Child support on $20,000 a year in New Jersey (5 children)
New Jersey guidelines effective June 1, 2026. New Jersey overview
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), New Jersey's guideline amount is $589 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $1,793 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $1,019 (Parent B has no income, Parent A has no overnights).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
New Jersey · 5 children · Parent A $20000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$137.00 a week
$589 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 32.9% of combined income
- Parent B: 67.1%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $1,042 a week
- Basic obligation
- $491 a week
- Parent A's share of income
- 33%
- Parenting-time adjustment
- $25 a week
- Guideline amount
- $137 a week
See the worksheet for this example
New Jersey uses the income shares model under N.J. Court Rules, R. 5:6A and Appendix IX (Child Support Guidelines); N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23. Official calculator: quickcalc.njchildsupport.gov. Child support agency: New Jersey Child Support Program (Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development).
Estimate under New Jersey's child support guidelines effective June 1, 2026. Verified against the official New Jersey 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 | $1,019 A→B | $800 A→B | $735 A→B | $697 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B |
| 52 | $968 A→B | $714 A→B | $636 A→B | $589 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B |
| 104 | $912 A→B | $632 A→B | $542 A→B | $477 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B |
| 128 | $886 A→B | $589 A→B | $490 A→B | $421 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B | $22 A→B |
| 182 | $830 A→B | $533 B→A | $748 B→A | $955 B→A | $1,127 B→A | $1,307 B→A | $1,565 B→A | $1,793 B→A |
The New Jersey worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gross Taxable Income (Parent A)Parent A's gross weekly income | $385.00 a week |
| 1 | Gross Taxable Income (Parent B)Parent B's gross weekly income | $769.00 a week |
| 2a | Federal, State and Local Income Tax Withholding (Parent A)Parent A's IX-H tax withholding | $42.00 a week |
| 2a | Federal, State and Local Income Tax Withholding (Parent B)Parent B's IX-H tax withholding | $70.00 a week |
| 6 | Net Income (Parent A)Parent A's net income | $343.00 a week |
| 6 | Net Income (Parent B)Parent B's net income | $699.00 a week |
| 6 | Net Income used (Parent A, after Lines 2c-2d)Parent A's income used | $343.00 a week |
| 6 | Net Income used (Parent B, after Lines 2c-2d)Parent B's income used | $699.00 a week |
| 6 | Combined Net IncomeCombined net income | $1,042.00 a week |
| 7 | Each Parent's Share of Income (Parent A)Parent A's income share | 33% |
| 7 | Each Parent's Share of Income (Parent B)Parent B's income share | 67% |
| 8 | Basic Child Support Amount (from Appendix IX-F Schedules)Schedule amount | $491.00 a week |
| 10/20b | PAR's Share of Overnights with the ChildOvernight share of the parent the children don't live with mostly | $0.00 a week |
| 13 (sole) | Total Child Support AmountTotal support amount | $491.00 a week |
| 14 (sole) / 13 (shared) | Each Parent's Share (Parent A)Parent A's share | $162.00 a week |
| 14 (sole) / 13 (shared) | Each Parent's Share (Parent B)Parent B's share | $329.00 a week |
| 20 (sole) | Adjustment for Parenting Time ExpensesParenting-time credit | $25.00 a week |
| 21 / 29 | Net Child Support ObligationNet obligation | $137.00 a week |
| 26 / 34 | Self-Support Reserve (150% of the poverty guideline for one person)Self-support reserve | $460.00 a week |
| 27 / 35 | Child Support OrderWeekly guideline amount | $137.00 a week |
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $589 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $662 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $830 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $641 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $688 a month A→B |
Child care (after the federal and New Jersey child care credits), the children’s health insurance and recurring medical costs above $250 per child a year are added and shared by income. The parent who pays them directly gets credit.
How New Jersey works it out
New Jersey uses the income shares model: the parents’ combined weekly net income sets a basic amount from the schedule, and each parent owes their share of it by income.
The guidelines work on weekly net income. Taxes come from the official combined withholding tables (federal, state, Social Security and Medicare), and the parent the children live with mostly claims them as dependents. Monthly amounts are divided by 4.3 to get weekly amounts.
The parent the children don’t live with mostly gets a credit for 37% of the basic amount times their share of overnights. From 28% of overnights (101 a year) the shared parenting worksheet also counts the fixed costs of a second home. If the primary household’s income would fall below twice the poverty guideline, the sole worksheet is used instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $20,000 in New Jersey for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), New Jersey's guideline amount is about $589 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
New Jersey's guidelines work in week amounts: $137 a week.
What if the parents share time equally?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes, the guideline amount is about $955 a month (Parent B pays Parent A).
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 $968 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: N.J. Court Rules, R. 5:6A and Appendix IX (Child Support Guidelines); N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23
- New Jersey child support guidelines
- Appendix IX-C Sole Parenting Worksheet (CN 10788) and Appendix IX-D Shared Parenting Worksheet (CN 10727)
- Official New Jersey child support calculator
- New Jersey Child Support Program (Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development)
- Changing a New Jersey child support order
Guidelines effective June 1, 2026. Verified against the official New Jersey sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →