How Much Is Child Support for One Child in Texas?
Short answer: 20% of the paying parent's monthly net resources, up to a guideline maximum of $2,340 a month.
The part that trips people up is net resources — it is neither your gross pay nor your take-home pay. It is a specific statutory figure.
What one child actually costs, by income
These are estimates for a single-filer W-2 employee with no other children and no insurance or union deductions, using standardized 2026 federal tax figures.
| Annual gross | Monthly gross | Est. monthly net resources | Support for 1 child (20%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $2,500 | $2,190 | $438 |
| $40,000 | $3,333 | $2,860 | $572 |
| $50,000 | $4,167 | $3,530 | $706 |
| $60,000 | $5,000 | $4,199 | $840 |
| $75,000 | $6,250 | $5,133 | $1,027 |
| $100,000 | $8,333 | $6,598 | $1,320 |
| $150,000 | $12,500 | $9,483 | $1,897 |
| $200,000+ | $16,667 | above the cap | $2,340 (max) |
Your own figure will move with insurance, union dues, self-employment status and other children. Run it here →
The three things that change the answer
1. Net resources, not gross
Start with gross income from nearly every source, then subtract only what § 154.062(d) allows: Social Security and Medicare, federal income tax figured for a single filer claiming one exemption and the standard deduction (not your actual W-4 withholding), state income tax, union dues, the child's health and dental insurance, and — for a parent who pays no Social Security — required retirement contributions.
Note what is not deductible: rent, car payments, credit cards, or the 401(k) you chose to fund. Full breakdown →
2. The $11,700 cap
Since September 1, 2025, guideline percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources. For one child that caps guideline support at 20% × $11,700 = $2,340.
Above the cap, § 154.126 lets a court order more — but only on proof of the child's actual needs, not simply because the parent earns more. More on the cap →
3. The low-income schedule
If net resources are under $1,000 a month, § 154.125(c) drops the one-child rate from 20% to 15%. At $800 of net resources that is $120, not $160.
If that parent also supports children in another household, a fourth schedule at § 154.129(b) applies and drops it further — to 13.50%, or $108. See all four schedules →
What else gets added on top
The percentage is not the whole order. Expect the court to also address:
- Medical support — health insurance for the child, or cash medical support capped at 9% of annual resources
- Dental support — separately required since 2018
- Retroactive support, in a first-time order
Does 50/50 possession cut it in half?
No. Texas guideline support is driven by the paying parent's income and the number of children, not by a possession percentage. Equal time is a factor a court may weigh in deciding whether guideline support is unjust or inappropriate, but there is no automatic offset and no statutory 50/50 formula. More on 50/50 custody →
Frequently asked questions
Is Texas child support based on gross or net income? Net resources — a statutory figure that sits between the two.
Can we just agree to a different amount? You can agree, and courts often approve agreed orders. But the court must still find the amount is in the child's best interest, and if it varies from guideline it must make findings under § 154.130.
Does the mother's income matter for one child? Generally not to the guideline calculation, which looks at the obligor's net resources. The receiving parent's income can matter to a request to deviate from guideline, and § 154.130(b)(2) requires a finding of the obligee's net resources when evidence of it was offered.