2026 Wisconsin Minimum Wage
The 2026 Wisconsin Minimum Wage is $7.25.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-08-29
Compared with 2025
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2025.
| Item | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $7.25 | $7.25 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers and employees in Wisconsin covered by the state minimum wage law. The Department of Labor's table gives Wisconsin's basic minimum rate with no employer-size condition attached, unlike its entries for several other states, and it names no exclusion from coverage. The entry adds a premium pay after designated hours line stating a weekly threshold. The table does not display subminimum rates for minors, students or trainees, or any higher rate a local government has set.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists Wisconsin's basic minimum rate as $7.25 per hour. The entry records no dated step inside the year and no adjustment formula, and no earlier year of this record is published here, so this page states no year-over-year change.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Wisconsin in 2026?
- It is $7.25 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for Wisconsin in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The figure published here is taken from that entry and from nothing else, so it reflects the state rate as the department recorded it on that date.
- Is the Wisconsin minimum wage the same as the federal minimum wage?
- It is the same amount. The Department of Labor's table cites the current federal minimum wage in its entries for states that have no minimum wage law of their own, and the rate it lists for Wisconsin, $7.25 per hour, matches it. The Wisconsin entry states that amount as the state's own basic minimum rate, and it carries no line adopting the federal rate by reference.
- Does the Wisconsin minimum wage go up in 2026?
- The Department of Labor's table lists no scheduled change for Wisconsin. Its entry carries a single basic minimum rate with no dated step attached, unlike the entries the department dates for some other states. A change taking effect after the table's July 1, 2026 update would not show up here until the department republishes the table and this record is verified against it again.
- How is the Wisconsin minimum wage adjusted each year?
- The table states an annual adjustment inside the entry itself for some states, naming a formula or an index that recalculates the rate. The Wisconsin entry contains no such statement. This page therefore publishes the rate the table listed as of July 1, 2026 and makes no claim about how or when the rate is recalculated, because the source document does not say.
- Which employers have to pay the Wisconsin minimum wage?
- The table's Wisconsin entry states a basic minimum rate and attaches no employer-size condition to it. For several other states the same table opens the entry with a coverage line limiting the rate to employers above a stated headcount; Wisconsin's entry carries no such line. The department's table also does not itself list the exemptions written into the state law.
- Does the Wisconsin entry state an overtime threshold?
- Yes, a weekly one. The entry carries a premium pay after designated hours line naming a weekly threshold, with no daily threshold beside it, unlike the entries in the same table that state both. The table marks that heading with its own footnote on the overtime premium rate. This page does not print the hour count, which is not a verified figure of this record.
- Is there a separate tipped minimum wage for Wisconsin?
- The Department of Labor's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for Wisconsin and no separate cash wage for tipped employees, so this page does not publish one. The same table says plainly that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students and training wages for new hires as its examples.
- Where does the $7.25 figure on this page come from?
- From the Wage and Hour Division's State Minimum Wage Laws table at dol.gov, in the snapshot captured for this record, where the Wisconsin entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $7.25. The division notes on the same page that it tries to keep the information accurate and that individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, certain categories of workers may be paid less than the standard minimum wage. Some states allow employers to pay minors, full-time students, and newly hired employees in training programs a subminimum rate that is below the regular minimum wage. These special wage provisions vary significantly by state - some states exempt these workers from minimum wage coverage entirely, while others set specific lower rates for them. The table on this page does not display these differential state provisions because they are not uniform across jurisdictions. Workers and employers should verify their state's specific rules about youth minimum wage, student learner rates, and training wages, as these exceptions are separate from the standard rates shown here.
Some states set subminimum rates for minors and/or students or exempt them from coverage or have a training wage for new hires.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
While the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, local jurisdictions such as cities and counties may establish their own minimum wage rates that exceed the state or federal level. When a local government sets a higher minimum wage, employers within that jurisdiction must pay the higher local rate, not the lower state or federal rate. These local wage floors have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly in areas with higher costs of living. The table on this page does not display these differential local provisions because they vary by municipality and change frequently. Workers and employers in areas with local minimum wage ordinances should check with their city or county government to determine the applicable rate, which may be significantly higher than the rate shown on this page.
Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage. Such differential provisions are not displayed in this table.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt employees must receive overtime pay for hours worked beyond the standard workweek threshold. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay. This means that for each overtime hour worked, the employee earns at least one and one-half times their normal hourly wage. The requirement applies regardless of whether the employee is paid on an hourly or salary basis, as long as they are not exempt from overtime provisions. Some states have additional overtime rules that may require premium pay for hours worked beyond certain thresholds, but the federal standard provides this one and one-half times multiplier as the baseline overtime premium.
The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor maintains the information on this page about federal and state minimum wage rates, but individuals should verify official information directly with their state labor office. State minimum wage laws and provisions can change, and state labor offices have the most current and authoritative information about applicable rates, exemptions, and special provisions. Workers who believe they are not being paid the correct minimum wage, or employers seeking clarification about their obligations, should contact the relevant state labor office for guidance. The Wage and Hour Division also provides resources and can be reached for questions about federal wage and hour requirements.
The Wage and Hour Division tries to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, but individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
- Hourly
Wisconsin Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $7.25
Other years
Every Wisconsin Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state