Protected Paycheck Wage Garnishment Calculator

Wage Garnishment in Washington

Data updated: 2026-06-21
25% Cap Max Garnishment
$599.55/wk Protected Floor
$17.13/hr State Minimum Wage
Federal Baseline Protection Level

Calculate Your Protected Paycheck in Washington

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This calculator is for consumer debt garnishment only. Not legal advice. Rules vary by debt type. Verify with official sources before making decisions.

Washington: Tiered Garnishment Reform Under 2SSB 5651

Washington state enacted 2SSB 5651, creating a new tiered garnishment system that provides different protection levels based on the type of debt being collected. Under Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.150, Washington has moved beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of the federal baseline.

Consumer Debt Formula

For consumer debt (credit cards, personal loans), the protected amount is the greater of:

  • 35× the state minimum wage ($17.13/hr → $599.55/week), OR
  • 80% of disposable earnings

This means a worker earning $700/week in disposable earnings has at least $560 protected (80%), and potentially more if the 35× state MW calculation is higher.

Tiered System by Debt Type

Washington’s reformed garnishment rules establish separate protections:

  • Consumer debt: greater of 35× state MW or 80% of disposable
  • Student loans: 50× the highest applicable minimum wage + 85% of disposable
  • Medical debt: receives the most protective treatment under the tiered framework

Minimum Wage Context

Washington’s $17.13 state minimum wage is the second-highest in the nation behind only the District of Columbia. A full-time minimum-wage worker earns approximately $685.20/week. Washington adjusts its minimum wage annually for inflation.

West Coast Innovation

Washington joins California and Oregon in the group of West Coast states that have enacted significant garnishment reforms beyond the federal baseline. Each has taken a different approach — California’s 20% cap with 48× state MW exemption, Oregon’s 75% protected floor with inflation-indexed phase-in, and Washington’s tiered debt-type system. Neighboring Idaho, by contrast, follows the bare federal baseline with a $7.25 minimum wage.

Statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 6.27.150; 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.