Wisconsin gives every worker a deduction before applying its rates, but that deduction slides. It starts at a fixed amount for single or married workers and shrinks as annual wages rise, until higher earners get nothing from it at all. The effect is that the state line grows faster than salary across the middle of the income range, even before the rate steps up. After the sliding deduction, each exemption claimed on Form WT-4 takes off a further small amount: one for yourself, one for your spouse and one for each dependent. With no WT-4 on file, the employer withholds as if you claimed none.
The rate schedule has four steps and, unusually, the same steps apply to every filing status. Single and married workers differ only in the size of the sliding deduction and the pace at which it fades. A married worker who wants more withheld can tick the box for the higher single rate, which switches to the single deduction.
Reciprocity is a big factor along Wisconsin’s borders. Residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan who work here can file Form W-220 and have only home-state tax withheld, which covers the many Illinois commuters into Kenosha and the Michigan Upper Peninsula workers crossing into Marinette or Hurley. Minnesota is the notable gap. There is no formal agreement, but Wisconsin residents working in Minnesota may be relieved of Wisconsin withholding under a separate arrangement between the two states, and the details are worth checking with your employer.
There is no city or county income tax in Wisconsin and no state disability or family leave levy, so the WT-4 settings and your salary decide the state line on their own. Daily and miscellaneous pay is counted on calendar days rather than working days, a small quirk that only matters for unusual payroll schedules. Use the calculator below with your WT-4 numbers to see the result for your pay frequency.
How Wisconsin taxes your paycheck
State income tax withholding
On the tax return, Wisconsin taxes income in brackets, and the rate on the highest bracket is 7.65%. Employers' withholding tables use the same rates, so the highest slice of pay is withheld at 7.65% too. The withholding figures here follow Wisconsin's own instructions for employers.
For a single filer paid every two weeks, Wisconsin withholds 3.4% of a $30,000 salary and 5.1% of $150,000:
| Salary | Wisconsin tax withheld | Share of pay |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,010 | 3.4% |
| $50,000 | $2,192 | 4.4% |
| $75,000 | $3,668 | 4.9% |
| $100,000 | $4,993 | 5.0% |
| $150,000 | $7,642 | 5.1% |
City and county taxes
No Wisconsin city or county withholds income tax from wages, so state income tax is the only Wisconsin line on your pay stub.
Living in one state and working in another
Wisconsin has reciprocal agreements with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. A resident of one of them who works in Wisconsin has only home-state tax withheld after giving the employer the exemption form.
For a job in any other state, Wisconsin withholds as well but subtracts the other state's tax first, so the two are not added in full. Enter both states in the calculator to see it; the guide to reciprocity agreements covers the rest.
Wisconsin take-home pay by salary
Net pay per paycheck at each salary, single with no 401(k), benefits or extra withholding, living and working in Wisconsin. It runs from $972.12 every two weeks on $30,000 to $4,082.64 on $150,000. For a 401(k), health premiums or a different filing status, use the calculator above.
| Salary | Weekly | Every two weeks | Twice a month | Monthly | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $486.05 | $972.12 | $1,053.12 | $2,106.26 | $25,275 |
| $40,000 | $629.27 | $1,258.52 | $1,363.39 | $2,726.78 | $32,722 |
| $50,000 | $772.36 | $1,544.73 | $1,673.44 | $3,346.91 | $40,163 |
| $60,000 | $915.47 | $1,830.92 | $1,983.51 | $3,967.02 | $47,604 |
| $75,000 | $1,113.95 | $2,227.88 | $2,413.55 | $4,827.08 | $57,925 |
| $90,000 | $1,301.58 | $2,603.18 | $2,820.10 | $5,640.21 | $67,683 |
| $100,000 | $1,426.69 | $2,853.36 | $3,091.15 | $6,182.29 | $74,187 |
| $125,000 | $1,738.19 | $3,476.38 | $3,766.08 | $7,532.17 | $90,386 |
| $150,000 | $2,041.32 | $4,082.64 | $4,422.85 | $8,845.71 | $106,149 |
Hourly pay after tax in Wisconsin
At 40 hours a week, $25.00 an hour comes to $800.98 in a weekly paycheck and $41,651 over the year, which is $20.02 for each hour worked. Overtime, tips and a different schedule change these figures: switch the calculator to its Hourly tab to enter them.
| Hourly wage | Weekly paycheck | Year | Per hour after tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $503.32 | $26,173 | $12.58 |
| $20.00 | $652.15 | $33,912 | $16.30 |
| $25.00 | $800.98 | $41,651 | $20.02 |
| $30.00 | $949.81 | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| $40.00 | $1,216.52 | $63,259 | $30.41 |
| $50.00 | $1,476.72 | $76,790 | $36.92 |
Worked example: the median wage in Wisconsin
The median annual wage in Wisconsin is $50,270: half of all jobs pay more and half pay less, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey for May 2025 (all occupations; survey date May 31, 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, with no 401(k) or benefits, that salary works out like this.
| Line | Each paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $1,933.46 | $50,270.00 |
| Federal income tax | $148.17 | $3,852.42 |
| Social Security | $119.87 | $3,116.63 |
| Medicare | $28.04 | $729.04 |
| Wisconsin income tax | $84.93 | $2,208.18 |
| Take-home pay | $1,552.45 | $40,363.73 |
You keep 80.3% of gross pay. Of the $9,906 withheld, federal income tax is the largest part at $3,852, followed by Social Security at $3,117.
Wisconsin paycheck questions
How much is $50,270 a year after taxes in Wisconsin?
Paid every two weeks as a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, $50,270 a year in Wisconsin leaves $40,364 after tax, or $1,552.45 a paycheck. Federal income tax takes $3,852 and Social Security and Medicare $3,846; Wisconsin income tax takes $2,208. $50,270 is the median annual wage for all jobs in Wisconsin in the Bureau of Labor Statistics survey for May 2025.
What is the top income tax rate in Wisconsin on a paycheck?
On the tax return, Wisconsin taxes income in brackets, and the rate on the highest bracket is 7.65%. Employers' withholding tables use the same rates, so the highest slice of pay is withheld at 7.65% too. At the median wage, Wisconsin withholds 4.4% of gross pay.
I live in another state and work in Wisconsin. Which state withholds?
Wisconsin has reciprocal agreements with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. A resident of one of them who works in Wisconsin has only home-state tax withheld after giving the employer the exemption form.
What is $75,000 a year biweekly in Wisconsin?
$2,227.88 a paycheck, single, with no 401(k) or other deductions. Paid twice a month it is $2,413.55, and monthly $4,827.08. Over the year that is $57,925.
Sources
Rules checked . How we calculate.