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Wage Garnishment Limits in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, wages held by an employer are exempt from garnishment for ordinary consumer debt; exceptions include support, board for four weeks or less, residential rent judgments (up to 10% of net wages), state student loans and criminal restitution.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Pennsylvania at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Wages exempt for most consumer debt
Landlord judgments from a residential lease can take up to 10% of net wages per pay period, or less if needed to keep income above the federal poverty guidelines.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
No, except listed debts
Stricter than federal limit
Yes
Head of household exemption
No, wages already exempt

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Pennsylvania

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Pennsylvania: Wages exempt for most consumer debt. Landlord judgments from a residential lease can take up to 10% of net wages per pay period, or less if needed to keep income above the federal poverty guidelines.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Pennsylvania?

No, except listed debts. Garnishment allowed for consumer debt in Pennsylvania: no, except listed debts.

Does Pennsylvania protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes. Stricter than federal limit in Pennsylvania: yes.

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

No, wages already exempt. Head of household exemption in Pennsylvania: no, wages already exempt.

Where do the Pennsylvania wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from 42 Pa.C.S. 8127. 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.