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Wage Garnishment Limits in Alaska

Alaska protects the first $473 of a worker's weekly net earnings, or 75% of weekly disposable earnings if that is more, and $743 a week when the worker swears that the worker's earnings alone support the household.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Alaska at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
First $473 a week exempt (or 75% if more)
The $473 figure is set by 8 AAC 95.030, which adjusts the $350 amount in Alaska Stat. 09.38.030(a). Federal limits apply to nonresidents.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
The $473 weekly exemption is higher than the federal floor of 30 times the federal minimum wage.
Head of household exemption
Yes, $743 a week
Applies when the worker swears by affidavit that the worker's earnings alone support the household.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Alaska

How much of your wages can be garnished for consumer debt in Alaska?

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Alaska: First $473 a week exempt (or 75% if more). The $473 figure is set by 8 AAC 95.030, which adjusts the $350 amount in Alaska Stat. 09.38.030(a). Federal limits apply to nonresidents.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Alaska?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Alaska: yes.

Does Alaska protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Alaska: yes. The $473 weekly exemption is higher than the federal floor of 30 times the federal minimum wage.

Does Alaska give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

Yes, $743 a week. Head of household exemption in Alaska: yes, $743 a week. Applies when the worker swears by affidavit that the worker's earnings alone support the household.

Where do the Alaska wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Alaska Stat. 09.38.030, Alaska Stat. 09.38.050 and 8 AAC 95.030. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The statute lists $350 a week (and $550 for a sole household earner), but those amounts are adjusted for inflation by regulation; the court's garnishment notice (form CIV-530, 8/24) uses $473 and $743.

In July 2026 the Alaska Department of Labor proposed raising the exemption amounts in 8 AAC 95.030, including the weekly earnings exemptions, so the figures may change once a new rule takes effect.

What this means in practice

Disposable earnings are what remains after deductions the law requires, such as income tax, Social Security and required withholding. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or retirement contributions are usually not subtracted, so the protected amount is often less than take home pay suggests.

The limits in this guide apply to ordinary consumer debt. Child support, alimony, federal and state taxes, and federal student loans follow separate rules that often allow a larger share of pay to be taken, even in states with strict limits for other debts.

Exemptions are often not applied automatically. A worker may need to file a claim of exemption with the court within a short deadline after receiving notice of the garnishment. Reading the notice promptly, and talking with the creditor about a payment plan or settlement, can keep more of each paycheck.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.