Roman Law Firm
Bankruptcy Attorney in DC, VA, and MD
Consumer-credit judgments · 50 states and D.C. · as of July 1, 2026
After a creditor wins a consumer-debt judgment, the law caps how much of each paycheck can be garnished. In many states, one cap is calculated from a minimum wage. These nine use the federal $7.25, not their own higher wage, so a state wage increase does not raise the amount protected by that formula.
Nine of these 23 laws are in states with a higher minimum wage. Six use the federal 30-times cutoff. Vermont uses 40 times; Nevada and West Virginia use 50.
The nine states in the headline
30 ×federal $7.25protects $217.50/week · six states
40 ×federal $7.25protects $290.00/week · one state
50 ×federal $7.25protects $362.50/week · two states
14moreuse the federal wage
Every state shown with one weekly figure protects more than any state that still uses the federal wage. Massachusetts cannot be shown as one number because its rule uses both gross pay and pay after required deductions.
15of 51jurisdictions
Nine laws use fixed dollar amounts; seven set that amount at $217.50. Four states bar wage garnishment for this kind of debt.
9fixedchanges only by amendment
4barredno wage garnishment for this debt
All dollar bars use the same $0–$1,000 weekly scale; the barred row is a legal category, not a dollar amount. “30 × $7.25” means the law fully protects 30 times the hourly wage, or $217.50 a week. Amounts are pay after required deductions; percentage limits and family exemptions may protect more.
The national split
The nine-state mismatch is one part of a national split. From July 2009 through July 2026, formulas tied to a state or local wage produced 125 of the 131 increases this record can express as one weekly protected floor. West Virginia and Oregon produced the other six. Massachusetts is tracked separately because its rule does not produce one comparable weekly figure.
Swipe the map to see all states →
Each dollar tile shows the weekly disposable earnings protected in full for the same type of consumer-debt judgment. A ≥ sign marks a statewide lower bound. Massachusetts switches to “2 inputs” after 2011 because one weekly figure cannot express its rule.
Nebraska
Nebraska's wage law now sets a $15 minimum. Its garnishment law still multiplies the federal $7.25 by 30, so the protected floor remains $217.50 a week.
That floor is only where garnishment can begin. Percentage limits and family exemptions can further reduce what a creditor may take.
Across the border
Nebraska multiplies the federal $7.25 by 30.[3] South Dakota multiplies its own $11.85 by 40.[4][1] The hatched bar shows what Nebraska's floor would be if the same formula used Nebraska's own wage. It is a comparison, not current law.
Arkansas, Michigan, Montana and Ohio apply the federal 25 percent limit and the 30-times-$7.25 cutoff. Their state minimum wages are higher, but those wages do not enter this calculation.
| Jurisdiction | State wage listed by DOL | Protected in full each week |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $11.00 | $217.50 |
| Michigan | $13.73 | $217.50 |
| Montana | $10.85* | $217.50 |
| Ohio | $11.00 or $7.25§ | $217.50 |
Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Vermont and West Virginia use different percentages, multipliers or other protections. Each still uses $7.25 in its wage-based calculation.
| Jurisdiction | State wage listed by DOL | Protected in full each week | How its rule differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $217.50 | 25%, or 15% for a head of a family; 30× federal floor |
| Nevada | $12.00 | $362.50 | 18% or 25% by gross-pay tier; 50× federal floor |
| New Jersey | $15.92 or $15.23† | $217.50 | Smallest of 10% gross, 25% disposable, or excess over 30× federal |
| Vermont | $14.42 | $290.00 | Consumer credit: 15% reachable or excess over 40× federal; relief can protect more |
| West Virginia | $8.75 | $362.50 | 20% reachable or excess over 50× federal |
* Montana permits a $4.00 rate for certain businesses not covered by the FLSA with annual gross sales of $110,000 or less.
† New Jersey's $15.23 rate applies to employers with fewer than six people and seasonal employment.
§ Ohio employers with annual gross receipts under $405,000 may use $7.25.
The Labor Department wage table supplies the state wages as of July 1, 2026. The tables compare one protected amount, not each state's overall level of garnishment protection.
How states changed course
Once they switched, later wage increases usually raised the protected floor without another change to the garnishment law.
Seven current laws use whichever wage is higher. Maine's consumer-credit rule has used that structure since 2007. Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Dakota and Virginia use it too. Arizona and New Mexico also allow a higher local wage to control.
Each bar begins when the state minimum wage rose above $7.25 while the garnishment formula still used the federal wage. Arrows show gaps that extend beyond the verified record.
Time the state wage was above $7.25 while the garnishment formula still used the federal wage
State minimum-wage increase that did not raise the protected floor
Law switched to a state or local wage and closed the gap
New Mexico[5]
at least 13 years, 11 months · closed Jul 1, 2023Already open on Jul 24, 2009, when this record beginsJan 1, 2020 · Jan 1, 2021 · Jan 1, 2022 · Jan 1, 2023
Arizona[6]
11 years, 11 months · closed Dec 5, 2022Started Jan 1, 2011 at $7.35Jan 1, 2011 · Jan 1, 2012 · Jan 1, 2013 · Jan 1, 2014 · Jan 1, 2015 · Jan 1, 2017 · Jan 1, 2018 · Jan 1, 2019 · Jan 1, 2020 · Jan 1, 2021 · Jan 1, 2022
Nebraska[7]
11½ years · still open Jul 1, 2026Started Jan 1, 2015 at $8.00Jan 1, 2015 · Jan 1, 2016 · Jan 1, 2023 · Jan 1, 2024 · Jan 1, 2025 · Jan 1, 2026
District of Columbia[8]
at least 10 years, 2 months · closed Oct 1, 2019Already open on Jul 24, 2009, when this record beginsJul 24, 2009 · Jul 1, 2014 · Jul 1, 2015 · Jul 1, 2016 · Jul 1, 2017 · Jul 1, 2018 · Jul 1, 2019
Washington[9]
at least 10 years · closed Jul 28, 2019Already open on Jul 24, 2009, when this record beginsJan 1, 2011 · Jan 1, 2012 · Jan 1, 2013 · Jan 1, 2014 · Jan 1, 2015 · Jan 1, 2017 · Jan 1, 2018 · Jan 1, 2019
Maryland[10]
5 years, 9 months · closed Oct 1, 2020Started Jan 1, 2015 at $8.00Jan 1, 2015 · Jul 1, 2015 · Jul 1, 2016 · Jul 1, 2017 · Jul 1, 2018 · Jan 1, 2020
Minnesota[11]
4 years · closed Aug 1, 2020Started Aug 1, 2016 at $7.75Aug 1, 2016 · Jan 1, 2018 · Jan 1, 2019 · Jan 1, 2020
California[12]
at least 3 years, 11 months · closed Jul 1, 2013Already open on Jul 24, 2009, when this record begins0 wage increases during the gapNo state minimum-wage increase occurred while this gap was open.Massachusetts[13]
at least 1 year, 8 months · closed Apr 7, 2011Already open on Jul 24, 2009, when this record begins0 wage increases during the gapNo state minimum-wage increase occurred while this gap was open.South Dakota[14]
1 year, 6 months · closed Jul 1, 2016Started Jan 1, 2015 at $8.50Jan 1, 2015 · Jan 1, 2016
Virginia[15]
61 days · closed Jul 1, 2021Started May 1, 2021 at $9.50May 1, 2021
The ten jurisdictions that changed are shown, plus Nebraska's still-open comparison. Rows are ordered by observed duration. A left arrow means the gap began before the record opened; a hatched right arrow means it was still open in July 2026. Durations use the dates the laws took effect.
Chapter 431 replaces Massachusetts' superseded $125 exemption with the greater of 85% of gross wages or 50 times the higher wage. The wage-multiple branch starts at $400.00, but no single disposable-earnings floor can represent the mixed-basis rule.
Massachusetts Acts 2010, ch. 431AB 1775 replaces the federal 30× floor with 40 times California's $8 state wage, lifting the floor to $320.00.
Cal. Stats. 2012, ch. 474 (AB 1775)South Dakota adds the state wage where it is higher, lifting the no-dependent floor to $342.00.
South Dakota Laws 2016, ch. 116 (HB 1059)SHB 1602 creates Washington's consumer-debt rule and links 35 times the state wage, lifting the floor to $420.00.
Washington Laws 2019, ch. 371 (SHB 1602)D.C.'s wage-linked reform becomes applicable and protects 40 times the $14 local wage: $560.00.
D.C. Law 23-16, § 7172 and § 9001Minnesota starts using the higher state or federal wage; the lower statewide employer tier lifts the floor to $326.00.
Minnesota Laws 2020, ch. 86, § 20Chapter 183 replaces Maryland's superseded $145 amount with 30 times the state wage, lifting the effective floor to $330.00.
Maryland Chapter 183 of 2020 (HB 365)Virginia starts using the higher state or federal wage in its 40× floor, lifting the protected amount to $380.00.
Virginia 2021 Sp. Sess. I, ch. 8 (HB 1814)Proposition 209 replaces the 25% / 30× federal rule with 10% / 60× the highest applicable wage, lifting the statewide floor from $217.50 to at least $768.00.
Arizona Judicial Branch, Proposition 209: Predatory Debt Collection Protection ActSB 216 starts using 40 times the highest applicable federal, state or local wage, lifting the statewide floor to at least $480.00.
New Mexico Laws 2023, SB 216Among laws this record can express as one weekly figure, higher state or local wages produced 53 of 54 later increases. California supplied the exception by raising its multiplier from 40 to 48 in September 2023.[16]
These are counts of changes, not their dollar size.
Both states changed their garnishment laws in 2016. South Dakota began using the higher state or federal wage. West Virginia raised its multiplier but kept $7.25 in the formula.
South Dakota changed the wage reference, so ten later wage increases raised the floor without another amendment.
West Virginia changed only the multiplier and kept the frozen federal wage, so the floor has not moved since.
Next: Oregon is scheduled to replace its fixed amount with 30 times its state minimum wage on Jul 1, 2027.[17]
The cost of standing still
The current floor buys 35.5 percent less than it did when the federal minimum wage last rose. This comparison uses national CPI-U. It is not an estimate of what a household needs or a proposed legal standard.[18]
What the record shows
The two paths began with the same federal formula. They did not age the same way.
Uses the federal wage
Nothing taken at or below: $217.50 → $217.50
Uses a state or local wage
No separate change to the garnishment law
The record
Search a state, follow its sourced history, and inspect the sources and method behind it.
As of July 1, 2026, nine states with a minimum wage above $7.25 still use the federal $7.25 to calculate the protected weekly floor in their continuing consumer-credit-judgment garnishment rules. From July 24, 2009 through July 1, 2026, ten jurisdictions changed their rules to use a state or local wage. Later increases in those wages raised the comparable protected floors 53 times; one separate California multiplier amendment produced the 54th post-adoption increase.
01Find your state
Each result gives the current protected floor and its history. The record shows no change in 29 states from July 2009 through July 2026.
02Pay-period analysis
The Labor Department's example has $500 of disposable earnings in one week and $80 in the next. Applied as two weekly checks, the federal maximum totals $125. Combined into the department's $580 biweekly check, the maximum is $145.
+$20.00 from grouping the same $580 · sourceTwo weekly checks$500.00 + $80.00, tested separately
One biweekly check$580.00, tested once
$0$580.00 disposable earnings, both ways
The same annual pay can produce different results under the current Oregon and Alaska schedules. Their official weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly amounts do not all convert to the same annual figure. The table puts each schedule on a one-year basis.
| Pay schedule | Federal floor per check | Federal annualized | Oregon floor per check | Oregon annualized | Alaska floor per check | Alaska annualized |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | $217.50 | $11,310.00 | $400.00 | $20,800.00 | $473.00 | $24,596.00 |
| Every two weeks | $435.00 | $11,310.00 | $832.00 | $21,632.00 | $946.00 | $24,596.00 |
| Twice a month | $471.25 | $11,310.00 | $912.00 | $21,888.00 | $1,026.41 | $24,633.84 |
| Monthly | $942.50 | $11,310.00 | $1,792.00 | $21,504.00 | $2,033.90 | $24,406.80 |
That is the maximum annual amount exposed by Oregon's current formula under this comparison. Oregon's fixed schedule lasts only through June 30, 2027; the enacted wage-linked schedule that follows is proportional across these four pay periods.
Alaska's court form converts monthly pay using 4.3 weeks and twice-monthly pay using 2.17. Those official divisors create a smaller, but still measurable, annual difference.
The dollar examples show maximum garnishment for the comparison used throughout this page: a judgment arising from a consumer-credit transaction, equal paychecks where stated, no competing orders and no optional exemption claim. Hawaii uses monthly marginal bands or an “equivalent” weekly portion but the cited section gives no exact biweekly or semimonthly conversion, so this page does not invent one. The national map and state finder remain weekly comparisons, not 51-state pay-period calculators.
03State histories
The complete 2009 and 2026 comparison is available below, including evidence status and source anchors. Every change shown is dated and tied to an official source.
13 at the freeze → 20 today.
Dec 5, 2022 20 of 51 · Arizona rises above the frozen floor
04Sources
Each visible movement carries the effective date and official source used. A formula change that leaves the protected floor unchanged stays in the ledger because it remains part of the legal history.
Maine's wage increase lifts the consumer-credit floor to $300.00 under the higher-wage rule adopted in 2007.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageColorado's indexed wage falls to $7.24; the federal floor keeps the effective protected amount at $217.50.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveConnecticut's wage increase lifts its 40× floor to $330.00.
Connecticut Comptroller Memorandum 2010-02Illinois' wage increase lifts its 45× floor to $371.25.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesChapter 2010-97 raises Florida's head-of-family threshold from $500 to $750 and tightens the waiver form; the map's no-claim baseline remains $217.50.
Florida Laws 2010, ch. 97 (SB 492), effective Oct. 1, 2010Colorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $220.80.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveChapter 431 replaces Massachusetts' superseded $125 exemption with the greater of 85% of gross wages or 50 times the higher wage. The wage-multiple branch starts at $400.00, but no single disposable-earnings floor can represent the mixed-basis rule.
Massachusetts Acts 2010, ch. 431Oregon raises its weekly minimum exemption from $196 to $218, moving just fifty cents above the federal floor.
Oregon Laws 2011, ch. 228 (HB 2682)Colorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $229.20.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $233.40.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveAB 1775 replaces the federal 30× floor with 40 times California's $8 state wage, lifting the floor to $320.00.
Cal. Stats. 2012, ch. 474 (AB 1775)New York's wage increase lifts its 30× floor to $240.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $240.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveConnecticut's wage increase lifts the floor to $348.00.
Connecticut Governor, 2014 minimum-wage scheduleCalifornia's wage increase lifts the floor to $360.00.
California Department of Industrial Relations, History of California Minimum WageNew York's wage increase lifts the floor to $262.50.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $246.90.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveConnecticut's wage increase lifts the floor to $366.00.
Connecticut Governor, 2014 minimum-wage scheduleMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $450.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartNew York's wage increase lifts the floor to $270.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's wage increase lifts the floor to $400.00.
California Department of Industrial Relations, History of California Minimum WageColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $249.30.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveConnecticut's wage increase lifts the floor to $384.00.
Connecticut Governor, 2014 minimum-wage scheduleMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $500.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartSB 255 replaces Georgia's moving 30×-federal branch with a $217.00 state figure; federal law supplies the extra fifty cents, so the effective floor remains $217.50.
Georgia Laws 2016, Act 325 (SB 255), effective May 12, 2016HB 4417 raises West Virginia's protected multiple from 30 to 50 times the federal wage, lifting the floor to $362.50.
West Virginia HB 4417 bill historySB 501 changes the percentage prongs and starts substituting a higher local wage where one applies; $400.00 becomes a statewide lower bound.
Cal. Stats. 2015, ch. 800 (SB 501)South Dakota adds the state wage where it is higher, lifting the no-dependent floor to $342.00.
South Dakota Laws 2016, ch. 116 (HB 1059)New York begins a regional wage phase-in; the lowest statewide rate lifts the floor to at least $291.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageColorado's wage schedule lifts the floor to $279.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveConnecticut's wage increase lifts the floor to $404.00.
Connecticut Governor, 2014 minimum-wage scheduleMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $550.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaine's wage increase lifts the consumer-credit floor to $360.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageSouth Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $346.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageSB 230 adds an 18% low-income percentage tier but leaves Nevada's 50× federal no-take floor at $362.50.
Nevada Laws 2017, ch. 329 (SB 230)New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $312.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's lower employer-size tier lifts the statewide floor to at least $420.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's wage schedule lifts the floor to $306.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveMaine's wage increase lifts the consumer-credit floor to $400.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageSouth Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $354.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageNew York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $333.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's lower employer-size tier lifts the statewide floor to at least $440.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's wage schedule lifts the floor to $333.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $600.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaine's wage increase lifts the consumer-credit floor to $440.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageSouth Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $364.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageSHB 1602 creates Washington's consumer-debt rule and links 35 times the state wage, lifting the floor to $420.00.
Washington Laws 2019, ch. 371 (SHB 1602)Connecticut's wage schedule lifts the floor to $440.00.
Connecticut Public Act 19-4D.C.'s wage-linked reform becomes applicable and protects 40 times the $14 local wage: $560.00.
D.C. Law 23-16, § 7172 and § 9001New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $354.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's lower employer-size tier lifts the statewide floor to at least $480.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's wage schedule lifts the pre-reform floor to $360.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveIllinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $416.25.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $637.50.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaine's wage increase lifts the consumer-credit floor to $480.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageOregon raises the weekly minimum exemption from $218 to $254.
Oregon Laws 2019, ch. 263 (SB 519)South Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $372.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageWashington's wage increase lifts the floor to $472.50.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageD.C.'s wage increase lifts the floor to $600.00.
D.C. Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2016 wage scheduleIllinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $450.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMinnesota starts using the higher state or federal wage; the lower statewide employer tier lifts the floor to $326.00.
Minnesota Laws 2020, ch. 86, § 20Connecticut's wage schedule lifts the floor to $480.00.
Connecticut Public Act 19-4HB 19-1189 raises the multiple from 30 to 40 and lowers the percentage cap, lifting the floor to $480.00.
Colorado HB 19-1189, Wage Garnishment ReformChapter 183 replaces Maryland's superseded $145 amount with 30 times the state wage, lifting the effective floor to $330.00.
Maryland Chapter 183 of 2020 (HB 365)New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $375.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's lower employer-size tier lifts the statewide floor to at least $520.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $492.80.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Wage Order ArchiveSB 443 corrects Georgia's state figure to $217.50 and adds a private-student-loan branch; the comparison floor remains $217.50.
Georgia Laws 2020, Act 576 (SB 443), effective Jan. 1, 2021Illinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $495.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $675.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaryland's lower employer-size wage tier lifts the statewide floor to $348.00.
Maryland Chapter 10 of 2019 (HB 166)Maine's indexed wage lifts the consumer-credit floor to $486.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageMinnesota's lower statewide wage tier lifts the floor to $328.40.
Minnesota DLI, Minimum-wage Report 2025South Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $378.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $479.15.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $608.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2021 minimum-wage noticeVirginia starts using the higher state or federal wage in its 40× floor, lifting the protected amount to $380.00.
Virginia 2021 Sp. Sess. I, ch. 8 (HB 1814)Connecticut's wage schedule lifts the floor to $520.00.
Connecticut Public Act 19-4New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $396.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageCalifornia's lower employer-size tier lifts the statewide floor to at least $560.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $502.40.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #19: Local Minimum Wages (state-rate table)Illinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $540.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $712.50.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaryland's lower employer-size wage tier lifts the statewide floor to $366.00.
Maryland Chapter 10 of 2019 (HB 166)Maine's indexed wage lifts the floor to $510.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageMinnesota's lower statewide wage tier lifts the floor to $336.80.
Minnesota DLI, Minimum-wage Report 2025South Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $398.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageVirginia's wage increase lifts the floor to $440.00.
Virginia DOLI, Virginia Minimum Wage TimelineWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $507.15.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageConnecticut's wage schedule lifts the floor to $560.00.
Connecticut DOL, Wage and Workplace StandardsD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $644.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2026 minimum-wage posterProposition 209 replaces the 25% / 30× federal rule with 10% / 60× the highest applicable wage, lifting the statewide floor from $217.50 to at least $768.00.
Arizona Judicial Branch, Proposition 209: Predatory Debt Collection Protection ActNew York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $426.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageArizona's indexed wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $831.00.
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department minimum-wage noticesCalifornia's statewide wage reaches $15.50, lifting the statewide lower-bound floor to $620.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $546.00.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #19: Local Minimum Wages (state-rate table)Illinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $585.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMassachusetts' wage increase raises the gross-wage cutoff in its mixed-basis rule to $750.00.
Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Minimum Wage ChartMaryland's lower employer-size wage tier lifts the statewide floor to $384.00.
Maryland Chapter 10 of 2019 (HB 166)Maine's indexed wage lifts the floor to $552.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageMinnesota's lower statewide wage tier lifts the floor to $345.20.
Minnesota DLI, Minimum-wage Report 2025South Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $432.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageVirginia's wage increase lifts the floor to $480.00.
Virginia DOLI, Virginia Minimum Wage TimelineWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $550.90.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageConnecticut's wage schedule lifts the floor to $600.00.
Connecticut DOL, Wage and Workplace StandardsD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $680.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2026 minimum-wage posterSB 216 starts using 40 times the highest applicable federal, state or local wage, lifting the statewide floor to at least $480.00.
New Mexico Laws 2023, SB 216SB 1477 raises the wage multiple from 40 to 48, lifting the statewide floor to at least $744.00.
Cal. Stats. 2022, ch. 849 (SB 1477)Arizona's indexed wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $861.00.
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department minimum-wage noticesCalifornia's wage increase lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $768.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $576.80.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #19: Local Minimum Wages (state-rate table)Connecticut's indexed wage lifts the floor to $627.60.
Connecticut DOL, Wage and Workplace StandardsIllinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $630.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMaryland moves all employer sizes to a $15 wage, lifting the floor to $450.00.
Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 3-413Maine's indexed wage lifts the floor to $566.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageMinnesota's lower statewide wage tier lifts the floor to $354.00.
Minnesota DLI, Minimum-wage Report 2025New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $450.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageSouth Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $448.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $569.80.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $700.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2026 minimum-wage posterArizona's indexed wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $882.00.
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department minimum-wage noticesCalifornia's wage increase lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $792.00.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $592.40.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #19: Local Minimum Wages (state-rate table)Connecticut's indexed wage lifts the floor to $654.00.
Connecticut DOL, Wage and Workplace StandardsIllinois' wage increase lifts the floor to $675.00.
Illinois DOL, Historical Minimum Wage RatesMaine's indexed wage lifts the floor to $586.00.
Maine DOL, History of Maine's Minimum WageMinnesota eliminates the lower employer tier and moves the statewide floor to $445.20.
Minnesota DLI, Minimum-wage Report 2025New York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $465.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageSB 1595 begins a three-step increase, raising Oregon's weekly floor to $305.00.
Oregon Laws 2024, ch. 100 (SB 1595)South Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $460.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageVirginia's indexed wage lifts the floor to $496.40.
Virginia DOLI, Virginia Minimum Wage TimelineWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $583.10.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $718.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2026 minimum-wage posterOregon's second scheduled step raises the weekly floor to $338.00.
Oregon Laws 2024, ch. 100 (SB 1595)Arizona's indexed wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $909.00.
Industrial Commission of Arizona, Labor Department minimum-wage noticesCalifornia's wage increase lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $811.20.
California Labor Commissioner, Minimum Wage Frequently Asked QuestionsColorado's indexed wage lifts the floor to $606.40.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #19: Local Minimum Wages (state-rate table)Connecticut's indexed wage lifts the floor to $677.60.
Connecticut DOL, Wage and Workplace StandardsMaine's indexed wage lifts the floor to $604.00.
Maine DOL, New Minimum Wage IncreasesMinnesota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $456.40.
Minnesota DLI, current minimum wageNew York's upstate wage lifts the statewide lower-bound floor to $480.00.
New York DOL, History of the Minimum WageSouth Dakota's indexed wage lifts the floor to $474.00.
South Dakota DLR, Minimum WageVirginia's indexed wage lifts the floor to $510.80.
Virginia DOLI, Virginia Minimum Wage TimelineWashington's indexed wage lifts the floor to $599.55.
Washington L&I, History of Washington's Minimum WageD.C.'s indexed wage lifts the floor to $736.00.
D.C. Department of Employment Services, 2026 minimum-wage posterPublic Law 115 recodifies Indiana's garnishment rule as IC 37-2-6-4 without changing its 25% / 30×-federal formula; the effective floor remains $217.50.
Indiana P.L. 115-2026 (SB 169), IC 37-2-6-4Oregon's third scheduled step raises the weekly floor to $400.00.
Oregon Laws 2024, ch. 100 (SB 1595)05Method
This record reconstructs one threshold in all 50 states and D.C. from July 2009 through July 2026: the weekly disposable earnings at or below which nothing can be garnished for a consumer-credit judgment. It assumes a baseline adult worker who makes no optional household, dependent or hardship claim. It does not rank each state's overall protections.
The measure is the minimum statewide weekly pay after required deductions at or below which a creditor collecting the consumer-credit judgment used in this comparison can take nothing. It applies every relevant state limit and the federal ceiling. When the result also requires gross pay, this page does not print a dollar figure.
Baseline adult worker, weekly pay period, no optional household, dependent or hardship claim. A statutory prohibition and the absence of continuing garnishment are categories, not infinite dollar values.
A private judgment arising from a consumer credit transaction, applied to weekly disposable earnings. A debt-specific state rule is used when it expressly covers that profile; otherwise the general private-judgment rule is used. Child support, taxes, student loans, bankruptcy, voluntary assignments and optional hardship orders are outside the metric. Massachusetts is not assigned a comparable dollar floor after April 7, 2011 because its state exemption uses gross wages while the federal ceiling uses disposable earnings.
All 51 jurisdictions have a current endpoint and a closed source chain to the study start. Forty-five have a comparable current dollar floor, five prohibit or lack continuing garnishment, and Massachusetts requires both gross and disposable earnings.
NCLC's 2023 No Fresh Start comparison includes all nine states identified here. Its 2023 and 2025 comparisons model a full-time minimum-wage worker who heads a four-person household with two dependent children. NCLC's current criteria use gross wages for simplicity when applying percentage rules. This page instead uses weekly disposable earnings and assumes no household, dependent or hardship claim so it can follow one fully protected threshold over time.
NCLC's Model Family Financial Protection Act uses the higher-of approach found in seven current state-linked laws.
This record reconstructs, for one consistent profile, when the protected weekly amount changed or remained fixed from July 2009 through July 2026. The state-versus-federal mechanism was already documented.
The projects answer different questions, so their dollar figures should not be expected to match. NCLC evaluates broader family protections and grades states; this page follows the amount protected for a worker who makes no household, dependent or hardship claim so the same legal calculation can be compared over time.
Federal-design source. 114 Cong. Rec. 14,490–91 (May 22, 1968) (conference report on H.R. 11601) documents the federal formula and the delayed July 1970 effective date. It does not establish why any particular state later adopted or retained the federal wage.
Opening-chart terms and scope. “Disposable earnings” means pay after deductions required by law but before voluntary deductions. The comparison covers a court judgment arising from a consumer-credit transaction and assumes no household, dependent or hardship claim. Child support, taxes and other specially treated debts follow different rules.
The hatched bars replace only the federal wage in each state's existing wage-multiple calculation. They do not change its percentage limits or other terms and do not represent current law. Ohio and New Jersey publish lower minimum-wage rates for some small employers; both rates appear in the detailed comparison.
Timeline verification. The map changes only on a sourced effective date. Every 2009 baseline has a closed source chain, so no tile is screened or estimated.
Source-chain boundary. Every history has been closed to the study start through official statutory, regulatory, administrative or judicial records.
Mismatch-duration chart. A bar begins on the first date in the verified window when the generally applicable jurisdiction-wide minimum wage for adult workers exceeded $7.25 but the selected garnishment floor did not respond. Where rates differ by employer size, the lower general adult rate controls; substate local minimum-wage ordinances are excluded from a state's start. D.C.'s district-wide wage is included. 5 bars begin at Jul 24, 2009 because the mismatch was already in progress. Those durations are minimum observed spans, not claimed original start dates.
Movement classification. The 131 count includes only sourced upward changes to a comparable disposable-earnings floor. Colorado's 2010 decrease is not an increase. Massachusetts remains in the mechanism history, but its post-2011 gross-wage cutoff is excluded from dollar counts because the exact result also requires disposable earnings. The 54 comparable increases after the ten post-2009 changes are classified from their cited sources, not from matching dates. Oregon's scheduled increases therefore are not treated as minimum-wage changes.
Inflation calculation. The national CPI-U series is U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted. The calculation is $217.50 × (333.918 ÷ 215.351) = $337.25, rounded to the nearest cent. Purchasing-power loss is measured against the inflation-adjusted July 2026 equivalent and rounded to one decimal place. The two BLS observations were retrieved and preserved with the data on August 18, 2026.