What’s the Average Child Support Payment?

Child support is an important financial commitment for families following a divorce. Ordered by the court, one parent pays child support to the other parent to support the needs of their shared child or children.

There were $20.2 billion in child support payments made in cash in 2021. The average cash amount for child support per month was $441.

“These payments help balance the financial responsibilities between parents and maintain a standard of living for the child that is as close as possible to what they would have experienced had the parents remained together,” says Anna Blood, family law attorney at Blood Law PLLC. “The primary focus of child support is the best interests of the child, ensuring that the child’s basic needs—such as housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care—are adequately met.”

Factors Influencing Child Support Amounts

There are various factors that impact how much a parent ends up paying in child support.

“Eligibility criteria for child support typically hinge on factors like custody arrangements, income levels, and the child’s needs,” says Theresa Viera, family law attorney and founder of Modern Legal.

How much a parent pays in child support is impacted by the state where the family lives.

“Child support calculations lie in state-specific guidelines, which assess things like parents’ income and earning potential, meaning parents who earn more may end up paying higher amounts, while those with lower incomes typically contribute less,” says Padideh Jafari, family law attorney and founder of Jafari Law & Mediation Office.

How many children a parent is supporting is considered when establishing child support payments following a divorce.

“The court also looks at the number of children and custody arrangements, like which parent holds primary custody and details on the proportion of time each parent spends with the child,” Jafari says. “Financial obligations towards other children from previous relationships can affect child support calculations as well.”

How to Calculate Child Support Payments

To calculate child support payments, you’ll need to visit the department in your state that handles child support.

“Every state has a department or agency dedicated to establishing, collecting, and enforcing child support on behalf of the child. Individuals can estimate their child support obligation by visiting the website of their state’s department or agency,” says Brian Mayer, senior counsel at Schoenberg Family Law Group.

On your state page for child support, you’ll be able to input the personal information for your family into the state formula and get a calculation for child support.

“Most states provide an online calculator or downloadable worksheet. You’ll typically need to input: parent incomes, number of children, custody/parenting time, and health insurance and child care costs,” says Paige Harley, a divorce strategist at Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce.

The formula used for calculating child support varies by state. “Each state uses a different system for determining child support payments. The Income Shares Model considers both parents’ earnings, while the Percentage of Income Model bases calculations only on the noncustodial parent’s income,” Jafari says.

The Bottom Line

Child support is a key financial component for families after a divorce, The aim of child support is to meet the needs of the child or children affected by divorce. To get a calculation of child support due to your family, visit the website of the child support department in your state and input your personal data into the state formula for child support payments.