Minimum Wage in Wisconsin – weekly, monthly, annually

In Wisconsin, the minimum hourly wage is $7.25 per hour. This matches the federally required minimum wage level. In the past year, 26 states have raised the minimum wage rate, but Wisconsin did not.

While quite a few states have scheduled annual increases to get to $15 an hour in the coming years, 20 states, including Wisconsin, still adhere to the minimally required federal wage rate.

Although, since 2009, the federal minimum wage rate of $7.25 has not budged, about half of all states raised their minimum wage level for hourly employees in 2022, and most of these will additionally increase their standards in 2023.

Not all Wisconsin employees will receive the state’s minimum wage as some workers are exempt. Tipped workers, for example, can get less, and some students and voluntary employees also qualify for exempt status.

Tipped workers may be paid $2.33 per hour, but if an employee’s earnings (tips combined with wage) do not at least equal the state minimum level ($7.25), the employer is required to pay the difference.

New employees under 20 years of age may get an “opportunity wage” of only $5.90 an hour for the first 90 consecutive days of employment. After this 90-day period, or when the employee reaches the age of 20 (whichever comes first), the workers must receive no less than the minimum wage level of $7.25 an hour.

In Wisconsin, there are several more worker categories exempt from the state’s minimum pay and overtime rules and regulations. Read more below.

Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator

Our Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator translates your hourly wage to weekly, monthly, and yearly earnings.

How to use our Wisconsin paycheck calculator

1. Start with putting in your hourly pay.
2. Then, enter your weekly work hours.
3. Our paycheck calculator displays instantly how much your hourly wage is in weekly, annual, or monthly earnings.

How does this Wisconsin paycheck calculator work?

Well, if you get paid by the hour, it could be quite complicated to determine how much your hourly pay would be in periodical earnings, like per year, month, or week.

If you get paid per month or per week, things are quite different. Then, you would get a paycheck at the end of your working period. So to help you figure out how your hourly pay translates to monthly, yearly, or weekly wages, we have developed our paycheck calculator.

It works quite easily. All you have to do is put in your hourly wage and how many hours you work each week. Then, the paycheck calculator instantly tells you what your hourly wage is in terms of yearly, weekly, or monthly earnings.

These results are generated by multiplying your base hourly pay by the number of hours, weeks, or months you work annually, assuming you work 40 hours per week.

Minimum Wage in Wisconsin

So Wisconsin’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, translating to $58.00 daily, $290.00 weekly (if you work 40 hours), $1256.67 monthly, or $15,080.00 yearly.

As we mentioned before, not all Wisconsin workers will receive the state’s minimum pay. Some categories, like some students or nonprofit and tipped employees, may be exempt from Wisconsin’s minimum pay or overtime regulations.

Because of Wisconsin’s large number of outdoor activities and the state’s large farming contingent, there are some specific minimum wage rules.  Unlike most states, Wisconsin has set minimum wage rates for some occupations that are, under federal FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) regulations, exempt from minimum wage requirements.

• In Wisconsin, farm and agricultural workers, who are generally exempt from minimum pay rules, must earn the full minimum wage rate of $7.25 an hour.
• For golf caddies, who are totally exempt in most states, a specific minimum pay exists in Wisconsin. They must be paid at least $5.90 for 9 holes or $10.50 per 18 holes.
• In Wisconsin, camp counselors (including minors) must earn at least $210 a week if they get board and lodging; $265 a week for board only; and $350 a week if no board or lodging is provided. The cost of lodging and meals provided by employers can be legally deducted from a worker’s pay.

In Wisconsin, employers can pay employees with disabilities less than the minimum wage if Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development has authorized them to do so. This certificate exactly specifies the wage rate the employee must receive and for how long.

Learners and apprentices cannot be paid under the minimum rate in Wisconsin, but full-time students participating in a work-learn program provided by an institution of post-secondary education can be paid 85 percent ($6.16) of Wisconsin’s minimum pay if the job is for no more than 20 hours a week.

Wisconsin employers may not pay you under $7.25 per hour unless you or your occupation are specifically exempt from the minimum wage under state or federal law.

Wisconsin minimum wage exemptions

Please note that in Wisconsin, unlike in many other states, agricultural and farm workers are not exempt from the state’s minimum pay regulations and must be paid the minimum wage rate ($7.25) for all working hours. In Wisconsin, golf caddies are not exempt from minimum pay requirements as well. They get $5.90 for 9 holes and $10.50 for 18 holes.

In Wisconsin, some employees may be paid under the state minimum wage rate. The following list is not a complete overview of exempt categories, but it includes the most common groups:

• Executives, administrators, some professionals, outside salespersons, and people in public office may hold exempt status.
• Volunteer workers at charitable nonprofit, educational, or religious, and educational organizations may also be exempt.
• Tipped employees are exempt from Wisconsin’s minimum pay regulations, but if the hourly wage, including tips, is not reaching the $7.25 an hour level, the employer must compensate the employee for the difference.
• New employees younger than 20 may be paid an “opportunity wage” of $5.90 for the initial 90 days on the new job.
• Students engaged in a university’s work-learn program can get 85 percent ($6.16) of the minimum wage. However, it must be a part-time job for no more than 20 hours per week.
• Workers with disabilities may be paid under the state minimum pay if the employer is certified to do so.
• House-to-house newspaper deliverers and retailers, and commissioned real estate agents are exempt.

All Wisconsin employers are required to display state-approved posters in highly visible locations to inform their employees about Wisconsin and federal regulations regarding minimum wage, overtime, and other relevant labor rights.

Wisconsin overtime wage

Under Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations, Wisconsin employees must be paid 1.5 times their usual wage for overwork hours if they have worked more than 40 hours in a work week. This means they must get at least $10.88 per qualifying overtime hour. Some worker categories, however, are exempt. The following is not a full list, but it includes the main groups.

• Commissioned retail and service establishments employees that make at least 50% of their earnings in commission and at a level of 150% or more of the minimum wage, are exempt from Wisconsin’s overtime regulations.
• Some drivers, loaders, driver’s helpers, and rail, motor, or air carriers may be exempt as well, as are taxi cab drivers.
• Individuals selling or servicing trucks, automobiles, farm implements, boats, trailers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, or recreational vehicles or aircraft may hold exempt status if they are employed in direct customer service.
• Workers in recreational and/or amusement establishments that are operational for up to seven months a year.
• Individuals working in motion picture theaters and funeral establishments.
• Administrators, executives, and business professionals are exempt from Wisconsin’s overtime rules.

Please note that this post doesn’t contain legal advice. If you have any questions about Wisconsin’s minimum wage policies or minimum wage compliance, consult a tax professional or a tax attorney.