Child support on $120,000 a year in Pennsylvania (5 children)
Pennsylvania guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Pennsylvania overview
If Parent A earns $120,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Pennsylvania's guideline amount is $2,489 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $552 (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $2,847 (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
Pennsylvania · 5 children · Parent A $120000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$2,489 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 68.3% of combined income
- Parent B: 31.7%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $10,766 a month
- Basic obligation
- $3,660 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 68.3%
- Guideline amount
- $2,489 a month
See the worksheet for this example
- Net income was estimated with Pennsylvania's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
Pennsylvania uses the income shares model under Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-1 to 1910.16-7; 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322. Official calculator: www.humanservices.dhs.pa.gov. Child support agency: Pennsylvania Child Support Program (Department of Human Services).
Estimate under Pennsylvania's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Pennsylvania sources on October 6, 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 | $2,847 A→B | $2,711 A→B | $2,595 A→B | $2,489 A→B | $2,385 A→B | $2,400 A→B | $2,336 A→B | $2,277 A→B |
| 52 | $2,847 A→B | $2,711 A→B | $2,595 A→B | $2,489 A→B | $2,385 A→B | $2,400 A→B | $2,336 A→B | $2,277 A→B |
| 104 | $2,847 A→B | $2,711 A→B | $2,595 A→B | $2,489 A→B | $2,385 A→B | $2,400 A→B | $2,336 A→B | $2,277 A→B |
| 128 | $2,847 A→B | $2,711 A→B | $2,595 A→B | $2,489 A→B | $2,385 A→B | $2,400 A→B | $2,336 A→B | $2,277 A→B |
| 182 | $2,278 A→B | $2,114 A→B | $1,982 A→B | $1,880 A→B | $1,790 A→B | $1,678 A→B | $1,104 A→B | $552 A→B |
The Pennsylvania worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Adjusted Monthly Net Income (obligor)Paying parent's monthly net income | $7,356.83 a month |
| 18 | Adjusted Monthly Net Income (obligee)Other parent's monthly net income | $3,409.08 a month |
| 19 | Combined Monthly Net IncomeCombined net income | $10,765.92 a month |
| 20 | Basic Child Support ObligationSchedule amount | $3,660.00 a month |
| 21 | Net Income expressed as a percentage of Combined Monthly Net IncomePaying parent's income share | 68% |
| 22 | Preliminary Monthly Basic Child Support ObligationPaying parent's share of the schedule amount | $2,489.00 a month |
| 25g | Obligor's Adjusted Basic Child Support ObligationBasic support after shared time and low-income rules | $2,489.00 a month |
| 26f | Total Additional ExpensesChild care and medical add-ons | $0.00 a month |
| 27 | Obligor's Total Monthly Child Support ObligationGuideline amount | $2,489.00 a month |
Open the official Support guidelines worksheet, Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4(a)(1) →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $2,489 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $2,739 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $3,079 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $2,591 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $2,693 a month A→B |
Child care, the children's health insurance premium and unreimbursed medical costs above $250 per child a year are shared by income percentage.
Things to know about this example
- Net income was estimated with Pennsylvania's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
How Pennsylvania works it out
Pennsylvania uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined monthly net income, and the paying parent pays their percentage share of it.
Net income is gross income minus federal, state and local income taxes, Social Security and Medicare, mandatory retirement, mandatory union dues and alimony paid. This estimate works out taxes from gross income the way the state estimator does by default.
When the paying parent has the children at least 40% of overnights, their share is reduced. With equal time, support is limited so that the two households have equal net income.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $120,000 in Pennsylvania for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $120,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Pennsylvania's guideline amount is about $2,489 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $574 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 $1,880 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 $2,847 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-1 to 1910.16-7; 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322
- Pennsylvania child support guidelines
- Support guidelines worksheet, Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.16-4(a)(1)
- Official Pennsylvania child support calculator
- Pennsylvania Child Support Program (Department of Human Services)
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Pennsylvania sources on October 6, 2026. How we calculate →