Child support on $20,000 a year in Tennessee (3 children)
Tennessee guidelines effective October 1, 2021. Tennessee 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), Tennessee's guideline amount is $437 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $1,131 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $710 (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
Tennessee · 3 children · Parent A $20000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$437 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 33.3% of combined income
- Parent B: 66.7%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $5,000 a month
- Basic obligation
- $1,266 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 33%
- Parenting-time adjustment
- $19 a month
- Guideline amount
- $437 a month
See the worksheet for this example
Tennessee uses the income shares model under T.C.A. § 36-5-101(e); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 (Child Support Guidelines). Official calculator: www.tn.gov. Child support agency: Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Support Services.
Estimate under Tennessee's child support guidelines effective October 1, 2021. Verified against the official Tennessee 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 | $710 A→B | $614 A→B | $578 A→B | $497 A→B | $466 A→B | $423 A→B | $362 A→B | $346 A→B |
| 52 | $625 A→B | $540 A→B | $509 A→B | $437 A→B | $410 A→B | $372 A→B | $318 A→B | $305 A→B |
| 104 | $597 A→B | $444 A→B | $384 A→B | $299 A→B | $258 A→B | $207 A→B | $134 A→B | $93 A→B |
| 128 | $597 A→B | $308 A→B | $192 A→B | $76 A→B | $5 A→B | $74 B→A | $186 B→A | $281 B→A |
| 182 | $597 A→B | $0 — | $243 B→A | $430 B→A | $567 B→A | $712 B→A | $913 B→A | $1,131 B→A |
The Tennessee worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's monthly gross income | $1,666.67 a month |
| 1 | Monthly Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's monthly gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 2 | Adjusted Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's adjusted gross income | $1,666.67 a month |
| 2 | Adjusted Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's adjusted gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 2a | Combined Adjusted Gross IncomeCombined adjusted gross income | $5,000.00 a month |
| 3 | Percentage Share of Income (Parent A)Parent A's income share | 33% |
| 3 | Percentage Share of Income (Parent B)Parent B's income share | 67% |
| 4 | Basic Child Support Obligation (BCSO)Schedule amount for both parents | $1,266.00 a month |
| 4a | Share of BCSO owed to primary parentAlternate residential parent's share | $417.78 a month |
| 4b | BCSO if Self Support Reserve (SSR) is appliedShaded-area amount on that parent's income alone | $597.00 a month |
| 5 | Parenting time (days, Parent A)Days a year with Parent A | 52 |
| 5 | Parenting time (days, Parent B)Days a year with Parent B | 313 |
| 5a | Parenting Time Adjustment (68 or less days)Increase for limited parenting time | $19.46 a month |
| 7 | Calculated BCSO (Parent A)Parent A's basic support after time and low-income checks | $437.24 a month |
| 7 | Calculated BCSO (Parent B)Parent B's basic support after time and low-income checks | $0.00 a month |
| 11 | Adjusted Support Obligation (Parent A)Parent A's total obligation | $437.24 a month |
| 11 | Adjusted Support Obligation (Parent B)Parent B's total obligation | $0.00 a month |
| 12 | Presumptive Child Support Order (PCSO)Guideline amount | $437.00 a month |
Open the official Child Support Worksheet and Credit Worksheet (Rule 1240-02-04-.08) →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $437 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $602 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $767 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $487 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $536 a month A→B |
The children's health insurance premium, recurring uninsured medical costs and work-related child care are divided by income share. Each parent owes their share of what the other parent pays.
How Tennessee works it out
Tennessee uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for federal income tax and Social Security. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and child support received don't count, and alimony between the parents is neither added nor deducted.
Tennessee counts parenting time in days. The share of the parent with less time goes up when they have fewer than 69 days a year. From 92 days they get a credit that grows with each day. With equal time (182.5 days each) Parent B gets the credit and the parent with the larger amount pays.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $20,000 in Tennessee for 3 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), Tennessee's guideline amount is about $437 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $101 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 $430 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 $625 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: T.C.A. § 36-5-101(e); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1240-02-04 (Child Support Guidelines)
- Tennessee child support guidelines
- Child Support Worksheet and Credit Worksheet (Rule 1240-02-04-.08)
- Official Tennessee child support calculator
- Tennessee Department of Human Services, Child Support Services
- Changing a Tennessee child support order
Guidelines effective October 1, 2021. Verified against the official Tennessee sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →