Child support on $55,000 a year in Washington (4 children)
Washington guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Washington overview
If Parent A earns $55,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Washington's guideline amount is $1,269 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $1,817 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $1,428 (Parent B earns $60,000, equal time).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
Washington · 4 children · Parent A $55000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$1,269 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 52.1% of combined income
- Parent B: 47.9%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $7,302 a month
- Basic obligation
- $2,436 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 52.1%
- Guideline amount
- $1,269 a month
See the worksheet for this example
- Net income was estimated with Washington's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
Washington uses the income shares model under Chapter 26.19 RCW (Child Support Schedule), as amended by 2025 c 272. Official calculator: fortress.wa.gov. Child support agency: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support.
Estimate under Washington's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Washington 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 | $1,406 A→B | $1,406 A→B | $1,291 A→B | $1,269 A→B | $1,216 A→B | $1,174 A→B | $1,117 A→B | $1,051 A→B |
| 52 | $1,406 A→B | $1,406 A→B | $1,291 A→B | $1,269 A→B | $1,216 A→B | $1,174 A→B | $1,117 A→B | $1,051 A→B |
| 104 | $1,406 A→B | $1,406 A→B | $1,291 A→B | $1,269 A→B | $1,216 A→B | $1,174 A→B | $1,117 A→B | $1,051 A→B |
| 128 | $1,406 A→B | $1,406 A→B | $1,291 A→B | $1,269 A→B | $1,216 A→B | $1,174 A→B | $1,117 A→B | $1,051 A→B |
| 182 | $1,406 A→B | $1,406 A→B | $1,291 A→B | $1,269 A→B | $1,372 B→A | $1,428 A→B | $1,580 B→A | $1,817 B→A |
The Washington worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1g | Total Gross Monthly Income (Parent A)Parent A's gross income | $4,583.33 a month |
| 1g | Total Gross Monthly Income (Parent B)Parent B's gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 2a | Income Taxes (Federal and State) (Parent A)Parent A's estimated income tax | $368.33 a month |
| 2a | Income Taxes (Federal and State) (Parent B)Parent B's estimated income tax | -$468.75 a month |
| 2b | FICA (Soc. Sec. + Medicare) (Parent A)Parent A's Social Security and Medicare | $350.63 a month |
| 2b | FICA (Soc. Sec. + Medicare) (Parent B)Parent B's Social Security and Medicare | $255.00 a month |
| 2c | Mandatory State Deductions (Parent A)Parent A's paid leave and WA Cares premiums | $63.57 a month |
| 2c | Mandatory State Deductions (Parent B)Parent B's paid leave and WA Cares premiums | $46.24 a month |
| 3 | Monthly Net Income (Parent A)Parent A's net income | $3,800.80 a month |
| 3 | Monthly Net Income (Parent B)Parent B's net income | $3,500.84 a month |
| 4 | Combined Monthly Net IncomeCombined net income | $7,301.65 a month |
| 5 | Basic Child Support Obligation (per child)Table amount for each child | $609.00 a month |
| 5 | Basic Child Support ObligationTable amount for all the children | $2,436.00 a month |
| 6 | Proportional Share of Income (Parent A)Parent A's share of income | 52.1% |
| 6 | Proportional Share of Income (Parent B)Parent B's share of income | 47.9% |
| 7 | Each Parent's Basic Child Support Obligation without consideration of low income limitations (Parent A)Parent A's share of the table amount | $1,269.00 a month |
| 7 | Each Parent's Basic Child Support Obligation without consideration of low income limitations (Parent B)Parent B's share of the table amount | $1,167.00 a month |
| 8 | Self-Support ReserveSelf-support reserve | $2,394.00 a month |
| 9 | Each parent's basic child support obligation after calculating applicable limitations (Parent A)Parent A's amount after the low-income limits | $1,269.00 a month |
| 9 | Each parent's basic child support obligation after calculating applicable limitations (Parent B)Parent B's amount after the low-income limits | $1,106.00 a month |
| 15 | Gross Child Support Obligation (Parent A)Parent A's total before credits | $1,269.00 a month |
| 15 | Gross Child Support Obligation (Parent B)Parent B's total before credits | $1,106.00 a month |
| 17 | Standard Calculation (Parent A)Parent A's standard calculation | $1,269.00 a month |
| 17 | Standard Calculation (Parent B)Parent B's standard calculation | $1,106.00 a month |
| 18 | 45% of each parent's net income (Parent A)Parent A's 45% of net income limit | $1,710.36 a month |
| 18 | 45% of each parent's net income (Parent B)Parent B's 45% of net income limit | $1,575.38 a month |
| 17 | Standard Calculation (paying parent)Guideline amount | $1,269.00 a month |
Open the official Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $1,269 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $1,530 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $1,790 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $1,347 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $1,425 a month A→B |
The children's health insurance premiums, uninsured health costs, day care and special child-rearing expenses are shared in proportion to income. The parent who pays a cost gets a credit for it.
Things to know about this example
- Net income was estimated with Washington's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
How Washington works it out
Washington uses the income shares model on net income. The economic table gives an amount for each child from the parents' combined monthly net income and the number of children; each parent owes their share of the total, and the parent the children don't live with pays theirs.
Net income is gross income from most sources minus income taxes actually owed, Social Security and Medicare, mandatory state insurance premiums (paid family and medical leave and WA Cares), mandatory dues and pension payments, limited voluntary retirement contributions, maintenance paid and business expenses. Maintenance received counts as income. Washington prescribes no tax method, so the net income here is an estimate: the parent the children live with is assumed to file as head of household and claim them.
Washington has no parenting-time formula. A court may deviate from the standard calculation when the children spend a significant amount of time with the paying parent, unless that would leave the other household unable to meet the children's basic needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $55,000 in Washington for 4 children?
If Parent A earns $55,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Washington's guideline amount is about $1,269 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $293 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 $1,269 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 $1,406 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: Chapter 26.19 RCW (Child Support Schedule), as amended by 2025 c 272
- Washington child support guidelines
- Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets
- Official Washington child support calculator
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support
- Changing a Washington child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Washington sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →