scenario, California produces the highest estimate ($1,632/month) and South Dakota the lowest ($713/month). Rankings change with different incomes and numbers of children, so treat this as one comparison point.

Is this a real statistical average of what parents pay?

No. These are guideline estimates from each state's official formula under one standardized scenario — not a survey of real orders. Actual payments vary with custody time, insurance, child care, other children, and judge discretion. Use the figures to compare states, and the calculator for your own numbers.

Why is child support so different from state to state?

States use different formulas. Most use Income Shares (both parents' incomes combined), a few use Percentage of Income (only the paying parent's income), and Delaware, Hawaii, and Montana use the Melson Formula. Each state also sets its own schedule amounts, income caps, and self-support reserves.

Disclaimer: The estimates on this page are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Actual child support amounts are determined by courts and may differ based on factors not included here. Child support laws change frequently; always verify with your state's official guidelines. For legal advice about your specific situation, consult a family law attorney.