Wisconsin

$7.25 / hour

Covered workers are entitled to a minimum wage of not less than $7.25 per hour.

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2026-08-13

1.5%

Unless an exception applies, overtime wages at time and one-half the regular rate must be paid for hours worked in excess of 40 in the workweek.

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2026-08-13

Employers must use a six part economic realities test to determine whether workers are employees or independent contractors, based on all circumstances in the relationship.

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2026-08-13

Most Wisconsin employers must pay workers all wages earned at least monthly, with no longer than 31 days between pay periods.

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2026-08-13

When employment ends, the employer must pay the employee according to the employer regular pay schedule.

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2026-08-13

An employer must provide the employee a pay stub showing hours worked, wages earned and deductions made from the paycheck.

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2026-08-13

Employers may not deduct breakages, cash shortages, fines or other business losses unless the employee authorized the deduction in writing after the loss and before the deduction.

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2026-08-13

An employer may require direct deposit of wages if the employee does not incur any cost.

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2026-08-13

Employers must provide meal periods to employees under age 18 who work shifts longer than 6 hours; employers are not required to provide meal periods to adult employees.

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2026-08-13

Employers must pay employees for on duty meal periods when the worker is not provided at least 30 consecutive minutes free from work or is not free to leave the premises.

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2026-08-13

No general predictive scheduling requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin wage claims may cover expenses and other similar advantages agreed upon between employer and employee or provided under an established employer policy

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development may take action on wage claims for commissions

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development may take action on wage claims for bonuses

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development may take action on wage claims for severance pay

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin employers are not required to provide fringe benefits such as vacation, holiday or sick pay.

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2026-08-13

No general prevailing wage requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin employers are not required to provide fringe benefits such as vacation, holiday or sick pay.

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2026-08-13

No general paid family medical leave requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

A covered Wisconsin employer must permit an eligible employee up to six weeks of leave for birth or adoption and up to two weeks for a family member serious health condition or the employee own serious health condition

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin employers are required to withhold Wisconsin income tax from employee wages.

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2026-08-13

Every newly hired employee is required to provide a completed Form WT-4 to each employer for Wisconsin withholding tax purposes.

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2026-08-13

No general supplemental wages requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

No general multistate taxation requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

No general local taxation requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

Wage base $14,000

The first $14,000 in wages paid to each employee is taxed for Wisconsin unemployment insurance.

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2026-08-13

No general disability insurance requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

An employer generally must carry worker compensation insurance when employing three or more workers, or when one or more employees receive combined gross wages of $500 or more in a calendar quarter.

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin withholding filing frequencies include annual, quarterly, monthly and semi-monthly reporting periods.

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2026-08-13

Employers subject to Wisconsin unemployment insurance must file a quarterly report even if they did not have payroll, and contribution reports are due by the close of the month following the quarter.

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2026-08-13

All active Wisconsin withholding tax accounts must file an annual reconciliation on Form WT-7, due to the department by January 31.

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2026-08-13

A Wisconsin new hire report must be filed within 20 days after the newly hired employee starts work.

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2026-08-13

25%

In Wisconsin, the governing rule for garnishments is federal: A garnishment may not take more than the lesser of 25 percent of an employee's disposable earnings for the workweek, or the amount by which those disposable earnings exceed thirty times the federal minimum hourly wage. Earnings equal to or below thirty times the minimum wage may not be garnished in any amount. Orders for support, bankruptcy orders and debts for federal or state tax are excepted from this restriction (15 U.S.C. 1673; 29 CFR 870.10).

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2026-08-10

A Wisconsin employer engages in sex discrimination if it pays employees of different sexes differently for jobs requiring equal skill, effort and responsibility performed under similar working conditions

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2026-08-13

No general pay transparency requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

No general salary history requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

1%

If wages remain unpaid and a claim is litigated, a court may assess increased wages up to 100% of the wages due

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2026-08-13

Every employer subject to the act must post in a conspicuous place on its premises a poster prepared and made available by the department.

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2026-08-13

Minors age 14 and 15 may work no more than three hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. in summer.

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2026-08-13

No general e verify requirement for private employers was located in WI's official sources as of 2026-08-13. This records the result of a documented search of the state's official publishers, not a statement that no such law exists. Federal requirements continue to apply where applicable.

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2026-08-13

An employer that incurred unemployment tax liability and has no Wisconsin unemployment account number must register online as a new employer.

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2026-08-13

Wisconsin employers must keep required payroll and other employee records for at least three years.

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2026-08-13

1%

A Wisconsin court may assess increased wages up to one hundred percent of wages due and may award attorney fees and costs

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2026-08-13

An employee may file a wage complaint with the division within two years of the date the wages were earned.

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2026-08-13