Massachusetts Wage Garnishment Calculator
Massachusetts reserves the greater of 85% of gross wages or 50 times the $15 minimum wage — $750 a week — so at most 15% of gross can be taken.
Eighty-five percent of gross, 50 hours protected
an amount not exceeding the greater of 85 per cent of the debtor’s gross wages or 50 times the greater of the federal or the Massachusetts hourly minimum wage for each week or portion thereof … shall be reserved in the hands of the trustee and shall be exempt from such attachment
A Worcester weekly check
Massachusetts reserves the larger of 85% of gross wages or 50 hours of the $15 minimum for each week. For a Worcester worker grossing $1,050.00, 85% ($892.50) is larger than $750.00, so $157.50 can be attached — 15% of gross — even though federal law alone would allow $210.00 of the $840.00 left after withholding.
Pensions and multi-week pay
- The 85% is measured on gross wages, which protects more than a percentage of take-home pay.§1
- The 50-times floor applies "for each week or portion thereof" of the wages due, so a biweekly check protects $1,500.§1
- Money held for you in an ERISA-type pension is also reserved and exempt from attachment.§1