How Ohio Child Support Is Calculated
Ohio uses the Income Shares model. The formula uses both parents' gross incomes (not net), looks them up in the Ohio Support Schedule, then allocates the non-custodial parent's proportional share.
Determine each parent's gross monthly income
Ohio uses gross income before taxes. Include wages, salary, self-employment, rental income, and all other regular income sources.
Look up combined income in the Ohio schedule
The Ohio Child Support Computation Worksheet uses the combined gross income to find the basic support obligation for the number of children.
Pro-rate each parent's share
Each parent pays their proportional share based on income. The NCP's share of the basic obligation plus any allocated add-ons equals the monthly payment.
Add health insurance and childcare
Ohio allocates healthcare premiums and work-related childcare between parents in proportion to their gross incomes.
Ohio Basic Child Support Schedule (Combined Gross Monthly, 2025)
| Combined Gross Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $303 | $454 | $516 | $561 |
| $2,500 | $453 | $678 | $771 | $839 |
| $4,000 | $632 | $945 | $1,076 | $1,169 |
| $5,000 | $736 | $1,101 | $1,253 | $1,361 |
| $6,000 | $831 | $1,243 | $1,415 | $1,538 |
| $8,000 | $1,002 | $1,500 | $1,708 | $1,856 |
| $10,000 | $1,153 | $1,725 | $1,965 | $2,136 |
| $12,000 | $1,292 | $1,933 | $2,202 | $2,394 |
| $15,000 | $1,483 | $2,218 | $2,527 | $2,747 |
Values from the Ohio Child Support Guidelines Schedule, 2025. Combined obligation — each parent pays their income share.
Ohio Child Support — Frequently Asked Questions
Ohio uses gross income — income before taxes — as the basis for looking up the basic child support obligation. This is different from states like Illinois or California that use net income. Ohio's support schedule was built using gross income figures, so taxes are effectively embedded in the table rather than deducted separately.
Ohio gross income includes wages, salary, overtime, tips, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, dividends, interest, and most recurring income. Welfare assistance, Social Security benefits received for the child, and foster care payments are typically excluded.
After calculating the base obligation from the schedule, Ohio courts adjust for: local child support already being paid for other children (adjustment to gross income), health insurance premiums paid for the children, work-related childcare costs, and special or extraordinary needs. Each adjustment is split proportionally between parents.
Ohio has a shared parenting adjustment for situations where both parents have at least 90 overnights per year (approximately 25%). The adjustment formula reduces the standard obligation to account for direct expenses each parent incurs. More equal time-sharing results in a greater reduction.
Ohio sets a minimum child support amount of $80 per month per child, regardless of income level. Courts generally cannot order less than this minimum absent extraordinary circumstances.