How is child support calculated in Texas?
Child support in Texas is calculated in three steps: convert the paying parent’s income to monthly net resources, cap it at $11,700, and multiply by the guideline percentage for the number of children.[1]
- Net resources = all income minus Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax as a single filer with the standard deduction, union dues and the children’s health insurance premium.[2]
- Cap: only the first $11,700 a month counts toward the presumptive amount.
- Percentage: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, 40% for five or more; 15% to 35% when net resources are under $1,000.
The other parent’s income is not part of the calculation.
Texas child support by monthly gross wages
For an employee with no other deductions, Texas child support for one child runs from about $356 a month at $2,000 of gross wages to $2,340 at the cap.[1][2]
| Gross wages | Net resources | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children | 4 children | 5+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,369 | $274 | $342 | $411 | $479 | $548 |
| $2,000 | $1,781 | $356 | $445 | $534 | $623 | $712 |
| $2,500 | $2,190 | $438 | $548 | $657 | $767 | $876 |
| $3,000 | $2,592 | $518 | $648 | $778 | $907 | $1,037 |
| $4,000 | $3,396 | $679 | $849 | $1,019 | $1,188 | $1,358 |
| $5,000 | $4,199 | $840 | $1,050 | $1,260 | $1,470 | $1,680 |
| $6,000 | $4,957 | $991 | $1,239 | $1,487 | $1,735 | $1,983 |
| $7,500 | $6,012 | $1,202 | $1,503 | $1,804 | $2,104 | $2,405 |
| $10,000 | $7,771 | $1,554 | $1,943 | $2,331 | $2,720 | $3,108 |
| $12,500 | $9,483 | $1,897 | $2,371 | $2,845 | $3,319 | $3,793 |
| $15,000 | $11,191 | $2,238 | $2,798 | $3,357 | $3,917 | $4,477 |
| $20,000 | $11,700 | $2,340 | $2,925 | $3,510 | $4,095 | $4,680 |
Net resources are gross wages minus Social Security, Medicare and federal income tax figured for a single filer with the standard deduction, exactly as on the Attorney General’s 2026 tax chart.[2] Above about $15,714 of gross wages, net resources pass the $11,700 cap, so the guideline amount stops rising.
How much child support is for 1 kid in Texas
For one child, Texas child support is 20% of net resources between $1,000 and $11,700 a month, and 15% below $1,000.[1] Some examples from official Texas publications:
- Net resources of $4,000 a month: $800 a month.[4]
- Net resources of $1,800: $360; $1,100: $220.
- Net resources of $900 (below $1,000): 15%, or $135.
- Net resources at or above the $11,700 cap: $2,340.
If the paying parent provides the child’s health insurance, the premium is deducted from net resources first, so each $100 of premium lowers support for one child by $20.[4]
Self-employed parents
Self-employed parents pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare on 92.35% of their earnings and deduct half of that tax for income tax purposes, so the same income produces lower net resources.[2]
| Monthly self-employment income | Net resources | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $2,423 | $485 | $606 | $727 |
| $5,000 | $3,918 | $784 | $979 | $1,175 |
| $7,500 | $5,643 | $1,129 | $1,411 | $1,693 |
| $10,000 | $7,278 | $1,456 | $1,820 | $2,183 |
| $15,000 | $10,474 | $2,095 | $2,618 | $3,142 |
Maximum child support in Texas
The maximum guideline child support in Texas is $2,340 a month for one child, because the percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of the paying parent’s monthly net resources.[1][2] The cap has applied since September 1, 2025, and the Attorney General adjusts it for inflation every six years and publishes it in the Texas Register.[1][2]
| Children | Percentage | Maximum guideline support per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20% | $2,340 |
| 2 | 25% | $2,925 |
| 3 | 30% | $3,510 |
| 4 | 35% | $4,095 |
| 5 | 40% | $4,680 |
| 6 or more | not less than 40% | $4,680 or more |
The cap is not an absolute ceiling. When net resources are higher, a court may order more depending on both parents’ income and the child’s proven needs, but never more than the greater of the guideline amount or 100% of those proven needs.[1] Medical and dental support are ordered on top.
What can make Texas child support higher or lower
The percentage is only presumed correct; a judge can order more or less after considering the factors in Family Code § 154.123.[1]
- Other children. A parent who supports children in another household pays a lower percentage, for example 17.5% instead of 20% with one other child.
- Possession time. Texas has no formula for shared or 50/50 possession; the court weighs it as a deviation factor.
- Medical and dental support are ordered on top of guideline support, within 9% and 1.5% of the paying parent’s annual resources.
- Income above the cap. The court may add support for the child’s proven needs.
- No income evidence. The court presumes full-time federal minimum wage, $1,160.54 a month in net resources.
To run your own numbers, including other children and insurance, use the Texas child support calculator. To see how Texas compares with income shares states, read how much child support is across states, or go back to the child support calculator by state.
Estimates, not orders. The court sets the amount. The Attorney General’s official calculator is the state’s own estimator. Not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How much is child support for 1 kid in Texas?
20% of the paying parent’s monthly net resources (15% if they are under $1,000). With $5,000 a month in gross wages that is about $839.83 a month.
What is the most child support you can pay in Texas?
Under the guideline, 20% of $11,700, or $2,340 a month, for one child; $2,925 for two; up to $4,680 for five or more. A court can add more only for a child’s proven needs.
How much is child support in Texas for 2 kids?
25% of net resources. At $5,000 a month in gross wages that is about $1,049.79 a month.
Is Texas child support based on gross or net income?
Net resources: gross income minus Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax (single, standard deduction), union dues and the child’s health insurance premium.