Child support for 3 children in California
California guidelines effective January 1, 2026. California overview
For 3 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, California's guideline amount is $1,644 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate it for your family
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
Child support for 3 children in California by income
| Parent A income | Parent B $0 | Parent B $30,000 | Parent B $50,000 | Parent B $80,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $274 | $233 | $193 | $121 |
| $25,000 | $416 | $393 | $336 | $248 |
| $30,000 | $588 | $579 | $512 | $407 |
| $35,000 | $789 | $793 | $716 | $596 |
| $40,000 | $1,021 | $1,038 | $951 | $817 |
| $45,000 | $1,235 | $1,250 | $1,158 | $1,016 |
| $50,000 | $1,407 | $1,401 | $1,309 | $1,167 |
| $55,000 | $1,582 | $1,548 | $1,456 | $1,313 |
| $60,000 | $1,769 | $1,697 | $1,605 | $1,454 |
| $65,000 | $1,963 | $1,845 | $1,752 | $1,573 |
| $70,000 | $2,141 | $1,975 | $1,883 | $1,676 |
| $75,000 | $2,317 | $2,100 | $2,008 | $1,771 |
| $80,000 | $2,485 | $2,224 | $2,132 | $1,864 |
| $90,000 | $2,729 | $2,468 | $2,375 | $2,041 |
| $100,000 | $2,973 | $2,712 | $2,556 | $2,212 |
| $120,000 | $3,461 | $3,147 | $2,876 | $2,537 |
| $150,000 | $4,169 | $3,563 | $3,306 | $2,978 |
| $200,000 | $5,095 | $4,218 | $3,996 | $3,727 |
| $250,000 | $5,597 | $4,893 | $4,709 | $4,456 |
Parenting time and child support for 3 children
| Parent A income | 0 nights | 52 nights | 104 nights | 128 nights | 182 nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $381 | $213 | $19 B→A | $258 B→A | $108 B→A |
| $25,000 | $568 | $360 | $82 | $114 B→A | $36 |
| $30,000 | $786 | $541 | $205 | $21 | $163 |
| $35,000 | $1,033 | $748 | $356 | $139 | $292 |
| $40,000 | $1,313 | $989 | $538 | $287 | $406 B→A |
| $45,000 | $1,543 | $1,198 | $712 | $440 | $289 B→A |
| $50,000 | $1,697 | $1,349 | $853 | $575 | $173 B→A |
| $55,000 | $1,847 | $1,495 | $991 | $706 | $61 B→A |
| $60,000 | $1,999 | $1,644 | $1,131 | $840 | $53 |
| $65,000 | $2,149 | $1,792 | $1,269 | $972 | $166 |
| $70,000 | $2,283 | $1,923 | $1,392 | $1,089 | $266 |
| $75,000 | $2,410 | $2,047 | $1,509 | $1,200 | $362 |
| $80,000 | $2,536 | $2,171 | $1,625 | $1,311 | $456 |
| $90,000 | $2,785 | $2,415 | $1,853 | $1,530 | $643 |
| $100,000 | $3,034 | $2,659 | $2,082 | $1,748 | $830 |
| $120,000 | $3,352 | $2,986 | $2,410 | $2,073 | $1,142 |
| $150,000 | $3,766 | $3,411 | $2,835 | $2,494 | $1,545 |
| $200,000 | $4,424 | $4,082 | $3,497 | $3,146 | $2,156 |
| $250,000 | $5,127 | $4,786 | $4,178 | $3,807 | $2,753 |
How the number of children changes the amount in California
With Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount for 3 children is $1,644 a month, about 1.94 times the $847 for one child. Support rises with each child, but by less than the first child's amount, because the guidelines reflect how households share costs among children.
California uses one statewide formula: CS = K[HN − (H%)(TN)]. HN is the higher earner's net income, TN is both parents' net income and H% is the higher earner's share of parenting time. K is a share of combined income that depends on TN and the timeshare. More children multiply the one-child amount.
Frequently asked questions
How much is child support for 3 children in California on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B, California's guideline amount is about $1,349 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is child support for 3 children in California on $100,000?
If Parent A earns $100,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B, the guideline amount is about $2,659 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much more is child support for 3 children than for one child in California?
At $60,000 (Parent B $40,000), the amount for 3 children is about 1.94 times the amount for one child: $1,644 against $847 a month.
Does equal parenting time change child support for 3 children in California?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes ($60,000 and $40,000), the guideline amount is about $53 a month (Parent A pays Parent B), against $1,644 when Parent A has 52 overnights a year. Parenting time is part of the formula, so every change in the timeshare changes the amount. If the result is negative, the lower earner pays the higher earner.
Official sources and verification
- Law: Cal. Fam. Code §§4050–4076
- California child support guidelines
- Child Support Information and Order Attachment (FL-342)
- Official California child support calculator
- California Department of Child Support Services
- Changing a California child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official California sources on October 6, 2026. How we calculate →