Most states do not cap the child support payment itself. What they cap is the income their guideline schedule covers. Above that level the court decides, usually with a floor at the top schedule amount. Here is the 2026 limit for every state and what happens above it.
Quick answer: 41 states have a top income level in their guideline schedule, ending anywhere from $10,000 a month (Florida, where a formula continues above it) to $100,000 a month (Utah). 9 states (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wisconsin and Wyoming) have no income cap. Texas caps the paying parent's net resources at $11,700 a month.
Amounts are monthly unless the state's own schedule is weekly or annual. "Income used" shows whose income the guideline is based on. Select a state to open its calculator and official sources.
| State | Income used | Income cap / top of schedule | What happens above it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Combined gross | $30,000 a month | The court sets support; the schedule may not be extended. |
| Alaska | Paying parent's adjusted income | $138,000 a year | Income above the cap is not counted unless the court orders more. |
| Arizona | Combined gross | $30,000 a month | The $30,000 amount is used unless a parent asks for more. |
| Arkansas | Combined gross | $30,000 a month | The top chart amount is used; the court may set more. |
| California | Combined net | No cap | The guideline formula keeps applying; the top band is net income over $15,000 a month. |
| Colorado | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | Court discretion, but not less than the top schedule amount. |
| Connecticut | Combined net | $6,000 a week | The $6,000 amount is the minimum; the court decides case by case. |
| Delaware | Each parent's net (Melson formula) | No cap | 30% of income above $16,000 a month is offset before the standard of living adjustment. |
| Florida | Combined net | $10,000 a month | Formula: the $10,000 amount plus 5% (1 child) to 12.5% (6 children) of income above $10,000. |
| Georgia | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | The court sets the amount (high-income case). |
| Hawaii | Each parent's net (Melson formula) | No fixed cap | Support may not exceed the paying parent's net income (minimum $91 per child). |
| Idaho | Combined gross | $440,000 a year | The schedule applies to the first $440,000; the court considers other factors above it. |
| Illinois | Combined net | About $27,375 a month (top row of the 2026 schedule) | The court decides support above the schedule. |
| Indiana | Combined weekly adjusted | $9,200 a week | A percentage of income above $9,200 applies (8.1% for one child). |
| Iowa | Combined net | $30,000 a month | Court discretion, but not less than the $30,000 amount. |
| Kansas | Combined gross | $18,000 a month | The schedules give an extended formula the court may use. |
| Kentucky | Combined gross | $30,000 a month | The court uses its discretion. |
| Louisiana | Combined gross | $50,000 a month | Court discretion, but not less than the top schedule amount. |
| Maine | Combined gross | $400,000 a year | Presumed to be no less than the $400,000 amount. |
| Maryland | Combined gross | $30,000 a month | The court may use its discretion. |
| Massachusetts | Combined available | $450,000 a year | Support on income above the cap is up to the court. |
| Michigan | Family net (formula) | No cap | The formula keeps applying (11.29% above the top row for one child); court discretion in very high income cases. |
| Minnesota | Combined PICS | $20,000 a month | The $20,000 amount is used unless the child has a disability or other substantial need. |
| Mississippi | Paying parent's adjusted gross | No cap | Above $100,000 a year the court must make a written finding on whether the percentage is reasonable. |
| Missouri | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | The court decides support above the schedule. |
| Montana | Each parent's income (Melson formula) | No cap | The standard of living adjustment shares more of higher income with the children. |
| Nebraska | Combined net | $20,000 a month | Not less than the $20,000 amount; the guidelines suggest adding 10% to 14% of income above it. |
| Nevada | Paying parent's gross | No cap | The lowest tier percentage (4% for one child) applies to all income above $10,000 a month. |
| New Hampshire | Combined adjusted gross | $31,119 a month (2026 table) | The top percentages apply; high income can be a special circumstance. |
| New Jersey | Combined net | $3,600 a week | The $3,600 amount is the minimum; the court adds a discretionary amount. |
| New Mexico | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | A formula: a base amount plus a percentage of income above $40,000. |
| New York | Combined parental income | $193,000 a year (2026) | The court decides support on income above the cap using the statutory factors and/or the percentage. |
| North Carolina | Combined adjusted gross | $40,000 a month | The schedule cannot be used; the court sets support to meet the child's reasonable needs. |
| North Dakota | Paying parent's net | $25,000 a month | The top row amount applies to $25,000 or more. |
| Ohio | Combined gross | $336,000 a year | The court sets support case by case. |
| Oklahoma | Combined gross | $15,000 a month | The $15,000 amount is used; the court decides any additional amount. |
| Oregon | Combined adjusted | $30,000 a month | The scale amount for $30,000 is used. |
| Pennsylvania | Combined net | $30,000 a month | Support is calculated under Rule 1910.16-3.1 instead of the schedule. |
| Rhode Island | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | The court's example multiplies the $40,000 amount by the ratio of income to $40,000. |
| South Carolina | Combined gross | $40,000 a month | The court decides support case by case. |
| South Dakota | Combined net | $30,000 a month | Support is set at an appropriate level based on the child's actual needs and standard of living. |
| Tennessee | Combined adjusted gross | $28,250 a month | A formula applies above $28,250, and the presumptive order is capped (for example $2,100 for one child) unless more is shown to be reasonably necessary. |
| Texas | Paying parent's net resources | $11,700 a month (since Sept. 1, 2025) | The percentage applies to the first $11,700; the court may add more based on the child's proven needs. |
| Utah | Combined adjusted gross | $100,000 a month | The court sets an appropriate amount, but not less than the top of the table. |
| Vermont | Combined available (after tax) | $30,024.99 a month | The court may use its discretion. |
| Virginia | Combined gross | $42,500 a month | The $42,500 amount plus 2.6% (1 child) to 5.0% (6 children) of income above it. |
| Washington | Combined net | $50,000 a month | The table is presumptive to $50,000; the court may order more with written findings. |
| West Virginia | Combined adjusted gross | $35,000 a month | Not less than the $35,000 amount; the court may add a percentage of income above it. |
| Wisconsin | Paying parent's gross | No cap | Reduced percentages may apply to income above $7,000 and $12,500 a month. |
| Wyoming | Combined net | No cap | Above $15,000 a month the last percentage in the table applies to all higher income. |
An income cap limits how much income the guideline formula uses. The support amount at the top of the schedule is usually a minimum, not a maximum: courts can order more when the child's needs and the parents' standard of living justify it. Only a few states also limit the payment itself, for example Tennessee's presumptive caps and the rule in several states that support cannot exceed a set share of the paying parent's income.
In most states there is no fixed maximum payment. Most states have a top income level in their guideline schedule. Above it the court decides, often with a rule that support cannot be less than the amount at the top of the schedule. 9 states have no income cap at all.
Texas applies its guideline percentages to the first $11,700 a month of the paying parent's net resources (since September 1, 2025). A court may order more based on the child's proven needs.
California, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wisconsin and Wyoming use formulas or percentages that keep applying as income rises, although some reduce the percentage at higher incomes or require court findings.
Usually yes, but not automatically. Courts can order additional support above the schedule based on the child's needs, the parents' standard of living and other factors, and some states give a formula for it.
Some do. Texas reviews its cap every six years, New York adjusts its cap every two years, and New Hampshire publishes a new table every year. Most other schedules change only after a state's guideline review.
Each row comes from that state's calculator page on this site, which cites and links the official statute, court rule or schedule. Figures were reviewed on October 22, 2026. Read how we build and check our calculators, compare 50/50 custody rules and minimum child support by state, see the 2026 changes by state, or report a problem on our contact page.
This page is general information, not legal advice.