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Wage Garnishment Limits in Massachusetts

Massachusetts exempts the greater of 85% of gross wages or 50 times the higher of the federal or Massachusetts minimum hourly wage for each week, so at most 15% of gross pay can be taken.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: greater of 85% of gross or 50x minimum wage
Uses the higher of the federal or Massachusetts hourly minimum wage, per week.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Massachusetts: Exempt: greater of 85% of gross or 50x minimum wage. Uses the higher of the federal or Massachusetts hourly minimum wage, per week.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Massachusetts?

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

Does Massachusetts protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Massachusetts: yes.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Massachusetts: no.

Where do the Massachusetts wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 246, 28. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

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.