Wisconsin Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 per Hour, Tipped Wage $2.33
Wisconsin minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, equal to the federal rate. Tipped employees earn a $2.33 cash wage, workers under 20 may be paid a $5.90 opportunity wage for 90 days, and no increase is scheduled.
The Wisconsin minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal rate, and it has not changed since July 24, 2009. Wisconsin's rules differ from the federal ones in two places: the tipped cash wage is $2.33 per hour rather than $2.13, and the state's opportunity wage for workers under 20 is $5.90 per hour for their first 90 consecutive days rather than the federal $4.25. Minors are entitled to the full $7.25. No increase is scheduled and Wisconsin does not index its rate.
- Wisconsin pays $7.25 per hour, unchanged since 2009 and equal to the federal minimum
- The tipped cash wage is $2.33, twenty cents above the federal $2.13
- The opportunity wage for workers under 20 is $5.90 for the first 90 consecutive days
- Minors under 18 receive the full $7.25 after any opportunity period
- Wisconsin preempts local minimum wages, so Milwaukee and Madison follow the state rate
Current Wisconsin Minimum Wage
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) administers the state's minimum wage under Wisconsin Statutes chapter 104 and administrative code DWD 272. The department's minimum wage page lists the adult minimum wage at $7.25 as of July 24, 2009, and the same $7.25 for minors.
The opportunity wage is Wisconsin's version of a training wage. The department states that employees under 20 may be paid $5.90 per hour for their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, after which, or when the employee reaches 20 years old, whichever comes first, the employer must pay $7.25. Because the federal youth wage is $4.25, the Wisconsin figure controls for Wisconsin employers.
The department also lists special rates for golf caddies and for camp counselors, which are set by hours worked and whether lodging is provided. Employers in those niches should read the specific DWD 272 provisions.
Wisconsin Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Rate | Wisconsin | Federal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard minimum wage | $7.25 per hour | $7.25 per hour |
| Tipped cash wage | $2.33 per hour | $2.13 per hour |
| Youth or opportunity wage (under 20, first 90 days) | $5.90 per hour | $4.25 per hour |
| Tipped opportunity employee | $2.13 per hour | Not applicable |
Where the two differ, the employer pays the higher figure, so Wisconsin's $2.33 tipped cash wage and $5.90 opportunity wage apply. See our minimum wage by state guide for how Wisconsin compares with Minnesota ($11.41), Illinois ($15.00), Michigan ($13.73) and Iowa ($7.25).
Tipped Minimum Wage in Wisconsin
The department states that tipped employees must receive at least $2.33 per hour in wages, and that if tips combined with the hourly wage do not average at least $7.25 per hour over the course of the pay period, the employer must make up the difference. A tipped employee who is also in the opportunity wage period may be paid a $2.13 cash wage.
Wisconsin measures the tip credit over the pay period rather than the workweek, which is a subtle difference from the federal weekly test. Employers must keep records showing that each tipped employee reached the minimum wage in every pay period.
Wisconsin Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
Wisconsin raised its rate independently of the federal government in the mid-2000s, then matched the federal schedule.
| Effective date | Rate |
|---|---|
| June 1, 2005 | $5.70 |
| June 1, 2006 | $6.50 |
| July 24, 2009 | $7.25 |
| 2010 through 2026 | $7.25, no change |
No increase is scheduled and the rate is not indexed to inflation. Proposals to raise the minimum wage appear regularly in the Legislature and in gubernatorial budgets but have not become law.
Local Minimum Wages in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Statutes section 104.001 gives the state exclusive authority over minimum wage and prohibits cities, villages, towns and counties from enacting their own. Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and every other locality follow $7.25. Some local governments set higher wages for their own employees and contractors, but those rules do not apply to private employers generally.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
Wisconsin's minimum wage law covers most employees in the state. Exemptions include bona fide executive, administrative and professional employees, outside sales staff, certain agricultural workers, some domestic workers, and employees of specific seasonal recreational operations, with detailed rules in DWD 272. The classification tests broadly follow the federal framework; our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees explains them, and our Wisconsin labor law guide covers breaks, leave and the state's one-day-of-rest-in-seven rule.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Wisconsin requires time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek for most non-exempt employees, matching federal law, with no daily overtime rule. A minimum wage worker who works 45 hours earns 40 hours at $7.25 ($290.00) plus 5 overtime hours at $10.875 ($54.38), for $344.38 gross. Use our overtime calculator for any rate and see our guide to overtime pay laws by state.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Wisconsin
| Period | Hours | Gross pay at $7.25 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 40 | $290.00 |
| Biweekly | 80 | $580.00 |
| Monthly (average) | 173.33 | $1,256.64 |
| Annual | 2,080 | $15,080.00 |
These are gross wages before taxes and deductions; see our explainer on gross pay and the salary to hourly calculator.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Pay at least $7.25 per hour to every non-exempt adult and minor employee
- Limit the $5.90 opportunity wage to workers under 20 and to their first 90 consecutive days
- Pay tipped staff at least $2.33 in cash wages and confirm each pay period that wages plus tips averaged $7.25
- Apply overtime after 40 hours in a workweek
- Post the Wisconsin minimum wage rates poster from DWD and the federal FLSA poster
- Keep accurate time and tip records; a time card calculator or automatic time tracking makes the pay-period tip credit test easy to document
Reviewed September 2026
Rates come from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development minimum wage page and the US Department of Labor state and tipped minimum wage tables as of July 1, 2026. Confirm the caddie, camp counselor and other special rates in DWD 272 with the department before applying them.
Prove the tip credit every pay period
HiveDesk records hours automatically so Wisconsin employers can show wages plus tips reached $7.25 for each tipped employee. $5/user/month, 14-day free trial.
How Wisconsin Compares With Neighboring States
Wisconsin and Iowa are the two states in the western Great Lakes region still at the federal rate.
| State | Minimum wage (July 1, 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $7.25 | Tipped $2.33; opportunity wage $5.90 |
| Minnesota | $11.41 | Indexed each January; no tip credit; Twin Cities higher |
| Iowa | $7.25 | Federal rate |
| Illinois | $15.00 | Employers with 4 or more employees; Chicago higher |
| Michigan | $13.73 | Rises to $15.00 on January 1, 2027 |
Employers in the Twin Cities suburbs on the Wisconsin side, and those staffing across the Illinois line, manage the widest wage gaps in the region.
Common Minimum Wage Mistakes in Wisconsin
- Paying tipped staff the federal $2.13 instead of Wisconsin's $2.33
- Extending the $5.90 opportunity wage past 90 consecutive days or to workers who are 20 or older
- Paying minors under 18 less than $7.25 outside the opportunity period
- Measuring the tip credit over the week rather than the pay period
- Applying a Milwaukee or Madison rate that does not exist
Special Rates in Wisconsin: Caddies, Camp Counselors and Farm Workers
Wisconsin's administrative code sets a few rates that do not look like hourly minimums. Golf caddies may be paid a flat rate per round rather than $7.25 per hour, camp counselors at seasonal recreational camps may be paid a weekly rate that varies with whether board and lodging are provided, and certain agricultural employees are covered by their own provisions. The Department of Workforce Development publishes the current figures on its minimum wage rates page, and they change rarely, but employers in golf, summer camp and farm operations should read the specific DWD 272 provisions rather than assume the standard rate applies or does not. For every other industry the standard $7.25, the $2.33 tipped cash wage and the $5.90 opportunity wage are the only figures that matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Wisconsin in 2026?
$7.25 per hour for adults and minors, the same as the federal rate.
Is the Wisconsin minimum wage going up in 2027?
No increase is scheduled. Wisconsin does not index its rate, and proposals to raise it have not passed the Legislature.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Wisconsin?
$2.33 per hour in cash wages. Wages plus tips must average at least $7.25 over the pay period or the employer makes up the difference.
What is the Wisconsin opportunity wage?
$5.90 per hour for employees under 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days with an employer. After that, or once the employee turns 20, the rate is $7.25.
Is the minimum wage different for minors in Wisconsin?
No. Minors under 18 receive the same $7.25 as adults, apart from the opportunity wage period that applies to anyone under 20.
Can Milwaukee or Madison set a higher minimum wage?
No. Wisconsin law reserves minimum wage authority to the state and bars local ordinances.
When does overtime start in Wisconsin?
After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. There is no daily overtime rule.
How much does a full-time minimum wage worker earn in Wisconsin per year?
$15,080 before taxes, based on 2,080 hours at $7.25 per hour.