Reverse Calculator

What Income Keeps Support Under Your Limit

If you want your child support obligation to stay under $1,000 per month for two children in Texas (25%), your income can be at most about $4,000 per month before the order crosses your limit. In Mississippi (14%) the same $1,000 ceiling allows about $7,140 of income. The ceiling is simply your limit divided by the state percentage, so the state choice drives how much income fits under the same payment cap.

Results

Visualization

ChildSupportFig provides simplified estimates for educational purposes only. Child support is set by state courts under each state's guidelines and can deviate from any formula; these tools cover only the six Percentage-of-Income states (Alaska, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin). Income definitions differ by state (Texas uses net resources, Mississippi adjusted gross, others generally gross), and many states add health insurance and childcare on top. This is not legal advice. Confirm the exact amount and current rules with your state child support agency or a family law attorney before relying on any number.

How It Works

Because support equals income times a fixed state percentage, the income that produces a target support is just the target divided by that percentage. We invert the formula. The chart shows support rising linearly with income at the state's rate, so the ceiling is where the line crosses your limit.

What Should You Do?

This is a planning ceiling, not a court outcome. Real orders can deviate for extraordinary medical needs, private school, or parenting time, and Texas uses net resources while Mississippi uses adjusted gross, so the effective income basis differs. If your income is near the ceiling, get a formal calculation from your state agency before making decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the relationship between income and support linear?

In these six states yes - support is a flat percentage of income for a given children count, so doubling income doubles support until a state cap applies.

Does the percentage change with income?

The percentage by children count is fixed, but some states (Wisconsin above a threshold, Texas above a net-resource cap) reduce rates at high income. This tool uses the standard percentage.

Why does state choice change the ceiling so much?

Because the percentages differ: Mississippi's 14% lets far more income fit under a $1,000 cap than Texas's 25%.