Pennsylvania Child Support Calculator (2026)
Pennsylvania calculates child support under income-shares guidelines (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 to 1910.16-7 (implementing 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322)). Estimate the guideline amount below.
Income basis: combined monthly net income of both parents.
Enter the income above to see the guideline estimate.
Simplified guideline estimate, interpolated from the official schedule — before health-insurance, childcare, and parenting-time adjustments. For the exact figure use the official Pennsylvania calculator.
Your Case Details
Answer a few questions to see your estimated range.
Approximate gap between higher-earner and lower-earner.
Estimated Monthly Support
$840 — $1,560
State formulas vary significantly. This estimate uses national averages — your state's guidelines may produce a different number.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Pennsylvania uses the income-shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the official schedule sets a basic support obligation, and each parent owes their proportional share (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 to 1910.16-7 (implementing 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322)). The calculator above interpolates the official schedule for a quick estimate — health-insurance, child-care, and parenting-time adjustments come on top.
How Pennsylvania Calculates Child Support
Pennsylvania uses the Income Shares Model under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 through 1910.16-7. The Basic Child Support Schedule (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-3) sets the combined MONTHLY NET income of both parents against the number of children to yield a total basic support obligation, which each parent then owes in proportion to their share of the combined net income (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4). PA is notable among income-shares states for using net (not gross) income as the schedule input. The guidelines were substantially revised by Pennsylvania Supreme Court order dated August 11, 2025 (55 Pa.B. 5978), effective January 1, 2026, applying to new support orders and modifications filed on or after that date.
Statutory basis: Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 to 1910.16-7 (implementing 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322). Exact figure: official Pennsylvania calculator.
Official Schedule — Excerpt
Basic support obligation at selected combined incomes (combined monthly net income of both parents), from the official Pennsylvania schedule:
| Combined income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3,000 | $691 | $1,053 | $1,272 |
| $5,000 | $1,080 | $1,629 | $1,949 |
| $7,500 | $1,355 | $2,006 | $2,356 |
| $10,000 | $1,661 | $2,452 | $2,871 |
Worked Example
Mother's monthly net income: $3,000. Father's monthly net income: $2,000. Combined monthly net income: $5,000. Basic Child Support Schedule (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-3), 2 children, $5,000 combined net income row = $1,629 total monthly basic obligation. Father's (obligor's) income share = $2,000 / $5,000 = 40%. Father's basic support obligation = 40% × $1,629 = $652/month, before add-ons for childcare, health-insurance premiums, and unreimbursed medical expenses allocated under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-6.
When Courts Deviate From the Guideline
- Unusual needs and unusual fixed obligations of either party or the child
- A party's other support obligations to another household
- Other income in the obligor's or obligee's household (e.g., a new spouse's income)
- The child's age
- The parties' relative assets and liabilities
- The parties' and the child's standard of living
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cap on income under Pennsylvania's child support guidelines?
No hard statutory cap exists. The official Basic Child Support Schedule (Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-3) simply stops at $30,000 combined monthly net income (top row: $3,749 for 1 child, $4,981 for 2 children, $5,803 for 3 children). Above $30,000/month combined net income, courts use the high-income formula referenced in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4 together with the deviation factors in Rule 1910.16-5 rather than a schedule lookup.
What counts as income for Pennsylvania child support, and is it gross or net?
Pennsylvania is unusual among income-shares states in running the schedule on NET income. Monthly gross income under Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-2 includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, business/property income, interest, rents, royalties, dividends, pensions/retirement income, Social Security, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, and (at the court's discretion) alimony. To reach net income, the rule allows only a defined set of deductions: federal, state and local income taxes; unemployment compensation taxes and Local Services Tax (LST); FICA/Medicare/self-employment tax and mandatory (non-voluntary) retirement contributions; mandatory union dues; and alimony actually paid to the other party.
How does shared custody affect the Pennsylvania child support amount?
Where the parties share physical custody and the obligor has 40% or more of the annual overnights, Pennsylvania applies the shared-custody offset formula in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-4 instead of the plain basic-obligation calculation, which reduces the paying parent's obligation to reflect the direct costs they already cover during their own custodial time.
Until what age does child support last in Pennsylvania, and does it cover college?
Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 4321, support continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later — it does not end automatically and generally requires a court order to terminate. Pennsylvania courts cannot order support to continue for college expenses; the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the prior post-secondary-education support statute in Curtis v. Kline (1995). The main exception is support beyond age 18 for a child with a physical or mental disability who cannot support themselves.