Average child support payment: the official numbers
The average amount of child support custodial parents were supposed to receive in 2022 was $6,390 a year, and the median was $4,816, according to the Census Bureau’s report “Custodial Parents and Their Child Support: 2022”.[1][2]
| Measure | All | Custodial mothers | Custodial fathers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average amount due, per year | $6,390 | $6,458 | $6,050 |
| Average amount due, per month | $533 | $538 | $504 |
| Average amount received, per year | $4,106 | $4,157 | $3,851 |
| Median amount due, per year | $4,816 | — | — |
| Median amount received, per year | $2,768 | — | — |
Monthly figures are the yearly amounts divided by 12. The survey counts both court-ordered and informal agreements, and the amounts are what custodial parents reported.[1]
How many parents receive the full payment
About half of custodial parents who were owed support received all of it: 49.5% received the full amount, 75.5% received at least some payment, and 24.5% received nothing.[1]
- 13.9 million parents had custody of children whose other parent lived elsewhere; 78.2% were mothers.
- 41.0% had a child support agreement or order, formal or informal; 91% of those agreements were legal orders.
- In total, $29.9 billion was due in 2022 and $19.2 billion was received, leaving $12.5 billion unpaid.
Child support collected through state programs
State child support programs distributed $30.5 billion in fiscal year 2022 and served 12.8 million children, according to the federal Office of Child Support Services.[3] Of current support due in program cases, 65% was collected, and 72% of collections came through income withholding from paychecks. Programs collected $4.73 for every dollar they spent.[3]
Average versus your guideline amount
A national average says little about a single case, because every state sets support with its own formula from the parents’ incomes, the number of children and parenting time.[4][5][6] For one child, a paying parent earning $4,000 a month gross whose co-parent earns $3,000 would owe:
| State | Monthly guideline amount |
|---|---|
| Texas | $679.13 |
| New York | $627.98 |
| Georgia | $572.80 |
For more states and income levels, see how much child support is, or get your own estimate with the child support calculator by state. The way each state turns income into an amount is explained in how child support is calculated.
How the figures have changed
Measured in 2022 dollars, the average amount due was $6,724 in 2017 and $7,672 in 2019, compared with $6,390 in 2022; the share of parents receiving the full amount rose from 45.9% in 2017 to 49.5% in 2022.[1] The Census Bureau warns that changes in survey processing since 2020 may complicate comparisons with earlier years.
About these numbers. Census figures are self-reported by custodial parents in the April 2023 Current Population Survey supplement and cover calendar year 2022. They describe what was owed and paid, not what any guideline would require in a particular case.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average child support payment per month?
About $533 a month: the average amount due in 2022 was $6,390 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
How much child support do parents actually receive on average?
$4,106 a year on average in 2022, counting parents who were owed support but received nothing.
What percentage of parents receive full child support?
49.5% of custodial parents who were owed support in 2022 received the full amount; 75.5% received at least part of it.
Is the average a good estimate for my case?
No. Each state uses its own formula based on both parents’ incomes and parenting time; use your state’s calculator for an estimate.
Sources
- Custodial Parents and Their Child Support: 2022 (P60-285)
- Custodial Parents and Their Child Support: 2022 (report page and detailed tables)
- Annual Report to Congress, FY 2022
- Texas Family Code, Chapter 154 (Child Support)
- Family Court Act § 413 (Child Support Standards Act)
- SB 454 (2024), as passed: amends O.C.G.A. § 19-6-15 (new table; parenting time and low-income adjustments)