Child support on $50,000 a year in Minnesota (2 children)
Minnesota guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Minnesota overview
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Minnesota's guideline amount is $836 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $329 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $949 (Parent B earns $20,000, Parent A has no overnights).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
Minnesota · 2 children · Parent A $50000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$836 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 55.6% of combined income
- Parent B: 44.4%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $7,500 a month
- Basic obligation
- $1,505 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 56%
- Parenting-time adjustment
- -$7 a month
- Guideline amount
- $836 a month
See the worksheet for this example
Minnesota uses the income shares model under Minn. Stat. §§ 518A.26–518A.43. Official calculator: childsupportcalculator.dhs.state.mn.us. Child support agency: Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Child Support Division.
Estimate under Minnesota's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Minnesota sources on October 7, 2026. Not legal advice. Courts can deviate from the guidelines. How we calculate →
By parenting time and the other parent's income
| Overnights | $0 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $875 A→B | $949 A→B | $901 A→B | $843 A→B | $787 A→B | $740 A→B | $681 A→B | $640 A→B |
| 52 | $871 A→B | $943 A→B | $894 A→B | $836 A→B | $780 A→B | $732 A→B | $673 A→B | $631 A→B |
| 104 | $823 A→B | $870 A→B | $816 A→B | $753 A→B | $693 A→B | $642 A→B | $574 A→B | $525 A→B |
| 128 | $756 A→B | $767 A→B | $706 A→B | $638 A→B | $573 A→B | $516 A→B | $437 A→B | $376 A→B |
| 182 | $438 A→B | $281 A→B | $186 A→B | $91 A→B | $0 — | $82 B→A | $215 B→A | $329 B→A |
The Minnesota worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1e | Monthly Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's monthly gross income | $4,167.00 a month |
| 1e | Monthly Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's monthly gross income | $3,333.00 a month |
| 3 | Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS) (Parent A)Parent A's income for child support | $4,167.00 a month |
| 3 | Parental Income for Determining Child Support (PICS) (Parent B)Parent B's income for child support | $3,333.00 a month |
| 3 | Combined PICSCombined income | $7,500.00 a month |
| 4 | Percentage Share of Combined PICS (Parent A)Parent A's income share | 56% |
| 4 | Percentage Share of Combined PICS (Parent B)Parent B's income share | 44% |
| 5 | Combined Basic Support ObligationTable amount for both parents | $1,505.00 a month |
| 6 | Pro Rata Basic Support Obligation (Parent A)Parent A's share of the table amount | $843.00 a month |
| 6 | Pro Rata Basic Support Obligation (Parent B)Parent B's share of the table amount | $662.00 a month |
| PEA 1 | Number of Annual Overnights for joint child(ren) (Parent A)Overnights a year with Parent A | 52 |
| PEA 1 | Number of Annual Overnights for joint child(ren) (Parent B)Overnights a year with Parent B | 313 |
| PEA 6a | Parenting expense adjustmentChange to the paying parent's share from the overnights formula | -$7.00 a month |
| 7 | Basic Support Obligation After Parenting Expense AdjustmentBasic support after the overnights formula | $836.00 a month |
| 15b | Income Available for Support (PICS – 120% of monthly FPG)Paying parent's income above the self-support reserve | $2,571.00 a month |
| Total | Child Support Obligation Total Amount (net of the other parent's medical support)Guideline amount | $836.00 a month |
With child care and health insurance
Minnesota's guideline amount doesn't add child care costs.
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $836 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $836 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $836 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $920 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $1,004 a month A→B |
The children's health coverage premium is divided by income share. The parent who doesn't carry the coverage contributes their share, which this estimate adds to or subtracts from the payment. Child care support isn't included because it depends on DCYF tax-credit tables.
How Minnesota works it out
Minnesota uses the income shares model: the guideline table gives the basic support for the parents' combined monthly income, and each parent is responsible for their percentage share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes and retirement contributions. Spousal maintenance paid is deducted and received is added. Need-based public assistance and child support received do not count. Weekly income is multiplied by 4.33 to get a monthly amount.
Minnesota's parenting expense adjustment cubes each parent's annual overnights and weighs each parent's share of basic support by the other parent's overnights. The more overnights the paying parent has, the less they pay. A parent with more than 55% of the parenting time is presumed to owe no basic support.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $50,000 in Minnesota for 2 children?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Minnesota's guideline amount is about $836 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $193 a week (the monthly amount × 12 ÷ 52).
What if the parents share time equally?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes, the guideline amount is about $91 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
What if Parent B has no income?
If Parent B has no income and the children live mostly with Parent B, the guideline amount is about $871 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: Minn. Stat. §§ 518A.26–518A.43
- Minnesota child support guidelines
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Minnesota Child Support Guidelines Calculator)
- Official Minnesota child support calculator
- Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Child Support Division
- Changing a Minnesota child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Minnesota sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →