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Pennsylvania Child Support Calculator (2026)

Under 231 Pa. Code Rules 1910.16‑3 and 1910.16‑3.1, Pennsylvania applies the Income‑Shares model to compute basic child‑support obligations, using a state‑wide schedule that starts at $1,300 of combined monthly net income and climbs in $50 increments up to $30,000.

Reviewed 2026-09-08 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice. · Ver esta página en español

The parent who will pay support (usually the one with less parenting time). Monthly net income as the state defines it.
The parent who receives support. Both incomes are added to find the schedule amount.
The law behind this calculator: Pennsylvania basic child support schedule — 231 Pa. Code Rules 1910.16-3 and 1910.16-3.1.

How Pennsylvania calculates it

  • Add both parents' monthly net incomes to get the combined income.
  • Find the basic child‑support amount in the Pennsylvania schedule for that combined income and the number of children; use the nearest $50 row.
  • Multiply the schedule amount by the paying parent’s share of the combined income (paying parent income ÷ combined income).
  • If the combined income exceeds $30,000, add the statutory percentage (4‑6.3% depending on number of children) of the excess to the $30,000 schedule amount.
  • Adjust the result later for child‑care, health‑insurance and parenting‑time; those are not part of the basic figure.

Worked example

In the worked example, the paying parent earns $4,000 per month net and the other parent earns $2,500 per month net, giving a combined net income of $6,500. The Pennsylvania schedule shows a basic obligation of $1,855 for two children at that income level. The paying parent’s share of the combined income is 61.5%, so the monthly support before any child‑care, health‑insurance, or parenting‑time adjustments is 61.5% × $1,855 = $1,142.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if the combined monthly net income is below $1,300?

Pennsylvania’s low‑income rules in Rule 1910.16‑2(e) and the self‑support reserve apply, and the court sets support case‑by‑case rather than using the schedule.

How does the schedule handle incomes above $30,000?

The $30,000 schedule amount is used, then a percentage—4.0% for one or two children, rising to 6.3% for six children—is applied to the income over $30,000 and added to that base amount.

Does the paying parent’s overnight parenting time affect the amount?

Yes. The schedule assumes the paying parent has the children 30% of overnights; if the parent has 40% or more, the obligation is reduced further.

Are child‑care and health‑insurance costs included in the basic obligation?

No. Those costs are added as separate adjustments after the basic amount is calculated.

What percentage of the combined income does the paying parent actually pay?

The paying parent’s share equals their net income divided by the combined net income; that share is multiplied by the schedule amount to determine their payment.

Is the calculation different in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Allentown?

No. 231 Pa. Code Rules 1910.16-3 and 1910.16-3.1 sets one statewide guideline, so a case in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown uses the same percentages as anywhere else in Pennsylvania. Judges everywhere in the state may deviate only with written findings.

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Child Support by city in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania applies one rule statewide, so the numbers do not change by city. These pages name the county court that actually hears the case and run the same verified formula.

Philadelphia · Pittsburgh · Allentown · Reading · Erie · Bethlehem · Scranton · Lancaster · Harrisburg · York · Wilkes-Barre · Altoona · State College · Norristown · Chester · every city we cover

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StateTally. (2026). Pennsylvania Child Support Calculator (2026). Retrieved September 17, 2026, from https://statetally.com/child-support/pennsylvania/