What Is the Average Child Support Payment in Massachusetts?

If you are asking, ‘What is the average child support payment in Massachusetts?’, you may find there is no simple or straightforward answer. Even though state guidelines provide a child support obligation schedule based on both parents’ combined biweekly income, this amount can deviate substantially. This means what you pay for child support may be significantly different from the payments of someone living in your same town or city.

Breakdown of Child Support Calculations in Massachusetts

When a parent petitions for child support in Massachusetts, they must provide information that is used to determine their eligibility for support and the size of the child support payments they may receive. This information must be provided regardless of whether the parents are divorcing or were never married.

The purpose of child support is to ensure both parents fulfill their financial responsibilities toward their children, as mandated by federal and state law. Support payments, therefore, reflect potential costs incurred in the child’s rearing. They are paid by a non-custodial parent to a parent with whom the child resides.

The most recent Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines outline the factors considered when determining child support amounts. These include:

• Each parent’s gross weekly income
• Each parent’s attributable income
• Existing child custody and parenting time arrangements
• Other obligations each parent has toward other children

Every factor in the child support calculation plays a role, though elements like income, the child’s age, and the existing custody arrangement tend to carry greater weight than others.

What Is the Average Child Support Payment in Massachusetts?

The state provides a child support obligation schedule on its Child Support Guidelines Worksheet.

Based on this worksheet, the minimum amount for child support is $12 per week for someone earning $210 or less per week. The maximum is based on a combined income of $400,000, or $7,692 per week, and it sets the total child support amount at $801 + 10%.

When determining child support amounts, however, the court may deviate from this total amount. One reason could be that the total support amount accounts for more than 40% of a payor’s income. Additionally, if a parent has other child support obligations, including to children with the same parent, this may decrease the final amount for the individual child.

In some instances, courts may also consider including income above the $7,692 in the calculation at a lower rate on a case-by-case basis.

The average amount of child support received in Massachusetts in 2022 was 7,266. This number was among the highest in the country. The average is likely to have increased based on the updated MA child support guidelines, though more recent data on child support averages in Massachusetts are not readily available.

It is unlikely, however, that any potential increase in child support averages has kept up with the increasing inflation over the past five years: $7,266 per year in Dec 2022 has the same buying power as $7,869.91 in 2025. That would mean the average support amount should have increased to cover the same expenses.

Child support orders may not account for the cost of secondary education, either, which has increased significantly in recent years. Massachusetts courts have the discretion to require each parent to cover up to 50% of those expenses. As of 2024, the average cost of tuition and fees for a four-year degree at public universities in Massachusetts is $13,939.

For many parents, ensuring that child support is calculated based on their specific circumstances is essential, especially as families increasingly struggle to make every dollar count.

FAQs

Q: How Much Child Support Does a Father Pay in Massachusetts?

A: How much child support a father pays in Massachusetts is determined by the child support calculation guidelines. Regardless of a parent’s gender, they may be required to pay child support to a custodial parent with whom they share custody or who has full custody. Each parent’s income, custody agreement, financial responsibilities, and the cost of child-rearing all factor into the final amount.

Q: Is there a Cap on Child Support in Massachusetts?

A: Yes, there is a cap on child support in Massachusetts. First, courts typically determine child support amounts based on the combined income of both parents. This only includes income up to $400,000 per year, though income above this threshold may be factored in at a lesser weight at the discretion of a judge.

Courts also try to ensure that child support amounts do not exceed 40% of a payor’s gross income.

Q: Which State Pays the Highest Child Support?

A: According to a 2022 report, those living in Hawaii paid the highest child support amount, followed by Maryland, Connecticut, and North Carolina. Massachusetts had the eighth-highest average amount of child support received in 2022. Massachusetts has the second-highest cost of living of any state as of 2025, behind Hawaii and ahead of California.

Q: Does Shared Custody Reduce Child Support in Massachusetts?

A: Yes, shared custody can help reduce child support in Massachusetts. Along with biweekly income, the share of custody and parenting is one of the factors with the heaviest weight in the final child support calculation. Sharing custody may not exempt a parent from paying support, however. If there is a change in the custody arrangements, either party may petition for a recalculation of child support amounts.

The Average Child Support Amount in Massachusetts Is Subjective

Though recent data on average child support amounts is not readily available, Massachusetts residents are likely paying higher child support amounts than those living in most other states, based on the high cost of living.

Knowing the average child support amount does not influence the final amount you are likely to pay. Child support amounts are calculated based on income earned by both parents and their custody arrangement, among other factors. If you are interested in learning more about petitioning for child support, or if you feel your child support payment is excessive, a family law attorney from Farias Family Law, P.C., can assess your case. Contact us today.