North Carolina Child Support Calculator
North Carolina's child support guidelines are an income-shares model built on monthly gross income. The current guidelines and Schedule of Basic Support Obligations took effect on January 2023. This calculator follows Worksheet A when one parent has primary custody and Worksheet B when the parents share custody, with child care, health insurance and the self-support reserve built into the schedule.
Before taxes, less support paid under other orders
Before taxes, less support paid under other orders
Out of 365; 123+ with each parent is shared custody, 243+ with one is primary custody
Due to employment or a job search
Due to employment or a job search
Premium ÷ people covered × children in this case
Premium ÷ people covered × children in this case
Estimated monthly child support
Parent A (pays support)
Annual amount
Who pays
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined monthly adjusted gross income | $8,000.00 |
| Parent A income share 62.50% of combined income | 0.625 |
| Basic child support obligation (Worksheet A line 4) | $1,152.00 |
| Parent A's share of the total obligation (line 7) | $720.00 |
| Monthly child support Parent A pays | $720.00 |
This is a guideline estimate under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4(c1); North Carolina Child Support Guidelines (AOC-A-162) for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
North Carolina child support at a glance
| Model | Income shares (monthly gross income) |
| Schedule range | Up to $1,300, then to $40,000 combined monthly income |
| Self-support reserve | $1,133 a month |
| Shared custody | 123+ nights with each parent |
| Children on the schedule | 1–6 |
| Guidelines effective | January 2023 |
Gross income and the schedule
North Carolina uses gross income before taxes, from almost any source, less support actually paid under other orders and a deduction for other children living with the parent. Combined monthly adjusted gross income is matched to the Schedule of Basic Support Obligations for the number of children. Every income up to $1,300 has the same amount; between $50 rows the amount is interpolated. The schedule already includes $250 a child a year of uninsured medical and dental costs.
Primary and shared custody
Worksheet A applies when one parent has the children 243 or more nights a year: the other parent pays their income share of the total, less the child care and premiums they pay directly. Worksheet B applies when each parent has at least 123 nights and shares the children's expenses: the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5 for the cost of two homes, each parent's portion is weighted by the time the children spend with the other parent, and the parent with the higher amount pays the difference.
Low and high incomes
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve of $1,133 a month, the 2022 federal poverty level for one person. If the non-custodial parent's own income falls in the schedule's shaded area on Worksheet A, support is the schedule amount on that income alone, without child care or premiums. Obligors under $1,150 owe the $50 minimum order absent a deviation. Above $40,000 a month ($480,000 a year) of combined income, the court sets support from the children's reasonable needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does North Carolina use gross or net income for child support?
Gross income. The schedule converts net amounts to gross using federal and North Carolina tax rates and FICA, so each parent enters income before taxes, health insurance or retirement deductions. Means-tested benefits such as TANF and SSI are excluded.
How many overnights is shared custody in North Carolina?
At least 123 nights a year with each parent, with each parent paying the children's expenses during their time. Below that, the parent with 243 or more nights has primary custody and Worksheet A applies, which has no adjustment for the other parent's overnights.
What is the minimum child support in North Carolina?
$50 a month. The guidelines require a minimum order for obligors with adjusted gross income under $1,150, absent a deviation, and the schedule's first row (incomes up to $1,300) is $50 for one to 6 children.
What if combined income is above $40,000 a month?
The schedule cannot determine support above $40,000 of combined monthly income ($480,000 a year). The court sets an amount that meets the children's reasonable needs for health, education and maintenance, considering the parents' estates, earnings and accustomed standard of living; the schedule may help as a minimal level.
Are child care and health insurance included?
Yes, on top of the schedule. Work-related child care and the premium attributable to the children are added to the basic obligation and split by income share, and a parent gets credit for what they pay directly. In the shaded area on Worksheet A they are left out, though paying them may support a deviation.
Can a North Carolina court deviate from the guidelines?
Yes. After hearing evidence, the court may deviate if applying the guidelines would not meet or would exceed the child's reasonable needs, or would otherwise be unjust or inappropriate. It must make written findings, including the presumptive amount under the guidelines and the basis for the amount ordered.