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Wage Garnishment Limits in New York

New York limits an income execution to 10% of gross income and 25% of disposable earnings, and nothing can be taken unless weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the higher of the federal or state minimum wage.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New York at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 10% of gross or 25% of disposable; 30x wage floor
Nothing is withheld unless weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the greater of the federal or New York minimum wage. No income execution on certain medical debt judgments.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New York

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in New York: Lesser of 10% of gross or 25% of disposable; 30x wage floor. Nothing is withheld unless weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the greater of the federal or New York minimum wage. No income execution on certain medical debt judgments.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in New York?

Yes. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in New York: yes.

Does New York protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in New York: yes.

Does New York give extra garnishment protection to a head of household?

No. Head of household exemption in New York: no.

Where do the New York wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from N.Y. CPLR 5231(b). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

CPLR 5231(b) bars income executions on judgments in medical debt actions brought by licensed hospitals or health care professionals.

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.