Wage Garnishment in Mississippi

Mississippi: Minimal Protections in a No-Minimum-Wage State

Mississippi provides the weakest possible wage garnishment protections in the United States. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 85-3-1, the state follows the federal baseline CCPA limits: 25% of disposable earnings, with $217.50/week protected. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, defaulting entirely to the federal $7.25/hour — a fact that legislators have opted not to address, making it one of the states with the least worker-friendly legal environment.

The Compounding Effect

Mississippi’s approach creates a compounding effect: workers are paid the lowest possible legal wage, and then the maximum allowable percentage can be taken from their already minimal earnings. A full-time minimum-wage worker earns $290/week. With $217.50 protected, $72.50 is exposed to garnishment — up to about $18/week in potential garnishment. While the dollar amount seems small, for a worker earning $15,080/year, losing $936/year to garnishment represents a 6.2% reduction in gross income.

Deep South Comparison

Mississippi shares the bottom tier of consumer protection with neighboring states. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana all follow the federal baseline for garnishment, and most have $7.25 minimum wages. Arkansas also follows the federal baseline but offers an $11.00 minimum wage — a notable difference. Texas bans garnishment entirely, making it the strongest outlier in the region. Florida offers a $750/week HOH exemption and a $13.00 minimum wage. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee represent the least-protective cluster in the Deep South.

Asset Protection Context

Mississippi offers a relatively strong $75,000 homestead exemption, which provides some asset protection for homeowners. But for renters and non-homeowners, the wage garnishment and personal property exemptions are minimal. Mississippi received consistent ‘F’ grades from the NCLC, reflecting the comprehensive weakness of consumer protections across the board.

Statute: Miss. Code Ann. § 85-3-1; 15 U.S.C. § 1673 — Official source

This calculator is for consumer debt garnishment only. Not legal advice. Rules vary by debt type (student loans, child support, taxes). Verify with official sources before making any financial or legal decisions.