Wisconsin minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 7, 2026Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Equal Rights Division (Labor Standards)
Short answer
Wisconsin has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.33 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
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- Minimum wage today
- $7.25
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $2.33
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $15,080
We found no city or county in Wisconsin with its own higher minimum wage.
Wisconsin minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $2.33 | Rates in effect since July 24, 2009. Employer must make up the difference if wages plus tips average under $7.25.source |
Other Wisconsin rates
Opportunity employees (under 20, first 90 days)
Employees under age 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment. Tipped opportunity employees may be paid $2.13 cash.
Today: $5.90
Other Wisconsin pay rules
- Paydays
- At least once a month, with no more than 31 days between paydays. Logging and farm workers: at least every three months.
- Overtime
- Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. The state overtime law doesn’t apply to most non-profit organizations, though it does cover employees at places such as restaurants and hotels they run.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: By the next regular payday. Quit: By the next regular payday.
From the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All Wisconsin employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to Wisconsin
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Wisconsin in 2026?
Wisconsin has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
What is the tipped minimum wage in Wisconsin?
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.33 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
When does the Wisconsin minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current Wisconsin law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in Wisconsin have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in Wisconsin.
Does Wisconsin require overtime pay?
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. The state overtime law doesn’t apply to most non-profit organizations, though it does cover employees at places such as restaurants and hotels they run.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in Wisconsin must do
Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Equal Rights Division (Labor Standards)
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 7, 2026)