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Wage Garnishment Limits in Tennessee

In Tennessee, garnishment is limited to the lesser of 25% of weekly disposable earnings or the amount above 30 times the federal minimum wage, with an extra $2.50 a week exempt for each dependent child under 16.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Garnishment limit for consumer debt
Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage
Plus $2.50 per week exempt for each resident dependent child under 16.
Garnishment allowed for consumer debt
Yes
Stricter than federal limit
Yes, slightly ($2.50 per child)
Head of household exemption
Yes, $2.50 a week per child under 16
The debtor must tell the employer about each dependent child or the extra exemption does not apply.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

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

Garnishment limit for consumer debt in Tennessee: Lesser of 25% or amount above 30x federal minimum wage. Plus $2.50 per week exempt for each resident dependent child under 16.

Can wages be garnished for ordinary consumer debt in Tennessee?

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

Does Tennessee protect more wages from garnishment than federal law?

Yes, slightly ($2.50 per child). Stricter than federal limit in Tennessee: yes, slightly ($2.50 per child).

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

Yes, $2.50 a week per child under 16. Head of household exemption in Tennessee: yes, $2.50 a week per child under 16. The debtor must tell the employer about each dependent child or the extra exemption does not apply.

Where do the Tennessee wage garnishment limits come from?

The rules above come from Tenn. Code 26-2-106 and Tenn. Code 26-2-107. 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.