North Carolina child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
North Carolina guidelines effective January 1, 2023. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, North Carolina's guideline amount is $1,056 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
North Carolina uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect January 1, 2023.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your North Carolina guideline amount
Guideline child support
Choose your state and enter both incomes to see the guideline amount.
North Carolina child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $426 | $616 | $816 | $1,030 |
| 2 children | $642 | $919 | $1,210 | $1,528 |
| 3 children | $874 | $1,088 | $1,424 | $1,799 |
| 4 children | $883 | $1,216 | $1,591 | $2,009 |
| 5 children | $893 | $1,337 | $1,750 | $2,210 |
How North Carolina calculates child support
North Carolina uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined monthly gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from all sources counts. Child support a parent already pays under an order is deducted, and so is the schedule amount for other children living with the parent.
When each parent has the children at least 123 nights a year, Worksheet B raises the basic obligation by half and offsets each parent's share by the time the children spend with the other parent.
A shaded area of the schedule protects a self-support reserve of $1,133 a month: an obligor in it pays the schedule amount at their own income only. The minimum order is $50 a month.
Work-related child care and the children's health insurance premium are added and shared by income.
Support paid for other children is deducted from income, as is the schedule amount for other children living with the parent.
The schedule runs to $40,000 of combined income a month. Above that, courts set support from the children's reasonable needs.
The primary-custody order is shown in whole dollars, as the official worksheet calculator gives it.
Parenting time in North Carolina
When each parent has the children at least 123 nights a year, Worksheet B raises the basic obligation by half and offsets each parent's share by the time the children spend with the other parent.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,056 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,056 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $1,056 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $658 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $268 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in North Carolina
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $288 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,908 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
A shaded area of the schedule protects a self-support reserve of $1,133 a month: an obligor in it pays the schedule amount at their own income only. The minimum order is $50 a month.
The schedule runs to $40,000 of combined income a month. Above that, courts set support from the children's reasonable needs.
Child support by number of children in North Carolina
- 1 child$704 a month
- 2 children$1,056 a month
- 3 children$1,256 a month
- 4 children$1,403 a month
- 5 children$1,543 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4(c); North Carolina Child Support Guidelines (AOC-A-162)
- North Carolina child support guidelines
- Worksheet A (AOC-CV-627) or B (AOC-CV-628)
- Official North Carolina child support calculator
- NC Department of Health and Human Services, Child Support Services
Guidelines effective January 1, 2023. Verified against the official North Carolina sources on October 6, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in North Carolina?
North Carolina uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined monthly gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share. Gross income from all sources counts. Child support a parent already pays under an order is deducted, and so is the schedule amount for other children living with the parent.
What is the child support for one child in North Carolina on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, North Carolina's guideline amount for one child is about $616 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in North Carolina?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $268 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). When each parent has the children at least 123 nights a year, Worksheet B raises the basic obligation by half and offsets each parent's share by the time the children spend with the other parent.
What is the minimum child support in North Carolina?
A shaded area of the schedule protects a self-support reserve of $1,133 a month: an obligor in it pays the schedule amount at their own income only. The minimum order is $50 a month.
When does child support end in North Carolina?
Support ends at 18, or for a child still in school at graduation, when the child stops attending, or at 20, whichever comes first.