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Wage Garnishment Limits in Ohio

In Ohio, the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30 times the federal minimum wage (weekly) is exempt, so at most 25% can be garnished for consumer debt, the same as the federal limit.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Ohio at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Exempt: greater of 75% or 30x federal minimum wage
Exempt amount is the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30, 60, 65 or 130 times the federal minimum wage for weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly pay.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
No, matches federal limit
Head of household exemption
No

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Ohio

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Ohio: Exempt: greater of 75% or 30x federal minimum wage. Exempt amount is the greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 30, 60, 65 or 130 times the federal minimum wage for weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly pay.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Ohio?

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

Does Ohio protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

No, matches federal limit. Stricter than federal limit in Ohio: no, matches federal limit.

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

No. Head of household exemption in Ohio: no.

Where do the Ohio wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Ohio Rev. Code 2329.66(A)(13). Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The current version of the section took effect September 30, 2025 (House Bill 96) and keeps the same personal earnings exemption.

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.