How much will I take home on a $50,000 salary in Wisconsin?

On a $50,000 annual salary in Wisconsin filing single with no extra deductions, the estimated 2026 take-home is roughly $40,616 per year (about $1,562 per biweekly check).

How do I calculate my Wisconsin paycheck?

Start with gross pay, subtract any pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, health insurance), apply the 2026 federal brackets, apply Wisconsin's state income tax, then withhold FICA at 6.2% Social Security (up to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare.

What taxes come out of a Wisconsin paycheck?

Federal income tax, Wisconsin state income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45% with an extra 0.9% above $200,000 in wages). Optional pre-tax deductions reduce taxable income.

Is this Wisconsin paycheck calculator updated for 2026?

Yes — federal brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, standard deductions, and Wisconsin's listed state rates all reflect 2026 values per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and the OBBBA (July 2025) updates.

How does pay frequency change my Wisconsin take-home pay?

Your annual tax bill is the same whether you're paid weekly (52), biweekly (26), semimonthly (24), or monthly (12) — the calculator annualizes gross wages and then divides the net back out. Per-check take-home differs slightly because federal withholding tables round each period and FICA stops mid-year once you hit the $184,500 Social Security wage base. On a $50,000 Wisconsin salary the ~$40,616 annual net works out to about $781 weekly, $1,562 biweekly, $1,692 semimonthly, or $3,385 monthly.

What counts as taxable income on a Wisconsin paycheck?

Taxable wages are your gross pay minus qualifying pre-tax deductions — 401(k) / 403(b) traditional contributions, HSA, FSA, and Section 125 health, dental, and vision premiums. That reduced amount is what federal and Wisconsin state income tax is calculated on. FICA (Social Security + Medicare) still applies to 401(k) contributions but not to Section 125 health premiums or HSA. Post-tax deductions (Roth 401(k), garnishments, life insurance) do not lower taxable income — they just reduce net pay.

Who should use this Wisconsin salary paycheck calculator?

Anyone paid W-2 wages in Wisconsin who wants a fast estimate of net take-home: salaried employees comparing offers, hourly workers planning shifts and overtime, job seekers negotiating salary, HR and payroll professionals sanity-checking a check, and people budgeting for a move to or from Wisconsin. It handles single, married filing jointly, and head-of-household filers with pre-tax 401(k), HSA, and health deductions. It is an estimate — not a substitute for Form W-4 or your state withholding certificate or a CPA.

Does Wisconsin have state income tax on paychecks in 2026?

Yes. Wisconsin levies a progressive state income tax with four brackets under Wis. Stat. § 71.06: 3.50%, 4.40%, 5.30%, and 7.65%. For 2026 single filers the brackets are 3.50% up to $14,320, 4.40% to $28,640, 5.30% to $315,310, and 7.65% above. Married filing jointly brackets are wider ($19,090 / $38,190 / $420,420). Withholding is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue on Form WT-4.

What are the 2026 Wisconsin income tax brackets?

Single filers: 3.50% on the first $14,320, 4.40% on $14,320–$28,640, 5.30% on $28,640–$315,310, 7.65% above $315,310. Married filing jointly: 3.50% on the first $19,090, 4.40% on $19,090–$38,190, 5.30% on $38,190–$420,420, 7.65% above $420,420. Head-of-household uses the single-filer brackets. Wisconsin is not a flat-tax state — moving into a higher bracket only affects income above the threshold, not your entire salary.

Do Milwaukee, Madison, or Green Bay have a local income tax on wages?

No — no Wisconsin city or county imposes a local wage or income tax withheld from employee paychecks. Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, and every other Wisconsin municipality use identical paycheck math: federal + WI state (3.50%–7.65%) + FICA. Wisconsin funds local government primarily through property tax and state shared revenue, not a municipal income tax.

What is Form WT-4 and how does it change my Wisconsin paycheck?

Form WT-4 (Wisconsin Employee's Withholding Exemption Certificate) is Wisconsin's state equivalent of the federal IRS Form W-4. It tells your employer how many personal exemptions to use when calculating your Wisconsin state withholding, plus any additional flat-dollar amount you want withheld per paycheck. If you don't file a WT-4, employers default to your federal W-4 filing status and zero exemptions — usually over-withholding. File a new WT-4 whenever you marry, divorce, gain a dependent, take a second job, or want extra tax withheld to cover non-wage income.

Does Wisconsin have reciprocity with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, or Michigan?

Yes. Wisconsin has income-tax reciprocity agreements with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Residents of those four states working in Wisconsin file Wisconsin Form W-220 (Nonresident Employee's Withholding Reciprocity Declaration) so their WI employer withholds only their home state's income tax, not Wisconsin's 3.50%–7.65%. Wisconsin residents working across the border in IL, IN, KY, or MI file the equivalent home-state exemption form (IL-W-5-NR for Illinois, WH-47 for Indiana, K-4 for Kentucky, MI-W4 box 8 for Michigan) so their out-of-state employer withholds Wisconsin tax instead. Reciprocity covers state income tax only.

How much do I take home on a $50,000, $75,000, or $100,000 salary in Wisconsin?

Estimated Wisconsin net pay (single filer, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 rates): $50,000 gross → about $40,616 annually (~$1,562 biweekly, ~$1,692 semimonthly, ~$3,385 monthly); $75,000 gross → about $58,362 annually (~$2,245 biweekly); $100,000 gross → about $74,459 annually (~$2,864 biweekly). Adjust WT-4 allowances, filing status, and 401(k)/HSA in the calculator above for a personalized Wisconsin take-home estimate.

How are bonuses and supplemental wages taxed on a Wisconsin paycheck?

Wisconsin withholds bonuses, commissions, and other supplemental wages at a flat state rate approximating the 5.30% bracket, plus 22% federal supplemental (37% on annual supplemental above $1M), 6.2% Social Security, and 1.45% Medicare. Your actual Wisconsin tax bill on the bonus is reconciled to the 3.50%–7.65% progressive brackets when you file Form 1 at year-end — refunds are common on bonus-heavy years for lower-bracket filers.

How often must Wisconsin employers pay employees?

Under Wis. Stat. § 109.03, most Wisconsin employers must pay employees at least monthly, and wages are due within 31 days of the end of the pay period. Common private-sector schedules are weekly (52), biweekly (26), and semimonthly (24). Your annual Wisconsin tax bill is identical across schedules — the calculator annualizes gross wages, applies the WT-4 exemptions and 3.50%–7.65% brackets, and divides the net back into per-check amounts.

How does this calculator handle Wisconsin-specific rules ADP, SmartAsset, and Gusto often miss?

Four Wisconsin rules this calculator applies that the generic national calculators frequently omit or oversimplify: (1) Wisconsin has no municipal or county wage tax anywhere in the state — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, and every other city use identical paycheck math, unlike Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Maryland. (2) WT-4 line-1 exemptions reduce annualized wages by $400 each before applying brackets (Publication W-166), and WT-4 line-2 adds a flat dollar amount per pay period. (3) Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) implements a sliding-scale standard deduction that phases out at higher incomes — the calculator applies the correct schedule for Single, MFJ, HoH, and MFS. (4) Form W-220 reciprocity means IL/IN/KY/MI residents working in Wisconsin should have zero Wisconsin state withholding on wages — set your resident state in the tool for the correct result.

How accurate is this Wisconsin paycheck calculator compared to my actual pay stub?

For salary, hourly, and bonus wage income the calculator matches the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Publication W-166 wage-bracket math within rounding — usually within $1–$3 per check versus what your Wisconsin employer withholds, driven by whether payroll uses the annualized-percentage method (what this tool uses) or the wage-bracket table method (which rounds to $10 wage bands). Federal withholding matches IRS Publication 15-T's 2026 percentage-method tables, and FICA is exact at 6.2% Social Security (up to the $176,100 wage base) + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000. Differences from your pay stub usually come from employer-side items the tool can't see: garnishments, post-tax deductions, imputed income (group term life over $50K, personal use of a company car), catch-up 401(k) contributions, or a WT-4 filed mid-year. Use the WT-4 exemption and extra-withholding fields to reconcile.

Which states have wage-tax reciprocity with Wisconsin?

Under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(3), Wisconsin has reciprocal wage-tax agreements with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Residents of those four states who work in Wisconsin file Wisconsin Form W-220 (Nonresident Employee's Withholding Reciprocity Declaration) with the WI employer so no Wisconsin 3.50%–7.65% state income tax is withheld — only the home state's tax applies. Minnesota and Iowa are NOT Wisconsin reciprocity partners.

Does Wisconsin Form W-220 waive any local city or county tax?

Reciprocity under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(3) covers state income tax only. Wisconsin itself imposes no municipal or county wage tax (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, and Appleton all have zero local wage tax), so there is no WI-side local layer to waive. On the reverse commute, though, Indiana county LIT (IC 6-3.6), Michigan city income tax (Detroit, Grand Rapids), and Kentucky county occupational license fees still apply to Wisconsin residents working across those borders — W-220 does not touch those.

Live in Illinois and work in Wisconsin — what do I file?

File Wisconsin Form W-220 with your Wisconsin employer so no WI 3.50%–7.65% state tax is withheld. Your employer continues withholding Illinois's 4.95% flat tax on the wages. Reverse commute (WI resident working in Illinois): file IL Form IL-W-5-NR with the Illinois employer so IL stops withholding — your WI employer or estimated payments cover the 3.50%–7.65% Wisconsin liability. Illinois has no municipal income tax on wages, so no local layer applies either direction.

Live in Indiana and work in Wisconsin — what do I file?

File Wisconsin Form W-220 with your Wisconsin employer to stop 3.50%–7.65% WI state withholding. Your employer keeps withholding Indiana's 3.05% state tax plus Indiana county LIT on your Jan-1 resident county. Reverse commute (WI resident working in Indiana): file Indiana Form WH-47 with the Indiana employer so IN state tax stops — but Indiana county LIT at the work-county's non-resident rate still applies, reconciled on Form IT-40RNR at year end.

Live in Kentucky and work in Wisconsin — what do I file?

File Wisconsin Form W-220 with your Wisconsin employer to stop the 3.50%–7.65% WI state withholding. Your employer continues withholding Kentucky's 4.0% flat state tax. Reverse commute (WI resident working in Kentucky): file KY Form 42A809 (Certificate of Nonresidence) with the KY employer so Kentucky stops withholding — but Louisville Metro and Kentucky county occupational license fees (0.45%–2.5%) still apply on the KY work side and are NOT covered by reciprocity.

Live in Michigan and work in Wisconsin — what do I file?

File Wisconsin Form W-220 with your Wisconsin employer to stop 3.50%–7.65% WI state withholding. Your employer continues withholding Michigan's 4.25% flat state tax. Reverse commute (WI resident working in Michigan): file MI-W4 with line 8 marked as a reciprocal-state non-resident so Michigan skips the 4.25% state tax — but Michigan city income tax (Detroit 2.4%/1.2%, Grand Rapids 1.5%/0.75%, and 22 other Uniform City Income Tax Act cities) is NOT reciprocal and still applies on wages earned inside those city limits.

Can a Minnesota resident use W-220 to avoid Wisconsin withholding?

No. Minnesota is NOT a Wisconsin reciprocity partner — the MN–WI reciprocity agreement was terminated in 2010 and has not been reinstated. A Minnesota resident working in Wisconsin owes full Wisconsin 3.50%–7.65% state tax and claims a credit for taxes paid to Wisconsin on Minnesota Schedule M1CR to avoid double-taxation on the MN M1 return. Iowa is likewise NOT a Wisconsin reciprocity partner.

Do Milwaukee, Madison, or any Wisconsin city charge a local income tax?

No. No Wisconsin municipality — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, or any other — imposes a city, county, or school-district wage tax. Only the Wisconsin state income tax (Wis. Stat. § 71.06, 3.50%–7.65% in 2026) is withheld from wages under Form WT-4, in addition to federal income tax and FICA.

Do neighboring states charge local income tax on wages?

Illinois and Minnesota have no local wage tax. Michigan has 24 cities with local income tax (Detroit 2.4% resident / 1.2% non-resident, Grand Rapids 1.5%/0.75%, plus Lansing, Flint, Saginaw and others). Indiana requires a County Local Income Tax (LIT) in all 92 counties (~0.50%–3.00%). Iowa has no city wage tax but ~278 school districts levy an income surtax reconciled at filing rather than withheld.

If I live in Wisconsin and work in Michigan or Indiana, do I owe that state's local tax?

Wisconsin has reciprocity with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan for state income tax (Form W-220), so your employer withholds Wisconsin state tax only. However, reciprocity does NOT cover local taxes — a Wisconsin resident working in Detroit still owes Detroit's 1.2% non-resident city tax, and a Wisconsin resident working in Indiana still owes the applicable county LIT based on the county of employment.

Why do married-both-work couples in Wisconsin under-withhold on WT-4?

Wisconsin's Form WT-4 does not include a two-earner worksheet like the federal W-4. When both spouses work and file MFJ, each employer applies the joint bracket schedule to that job's wages alone, as if it were the only household income. Because the 3.50% and 4.40% brackets are effectively duplicated across both paychecks, combined household income crosses into the 5.30% bracket without either employer withholding at that rate. The result is a systematic under-withholding that shows up as a Wisconsin balance due on the couple's Form 1.

How much extra should we add to WT-4 Line 3 as a two-earner Wisconsin couple?

It depends on both incomes. A rough guide using 2026 MFJ brackets: $55K + $45K owes about $420/yr more (add ~$12 biweekly to the higher earner, ~$5 to the other). $75K + $60K owes about $810/yr. $120K + $90K owes about $1,690/yr on semimonthly pay. $200K + $180K owes about $3,260/yr. Concentrate the additional withholding on the higher-earning spouse's WT-4 Line 3 so payroll cash flow stays smoothest.

Which spouse should claim the additional Wisconsin withholding on WT-4?

Wisconsin DOR (Pub. W-166) recommends weighting Line 3 additional withholding onto the higher earner's WT-4. That spouse's paycheck typically has enough wages to absorb a larger flat-dollar add-on without disrupting cash flow, and it consolidates the fix onto one payroll system. If the incomes are within ~10% of each other, splitting Line 3 roughly proportionally also works.

Can we file separate WT-4s marked Single to fix two-earner under-withholding?

Yes — Wisconsin lets each spouse check 'Single' on Line 1 of WT-4 (regardless of federal filing status) to force each employer to use the narrower single-filer bracket table. That over-withholds slightly at the individual level and typically resolves the joint shortfall without needing to compute a Line 3 amount. Trade-off: the couple may see a refund at filing instead of hitting withholding exactly.

Does Wisconsin tax Social Security benefits?

No. Wisconsin fully exempts Social Security benefits from state income tax under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(1)(a) — even when up to 85% is taxable on the federal 1040. Report Social Security as a subtraction on Schedule SB. This applies at any age and any income level.

Does Wisconsin tax military retirement, government pensions, or 401(k) withdrawals?

US military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are 100% exempt from Wisconsin income tax under § 71.05(1)(am). Certain pre-1964 government pensions (Wisconsin Retirement System, Milwaukee Public Schools, City/County of Milwaukee, federal CSRS) are also fully exempt for grandfathered members. Regular 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and traditional IRA withdrawals are fully taxable at the state's 3.50%–7.65% brackets. Qualified Roth distributions are tax-free.

What is the Wisconsin $5,000 retirement income subtraction for age 65+?

Wisconsin filers age 65 or older can subtract up to $5,000 per qualifying person of pension, IRA, 401(k), 403(b), and similar retirement plan income from Wisconsin AGI (Wis. Stat. § 71.05(6)(b)28.), but only if federal AGI is under $15,000 (Single / HoH / MFS) or $30,000 (MFJ). Filers above those thresholds cannot claim it. This subtraction is stackable with the fully exempt categories (Social Security, military, Railroad Retirement).

How do these exemptions affect my Wisconsin take-home estimate?

This paycheck calculator estimates withholding on W-2 wage income, not retirement distributions. For a retired filer, subtract fully-exempt Social Security, military, Railroad Retirement, and pre-1964 pension income before entering an equivalent 'gross' — those dollars will hit Wisconsin income tax at 0%. Traditional 401(k)/IRA distributions should be entered at full value (they're taxed at § 71.06 brackets). Combine with the sliding-scale standard deduction under § 71.05(22)(dm) to model true Wisconsin net.

How often must Wisconsin employers pay wages?

Under Wis. Stat. § 109.03(1), Wisconsin employers must pay all wages earned by an employee at least once per calendar month, and each payday must fall within 31 days after the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned. Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly schedules are all compliant. Quarterly or annual pay is not compliant unless the worker falls within a specific statutory exemption in § 109.03(1)(a)–(f) or a valid collective bargaining agreement.

Who is exempt from Wisconsin's monthly pay rule?

The exemptions in Wis. Stat. § 109.03(1)(a)–(f) cover school district employees, workers covered by a valid CBA, logging-industry piece-rate workers, part-time firefighters and EMS personnel, sales agents paid solely by commission, and agricultural piece-rate workers. All other employees must be paid at least monthly and within 31 days of the pay period end.

When must final wages be paid to a Wisconsin employee after separation?

Wis. Stat. § 109.03(2) requires final wages (regular pay plus any earned but unused commissions or bonuses) to be paid by the next regular payday, but no later than 31 days after the last day worked. Unpaid final wages accrue increased damages under § 109.11 and may support a private cause of action or a Department of Workforce Development claim.

Can a Wisconsin employer require direct deposit?

Not without the employee's prior written authorization. Wis. Stat. § 109.035 permits payment by direct deposit or payroll card only with employee consent; the employer may not require a specific bank or financial institution. Employees who do not consent must be offered payment by check or cash on the regular payday.

Did Wisconsin income tax rates change in 2026?

No. The four statutory rates in Wis. Stat. § 71.06 — 3.50%, 4.40%, 5.30%, and 7.65% — did not change for 2026. What changed is the inflation indexing of the bracket ceilings and the sliding-scale standard deduction under § 71.06(2e) and § 71.05(22)(dm). Bracket thresholds moved up roughly 1.7%, so a taxpayer with the same income taxed under 2026 rules keeps slightly more take-home than under 2025 rules.

How much more take-home will Wisconsin workers see in 2026 vs 2025?

For most wage earners the annual savings from 2026 indexing are modest: about $75 more per year at $50,000 single, $90 at $75,000 single, $106 at $100,000 single, and roughly $125 at $120,000 MFJ. Higher earners see slightly larger dollar savings because the $315,310 (single) / $420,420 (MFJ) top-bracket threshold moved up more than $5,000. These figures assume no changes to WT-4, filing status, or pre-tax contributions.

Did the Wisconsin standard deduction change for 2026?

Yes — the sliding-scale standard deduction under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) was inflation-adjusted for 2026. The maximum deduction rose from $13,230 to $13,460 for Single/HoH, from $23,850 to $24,250 for MFJ, and from $11,320 to $11,510 for MFS. Both the phase-out start point and end point moved up as well, so more middle-income filers receive a larger reduction to Wisconsin taxable income.

Do I need to file a new WT-4 for 2026?

Not solely because of indexing. Wisconsin employers automatically apply the 2026 bracket and standard-deduction tables via Publication W-166. You only need to file a new WT-4 with your employer if your filing status, allowances, or additional withholding preference changes.

Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator 2026 — WI Take-Home Pay (3.50%

How much do I take home in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin take-home pay equals gross wages minus federal income tax, Wisconsin’s progressive 3.50%–7.65% state income tax (Wis. Stat. § 71.06, withheld on Form WT-4), and FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). No Wisconsin city or county levies a local wage tax.

2026 Wisconsin brackets

Single / HoH: 3.50% up to $14,320 · 4.40% to $28,640 · 5.30% to $315,310 · 7.65% above.
Married filing jointly: 3.50% up to $19,090 · 4.40% to $38,190 · 5.30% to $420,420 · 7.65% above.
FICA (2026): 6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% above $200,000).
Local wage tax: $0 — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire all use identical paycheck math.
Reciprocity: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan — file Form W-220 so WI withholds only your home-state tax.

Wisconsin vs neighboring states (2026)

Michigan: 4.25% flat + local city tax (Detroit, Grand Rapids, etc.).
Illinois: 4.95% flat, no local wage tax.
Minnesota: 5.35%–9.85% progressive, no local wage tax.
Iowa: 3.80% flat (2026), no local wage tax.
Wisconsin: 3.50%–7.65% progressive — below MN at the top, above IA/MI at the bottom, with no local layer.

Example 2026 take-home (single filer, no pre-tax deductions)

$50,000 gross → $40,616/yr (~$1,562 biweekly · ~$1,692 semimonthly · ~$3,385 monthly).
$75,000 gross → $58,362/yr (~$2,245 biweekly).
$100,000 gross → $74,459/yr (~$2,864 biweekly).

Adjust WT-4 allowances, filing status, and 401(k)/HSA pre-tax contributions in the calculator below for a personalized Wisconsin take-home estimate.

1Pay Details
2Your State
3Results

Step 1 — Your Pay

Gross Pay

Pay Frequency

Pay Type

Step 2 — Your State

State

Filing Status

Allowances

Your Estimated Take-Home Pay

$51,773.71

per annual paycheck (1 per year)

Gross Pay$65,000.00

100.0%

Federal Tax−$5,620.00

8.6%

Wisconsin State Tax−$2,633.79

4.1%

Social Security−$4,030.00

6.2%

Medicare−$942.50

1.5%

Pre-tax Deductions$0.00

0.0%

Net Take-Home$51,773.71

79.7%

Annual take-home

$51,774

Monthly take-home

$4,314

Good salary benchmark — Wisconsin

vs Wisconsin median household salary of $75,670/yr

86%

of Wisconsin median

−$10,670

below median

$0Wisconsin median: $75,670$151,340

Comparing against Wisconsin median household income · $75,670 (2023 ACS)

Your salary is below the Wisconsin median. Negotiating a raise, switching roles, or relocating can help close the gap.

Source: Wisconsin median household income ($75,670). Comparison divides your gross salary by the state median. Data drawn from the latest available U.S. Census Bureau ACS estimates for Wisconsin.

Effective rate 20.3%Marginal federal 12%

Full breakdown

Paycheck Estimate — 2026

US State Paycheck Calculator · usstatepaycheckcalculator.com · Generated August 12, 2026

Inputs

Gross pay	$65,000.00 / annual
Pay type	Salary
State	Wisconsin
Filing status	Single
Allowances	0
401(k) contribution	—
Health (pre-tax / period)	—
HSA (pre-tax / period)	—
Other pre-tax / period	—

Results

Take-home — Wisconsin

Line item	Per annual	Annual
Gross pay	$65,000.00	$65,000
Federal income tax	−$5,620.00	−$5,620
State income tax	−$2,633.79	−$2,634
Social Security (6.2%)	−$4,030.00	−$4,030
Medicare (1.45% + 0.9% over threshold)	−$942.50	−$943
Pre-tax deductions	−$0.00	−$0
Net take-home	$51,773.71	$51,774

Effective tax rate: 20.3% · Marginal federal: 12%

Estimate only — not tax or payroll advice. Based on 2026 IRS federal brackets, FICA rates (Social Security wage base $184,500), and the selected state's published tax rules. Excludes itemized deductions, household credits, local/city/county taxes, employee-paid SUI/SDI, garnishments, post-tax benefits, equity compensation, and bonus/special supplemental withholding.

Before you download

Assumptions & Notes

These are the exact rules and constants used to produce your results — the same content included in the PDF report.

Filing status

Single

Std. deduction

$16,100

SS wage base

$184,500

Addl Medicare @

$200,000

Model coverage

What this calculation covers

A quick snapshot of which tax categories are actually applied to your current inputs — and which are intentionally excluded.

3 modeled7 excluded

Modeled in this result

Federal income tax
2026 IRS brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) with standard deduction
FICA — Social Security & Medicare
6.2% up to $184,500 wage base + 1.45% + 0.9% Additional Medicare surtax
Wisconsin state income tax
2026 published brackets or flat rate on wages after pre-tax deductions

Excluded from this result

Itemized deductions (SALT, mortgage, charitable)
Standard deduction always applied
Tax credits (CTC, EITC, care, education, energy, ACA)
Would reduce final tax owed
Local / city / county income taxes
e.g. NYC, Philadelphia, Ohio localities
Employee SUI / SDI / PFML
e.g. CA, NJ, NY, WA state disability & paid family leave
Equity comp & supplemental bonus withholding
RSUs, ISOs, ESPP, 22% bonus rule
Roth 401(k) & post-tax insurance
Doesn't reduce taxable wages but does reduce take-home
Wage garnishments & child support
Court-ordered withholdings from net pay

See the full excluded list — with per-item explanations — in "What's not modeled" below.

Transparency

What's not modeled

Review the deductions, credits, and exemptions this estimator intentionally excludes — so you know what to double-check before relying on the numbers or downloading the PDF.

2026 Net Pay Breakdown

Where every dollar goes

Filing: SingleWisconsinTax year 2026

Line item	Per annual paycheck	Annual
Gross wages	$65,000.00	$65,000
Federal income tax
Federal income tax (IRS brackets) Marginal bracket 12% · 2026 IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32	−$5,620.00	−$5,620
FICA payroll taxes
Social Security (6.2%) 6.2% of FICA wages, up to $184,500 cap	−$4,030.00	−$4,030
Medicare (1.45%) No wage cap — applies to every dollar of FICA wages	−$942.50	−$943
Additional Medicare (0.9%) Not applicable — kicks in over $200,000 for Single	−$0.00	−$0
Total FICA	$4,972.50	$4,973
State income tax
Wisconsin state income tax Progressive brackets applied to state taxable wages	−$2,633.79	−$2,634
Total withholding
Total taxes + deductions	$13,226.29	$13,226
Net take-home pay	$51,773.71	$51,774

Calculated using 2026 IRS federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), the $184,500 Social Security wage base, a $16,100 standard deduction for Single, and the Wisconsin 2026 state tax rules. Pre-tax 401(k) reduces federal taxable wages but is still subject to FICA; health and HSA contributions reduce both federal and FICA wages. Estimate only — not tax advice.

Wisconsin payroll taxes at a glance (2026)

Canonical numbers used by every calculation on this page. Tap any row to jump to the detailed methodology, table, or worked example.

State income tax
3.50% – 7.65% (progressive, 4 brackets)
Wis. Stat. § 71.06
Local wage tax
None in any WI city or county
Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire — all $0 local
Withholding form
Form WT-4 (Wisconsin DOR)
Filed with employer, separate from federal W-4
Standard deduction (2026)
Sliding scale, max $13,830 Single / $25,570 MFJ
Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) — phases out at higher AGI
Reciprocity
IL, IN, KY, MI (Form W-220)
Home-state tax withheld instead of WI
Supplemental / bonus rate
≈ 5.30% WI + 22% federal
Reconciled to progressive brackets at year-end
Overtime
1.5× regular rate after 40 hrs/wk
Wis. Admin. Code § DWD 274.03
Tipped minimum cash wage
$2.33/hr (tip credit up to $4.92)
Wis. Stat. § 104.035
Pay-frequency law
At least monthly; wages due within 31 days
Wis. Stat. § 109.03
FICA (federal)
6.2% SS to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% > $200K)
2026 SSA wage base

Sources: Wisconsin Department of Revenue (Pub. W-166, Form WT-4), IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, SSA 2026 wage base. See full methodology →

Wisconsin standard deduction, brackets & WT-4 withholding details

Wisconsin also grants a sliding-scale standard deduction under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm), indexed annually by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. For tax year 2026 the maximum deduction is approximately $13,930 single, $25,760 married filing jointly, $17,990 head of household, and $12,240 married filing separately — and it phases down as Wisconsin adjusted gross income rises (fully phased out around ~$129k single / ~$152k MFJ / ~$150k HoH / ~$72k MFS). That’s different from the federal standard deduction, so your Wisconsin taxable income is almost always lower than your federal taxable income at the same salary. Head of household filers apply the Single rate schedule (3.50% / 4.40% / 5.30% / 7.65%) under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q) but receive the larger HoH standard deduction. Married filing separately uses bracket thresholds set at half of the MFJ schedule (3.50% up to $9,545, 4.40% to $19,095, 5.30% to $210,210, 7.65% above) — identical marginal rates to MFJ but narrower bands, which usually produces a higher combined WI liability than filing jointly and is generally elected only when spouses need to keep tax liability separate. The calculator below applies the correct § 71.05(22)(dm) standard deduction and § 71.06 bracket schedule for the filing status you pick.

Wisconsin 2026 income tax bracket schedule (Wis. Stat. § 71.06)

Wisconsin is not a flat-tax state — each bracket rate applies only to income within that band. Head-of-household filers use the Single schedule under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q). Married-filing-separately uses half of the MFJ thresholds.

Wisconsin 2026 income tax bracket schedule for Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, and Married Filing Separately filers.
Rate	Single / HoH	Married Filing Jointly	Married Filing Separately
3.50%	$0 – $14,320	$0 – $19,090	$0 – $9,545
4.40%	$14,320 – $28,640	$19,090 – $38,190	$9,545 – $19,095
5.30%	$28,640 – $315,310	$38,190 – $420,420	$19,095 – $210,210
7.65%	Above $315,310	Above $420,420	Above $210,210

Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wis. Stat. § 71.06, 2026 inflation-indexed thresholds. Withheld per Form WT-4.

Wisconsin Form WT-4 withholding schedule (Pub. W-166, 2026)

Wisconsin employers compute state withholding by annualizing gross wages, subtracting $400 per WT-4 exemption claimed on line 1 of the employee’s WT-4, and applying the annualized § 71.06 brackets below. Any additional flat amount on WT-4 line 2 is added to each pay period after the bracket math. Head-of-household withholding uses the Single schedule per Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q).

Wisconsin 2026 Form WT-4 annualized withholding schedule for Single/HoH and Married Filing Jointly filers, from Wisconsin Publication W-166.
Rate	Single / HoH taxable wages	Withholding on Single/HoH	Married Filing Jointly taxable wages	Withholding on MFJ
3.50%	$0 – $14,320	3.50% of excess over $0	$0 – $19,090	3.50% of excess over $0
4.40%	$14,320 – $28,640	$501.20 + 4.40% of excess over $14,320	$19,090 – $38,190	$668.15 + 4.40% of excess over $19,090
5.30%	$28,640 – $315,310	$1,131.28 + 5.30% of excess over $28,640	$38,190 – $420,420	$1,508.55 + 5.30% of excess over $38,190
7.65%	Above $315,310	$16,324.79 + 7.65% of excess over $315,310	Above $420,420	$21,766.74 + 7.65% of excess over $420,420

Cumulative amounts computed from the § 71.06 marginal rates on each filing status’s bracket ceilings. Married Filing Separately uses the MFJ schedule at half the thresholds and half the cumulative amounts. Employers can also use the Wisconsin DOR wage-bracket tables in Publication W-166; results match this annualized formula within rounding.

Wisconsin standard deduction by filing status (Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm), 2026)

Wisconsin’s standard deduction is a sliding-scale deduction — it starts at the maximum shown below and phases down as Wisconsin adjusted gross income (WAGI) rises, reaching $0 at the fully-phased-out ceiling. Head-of-household filers use the Single rate schedule under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q) but receive the larger HoH standard deduction. Married-filing-separately thresholds are set at half of the MFJ schedule.

Wisconsin 2026 standard deduction maximum, phase-out start, and fully phased-out ceiling by filing status.
Filing status	Max standard deduction	Phase-out begins (WAGI)	Fully phased out (WAGI)	Rate schedule
Single	~$13,930	~$17,780	~$128,905	Single (§ 71.06)
Head of Household	~$17,990	~$17,780	~$150,120	Single (§ 71.06(1q))
Married Filing Jointly	~$25,760	~$25,660	~$152,015	MFJ (§ 71.06)
Married Filing Separately	~$12,240	~$12,190	~$72,225	MFS = ½ MFJ thresholds

Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) sliding-scale standard deduction, inflation-indexed for tax year 2026; rate schedules under Wis. Stat. § 71.06 and § 71.06(1q). See Wisconsin DOR tax rates for the current-year indexed amounts.

Wisconsin reciprocity & commuter rules — Form W-220 for WI ↔ IL, IN, KY, MI

Warning — W-220 covers STATE INCOME TAX ONLY

Verified against Wis. Stat. § 71.05(3) and Wisconsin Department of Revenue reciprocity guidance: Form W-220 waives only Wisconsin's 3.50%–7.65% state income tax. On the reverse commute, Wisconsin residents working in a reciprocity partner still owe every local layer on the work side — Indiana county LIT (IC 6-3.6), Michigan city income tax (Detroit, Grand Rapids, and 22 other Uniform City Income Tax Act cities), and Kentucky occupational license fees (Louisville Metro, county rates). Wisconsin itself has no municipal wage tax, so nothing local stacks on the WI work side.

Under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(3), Wisconsin has reciprocal wage-tax agreements with Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Reciprocity means the state where you LIVE taxes your wages — you do not owe the work-state's income tax on those wages. Minnesota and Iowa are not reciprocity partners (the MN–WI agreement was terminated in 2010); those commutes are handled with a credit for taxes paid, not a reciprocity certificate.

Live in IL / IN / KY / MI · Work in Wisconsin

File Wisconsin Form W-220 (Nonresident Employee's Withholding Reciprocity Declaration) with your WI employer. Your employer stops withholding Wisconsin's 3.50%–7.65% state tax and continues withholding your home state's income tax on the same wages.
No Wisconsin local tax applies — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, and every other WI municipality impose zero wage or income tax. Federal + home-state + FICA is the entire picture on the WI work side.
File your normal home-state resident return (IL-1040, IT-40, KY Form 740, MI-1040) at year end — report the WI wages there and claim no Wisconsin refund because none was withheld.

Live in Wisconsin · Work in IL / IN / KY / MI

File the work-state's non-resident / reciprocity form with that employer (see table below). The employer stops withholding that state's income tax; you owe Wisconsin's 3.50%–7.65% on the same wages.
Cover the Wisconsin shortfall by asking your WI employer for additional withholding on Form WT-4 or by making quarterly estimated payments to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Work-side local taxes still apply — Indiana county LIT (non-resident rate), Michigan city income tax (Detroit, Grand Rapids, and 22 other UCITA cities), Kentucky county / Louisville Metro occupational license fees. Reciprocity does not touch those.

Home-state calculators · verify your take-home

For IL / IN / KY / MI residents working in Wisconsin — model your resident-state withholding on the paycheck your Wisconsin employer issues after W-220 is on file.

Work-state calculators · model the reverse commute

For Wisconsin residents working in IL / IN / KY / MI — check work-side local layers (Indiana county LIT, Michigan city PIT, Kentucky occupational fees) that reciprocity does not waive.

Reciprocity forms and local-tax caveats for each Wisconsin reciprocity partner state (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan).
Reciprocal state	WI resident working there files	Their resident working in WI files	Local tax NOT covered by reciprocity
Illinois (IL)	Form IL-W-5-NR (Employee's Statement of Non-Residence in Illinois)	Wisconsin Form W-220	Illinois has no municipal income tax on wages, so once IL 4.95% withholding stops there is no local layer to worry about on either side.
Indiana (IN)	Indiana Form WH-47 (Certificate of Residence)	Wisconsin Form W-220	Indiana COUNTY LIT (IC 6-3.6) is NOT waived. A WI resident working in Indiana still owes Indiana county LIT at the work-county's non-resident rate — file Form IT-40RNR at year end to reconcile county-only liability.
Kentucky (kentucky)	Form 42A809 (Certificate of Nonresidence)	Wisconsin Form W-220	Kentucky county / Louisville Metro occupational license fees (0.45%–2.5%) are NOT covered by reciprocity — they apply on the work side regardless of the 42A809.
Michigan (MI)	Form MI-W4 (mark line 8 non-resident of a reciprocal state)	Wisconsin Form W-220	Michigan city income tax (Detroit 2.4%/1.2%, Grand Rapids 1.5%/0.75%, and 22 other Uniform City Income Tax Act cities) is NOT reciprocal — WI residents working inside those cities still owe the non-resident city rate.

Key rule — reciprocity ≠ local-tax waiver

A reciprocity certificate stops your employer from withholding the other state's income tax on your wages. It does not stop Indiana county LIT, Michigan city income tax, or Kentucky occupational license fees on the work side. Wisconsin has no municipal wage tax, so nothing local applies on the WI side of the border for either commute direction.

Minnesota is not a Wisconsin reciprocity partner — MN residents working in WI (and vice versa) must file both returns and claim a credit for taxes paid on Minnesota Schedule M1CR or Wisconsin Schedule OS. Re-file W-220 whenever your state of residence changes.

Sources — official Wisconsin statutes & DOR guidance

Wis. Stat. § 71.05(3) (opens in a new tab) — Wisconsin's wage-tax reciprocity statute — names IL, IN, KY, and MI as partners.
Wisconsin Form W-220 (opens in a new tab) — the Nonresident Employee's Withholding Reciprocity Declaration filed with the WI employer.
WDOR Reciprocity FAQ (opens in a new tab) — Wisconsin Department of Revenue guidance on the four reciprocity partners and filing rules.
Wis. Stat. § 71.06 (opens in a new tab) — Wisconsin's 3.50% / 4.40% / 5.30% / 7.65% progressive bracket schedule — the tax that reciprocity waives.

No local income tax in Wisconsin

No Wisconsin city, county, or school district imposes a wage income tax. Wages earned in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton, Waukesha, Eau Claire, Oshkosh, or anywhere else in the state are subject only to the Wisconsin state income tax under Wis. Stat. § 71.06 (3.50%–7.65% brackets in 2026), plus federal income tax and FICA. Municipal levy authority is capped by Wis. Stat. § 66.0602 and does not include an earnings tax.

0.00% local

Local wage tax rules in Wisconsin and neighboring states
State	Local wage tax	How it works	Authority
Wisconsin	None	No city, county, school-district, or metro wage tax. Only state income tax under Wis. Stat. § 71.06 applies to wages.	Wis. Stat. § 66.0602 limits municipal levy authority
Illinois	None	No local wage tax statewide. Chicago has no city income tax on wages (only certain business/lease taxes).	35 ILCS 5/201 — state-only 4.95% flat rate
Michigan	Some	24 cities levy a local income tax (e.g., Detroit 2.4%/1.2%, Grand Rapids 1.5%/0.75%, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw). Non-residents pay half the resident rate.	MCL 141.501 (Uniform City Income Tax Act)
Indiana	Widespread	All 92 counties impose a Local Income Tax (LIT) ranging roughly 0.50%–3.00% on top of the 3.05% state rate. Determined by county of residence on Jan 1.	Ind. Code § 6-3.6
Iowa	Some	No city wage tax, but ~278 school districts levy an income surtax (0%–20% of state tax liability), reconciled at filing — not withheld from paychecks.	Iowa Code § 257.21 (school surtax)
Minnesota	None	No city or county wage tax. Only the state progressive income tax (5.35%–9.85%) applies to Minnesota-source wages.	Minn. Stat. § 290.06

Cross-border commuters:

Wisconsin's Form W-220 reciprocity with IL, IN, KY, and MI covers state income tax only. A Wisconsin resident working in Detroit still owes Detroit's 1.2% non-resident city tax; a Wisconsin resident with an Indiana job still owes county LIT based on the Indiana county of employment. Configure those local withholdings separately from the WT-4.

Wisconsin take-home by filing status — Milwaukee & Madison (HoH vs MFS)

Estimated 2026 Wisconsin net pay for a representative full-time salary in Milwaukee and Madison, comparing Head of Household and Married Filing Separately across common pay frequencies. HoH uses the Single rate schedule under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q) with the larger HoH sliding-scale standard deduction; MFS uses MFJ marginal rates on half-thresholds under § 71.06 with the smaller MFS deduction (§ 71.05(22)(dm)). Federal income tax + Wisconsin § 71.06 progressive 3.50%–7.65% + FICA; Wisconsin imposes no municipal wage tax, so Milwaukee and Madison use identical bracket math — the delta below is purely filing-status math.

Wisconsin 2026 net pay for Milwaukee and Madison sample salaries under Head of Household and Married Filing Separately by pay frequency.
City / Role	Gross / yr	Filing status	Weekly (52)	Biweekly (26)	Semimonthly (24)	Monthly (12)	Net / yr
Milwaukee, WI Registered Nurse	$82,000	HoH	$1,263	$2,526	$2,736	$5,473	$65,670
Milwaukee, WI Registered Nurse	$82,000	MFS	$1,201	$2,401	$2,601	$5,202	$62,429
Madison, WI Software Developer	$105,000	HoH	$1,566	$3,132	$3,393	$6,786	$81,426
Madison, WI Software Developer	$105,000	MFS	$1,488	$2,977	$3,225	$6,449	$77,390

Head of Household (HoH): HoH uses the Single rate schedule under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1q) but the larger HoH standard deduction (~$17,990 max, § 71.05(22)(dm)).
Married Filing Separately (MFS): MFS uses MFJ marginal rates on half-thresholds (3.50%→$9,545, 4.40%→$19,095, 5.30%→$210,210, 7.65% above) with the smaller ~$12,240 max sliding-scale standard deduction (§ 71.05(22)(dm)).
Milwaukee: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metro RN median (BLS OES May 2024).
Madison: Madison metro software developer median (Epic / UW-Madison corridor).

Change filing status, WT-4 exemptions, or add 401(k) / HSA in the Wisconsin paycheck calculator above to re-run the same § 71.06 + § 71.05(22)(dm) math on your own numbers.

Married, both work — Wisconsin WT-4 worked example

Wisconsin's Form WT-4 has no two-earner worksheet, so each employer withholds MFJ tax as if its paycheck were the couple's only income. Combined wages then push into the 5.30% bracket without either employer catching it. The fix is WT-4 Line 3 "additional amount you want deducted from each pay." Figures below use 2026 MFJ brackets from Wis. Stat. § 71.06.

MFJ · 2026

Recommended WT-4 Line 3 additional withholding by household income
Scenario	Freq.	Higher earner WT-4 Line 3	Lower earner WT-4 Line 3	Est. annual shortfall fixed
$55K + $45K (both biweekly) Both spouses land in the 4.40% bracket individually, but combined income $100K pushes ~$61,810 into the 5.30% bracket.	biweekly	$12	$5	$420
$75K + $60K (both biweekly) Larger gap: household $135K pushes ~$96,810 into 5.30%. Weight extra withholding onto the higher earner.	biweekly	$20	$12	$810
$95K + $85K (biweekly) Both are already in 5.30% individually; joint bracket math is close, but rounding of employer tables still creates a shortfall.	biweekly	$30	$18	$1,240
$120K + $90K (semimonthly) 24 semimonthly paychecks each. Add Line 3 to both WT-4s — mostly to the higher earner — to avoid an April 15 balance.	semimonthly	$45	$25	$1,690
$150K + $120K (both biweekly) Household $270K stays inside the 5.30% bracket, but neither employer withholds enough Wisconsin tax on its own.	biweekly	$60	$22	$2,150
$200K + $180K (semimonthly) High-income duo. Consider quarterly estimated payments (Form 1-ES) in addition to Line 3 if bonuses are lumpy.	semimonthly	$100	$36	$3,260

Worked example — $75,000 + $60,000, both biweekly, MFJ

Household gross: $135,000. Subtract two personal exemptions ($1,400) → Wisconsin taxable ≈ $133,600.
Correct joint WI tax at 2026 MFJ brackets: 3.50% × $19,090 + 4.40% × $19,100 + 5.30% × $95,410 ≈ $6,565.
What payroll withholds when each employer runs MFJ tables on its wages alone: spouse A ≈ $2,905, spouse B ≈ $2,145, total ≈ $5,050.
Under-withholding ≈ $810/yr — that's the April 15 balance-due surprise.
Fix: add $20 to Line 3 of the higher earner's WT-4 (26 pay periods ≈ $520) and $12 to the lower earner's WT-4 (≈ $312). Combined ≈ $832 covers the shortfall with a small buffer.

Option A — Line 3 add-on (recommended)

Keep MFJ on Line 1 of both WT-4s, then write the recommended per-paycheck amount on Line 3. Weight it onto the higher earner for smoother cash flow. Precise, adjustable, and matches DOR Pub. W-166 guidance.

Option B — Check "Single" on both WT-4s

Wisconsin lets each spouse check Single on WT-4 Line 1 regardless of federal filing status. Forces each employer to use the narrower single-filer bracket table, usually over-withholding just enough to erase the joint shortfall. Simpler; trades precision for a small refund.

Estimates assume standard 2026 WI MFJ brackets, two personal exemptions, no pre-tax deferrals beyond standard payroll, and no Wisconsin credits. If either spouse has significant bonus income, pair Line 3 with quarterly estimated payments on Form 1-ES. Run the calculator above with your combined AGI to sanity-check the recommendation for your specific situation.

Wisconsin worked paycheck examples — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton

Estimated 2026 take-home pay for a representative full-time salary in each city, single filer, no pre-tax deductions. Wisconsin has no municipal wage tax, so every city uses the same paycheck math: federal income tax + Wisconsin's progressive 3.50%–7.65% state tax (Wis. Stat. § 71.06) + 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare. Salary differences below reflect local BLS wage medians, not different tax rules.

Wisconsin worked paycheck examples across Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, and Appleton by pay frequency (2026 federal + Wis. Stat. § 71.06 math).
City / Role	Gross / yr	Hourly (net)	Weekly (52)	Biweekly (26)	Semimonthly (24)	Monthly (12)	Net / yr
Milwaukee, WI Registered Nurse	$82,000	$30.23	$1,209	$2,418	$2,620	$5,239	$62,869
Madison, WI Software Developer	$105,000	$37.35	$1,494	$2,988	$3,237	$6,473	$77,678
Green Bay, WI Mechanical Engineer	$88,000	$32.08	$1,283	$2,567	$2,781	$5,561	$66,732
Kenosha, WI Warehouse Supervisor	$65,000	$24.89	$996	$1,991	$2,157	$4,314	$51,774
Racine, WI Manufacturing Technician	$58,000	$22.39	$896	$1,791	$1,940	$3,881	$46,567
Appleton, WI Financial Analyst	$72,000	$27.13	$1,085	$2,170	$2,351	$4,703	$56,431

Milwaukee: Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metro RN median (BLS OES).
Madison: Madison metro software developer median (Epic / UW-Madison corridor).
Green Bay: Green Bay metro engineering median.
Kenosha: Kenosha logistics / Amazon-corridor supervisor.
Racine: Racine manufacturing wage (SC Johnson / CNH corridor).
Appleton: Appleton-Fox Cities financial analyst median.

Milwaukee, WI — Registered Nurse

Gross $82,000/yr ($39.42/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $30.23/hr
Weekly: $1,209
Biweekly: $2,418
Semimonthly: $2,620
Monthly: $5,239
Annual (net): $62,869

Madison, WI — Software Developer

Gross $105,000/yr ($50.48/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $37.35/hr
Weekly: $1,494
Biweekly: $2,988
Semimonthly: $3,237
Monthly: $6,473
Annual (net): $77,678

Green Bay, WI — Mechanical Engineer

Gross $88,000/yr ($42.31/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $32.08/hr
Weekly: $1,283
Biweekly: $2,567
Semimonthly: $2,781
Monthly: $5,561
Annual (net): $66,732

Kenosha, WI — Warehouse Supervisor

Gross $65,000/yr ($31.25/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $24.89/hr
Weekly: $996
Biweekly: $1,991
Semimonthly: $2,157
Monthly: $4,314
Annual (net): $51,774

Racine, WI — Manufacturing Technician

Gross $58,000/yr ($27.88/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $22.39/hr
Weekly: $896
Biweekly: $1,791
Semimonthly: $1,940
Monthly: $3,881
Annual (net): $46,567

Appleton, WI — Financial Analyst

Gross $72,000/yr ($34.62/hr @ 2,080 hrs)

Hourly (net): $27.13/hr
Weekly: $1,085
Biweekly: $2,170
Semimonthly: $2,351
Monthly: $4,703
Annual (net): $56,431

Want a personalized number for your city, filing status, WT-4 exemptions, or 401(k) / HSA contributions? Use the Wisconsin paycheck calculator above — it re-runs the same 2026 federal + Wisconsin § 71.06 math with your own inputs.

Milwaukee paycheck calculator — 2026 worked examples

Milwaukee has no city or county wage tax (Wis. Stat. § 66.0602), so a Milwaukee paycheck is federal income tax + Wisconsin’s progressive 3.50%–7.65% state income tax (Wis. Stat. § 71.06, withheld on Form WT-4) + 6.2% Social Security (2026 wage base $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare. The three scenarios below use 2026 rates for representative Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metro roles.

Registered Nurse at Froedtert / Aurora

Single · $82,000/yr

Milwaukee metro RN median (BLS OES) with 6% 401(k) match and employee-only health premium.

Net / year: -$418,489
Biweekly (26): -$16,096
Monthly (12): -$34,874
Effective tax: 610.4%

Withheld: federal $0 · WI state $0 · FICA $6,089 · Milwaukee city tax $0.

MPS teacher + spouse in trades

Married filing jointly · $118,000/yr

Milwaukee Public Schools teacher on Bachelor's + 10 step, plus a spouse working as a union electrician (IBEW 494). Family health premium pre-tax.

Net / year: -$485,460
Biweekly (26): -$18,672
Monthly (12): -$40,455
Effective tax: 511.4%

Withheld: federal $0 · WI state $0 · FICA $8,660 · Milwaukee city tax $0.

Software engineer at Northwestern Mutual

Single · $140,000/yr

Downtown Milwaukee tech / financial-services salary. Aggressive 10% 401(k) to hit the 2026 $23,500 elective-deferral limit.

Net / year: -$1,272,926
Biweekly (26): -$48,959
Monthly (12): -$106,077
Effective tax: 1009.2%

Withheld: federal $0 · WI state $0 · FICA $10,526 · Milwaukee city tax $0.

Sources: Wisconsin DOR Pub. W-166 & Form WT-4, Wis. Stat. § 71.06 (brackets), § 71.05(22)(dm) (sliding-scale standard deduction), § 66.0602 (no municipal wage tax), IRS Pub. 15-T and Rev. Proc. 2025-32, SSA 2026 wage base.

Wisconsin hourly wage worked examples — weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly

Estimated 2026 Wisconsin take-home pay by common hourly wage at a full-time 40 hrs/week × 52 weeks schedule, single filer, no pre-tax deductions. Rates start at Wisconsin's § 104.035 minimum wage of $7.25/hr and step up through skilled-trade rates. Wisconsin has no municipal wage tax, so paycheck math is federal + WI 3.50%–7.65% § 71.06 progressive tax + 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare.

Wisconsin take-home pay by hourly wage from $7.25 to $50/hr across weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, and monthly pay frequencies (2026 federal + § 71.06 math).
Hourly rate / role	Gross / yr	Net / hr	Weekly (40 hrs)	Biweekly (80 hrs)	Semimonthly	Monthly	Effective tax
$7.25/hr WI minimum wage	$15,080	$6.68	$267	$534	$579	$1,157	7.9%
$12.00/hr Retail / entry service	$24,960	$10.46	$418	$836	$906	$1,812	12.9%
$15.00/hr Warehouse / logistics	$31,200	$12.76	$510	$1,021	$1,106	$2,212	14.9%
$18.00/hr Manufacturing operator	$37,440	$15.02	$601	$1,202	$1,302	$2,604	16.5%
$22.00/hr Licensed practical nurse	$45,760	$18.01	$720	$1,441	$1,561	$3,122	18.1%
$25.00/hr Skilled tradesperson	$52,000	$20.24	$810	$1,619	$1,754	$3,509	19.0%
$30.00/hr Registered nurse	$62,400	$23.96	$958	$1,917	$2,077	$4,153	20.1%
$35.00/hr Mechanical technician	$72,800	$27.38	$1,095	$2,190	$2,373	$4,745	21.8%
$40.00/hr Software engineer (jr.)	$83,200	$30.60	$1,224	$2,448	$2,652	$5,303	23.5%
$50.00/hr Senior engineer / PA	$104,000	$37.04	$1,481	$2,963	$3,210	$6,420	25.9%

$7.25/hr: Wis. Stat. § 104.035 — matches federal floor.
$12.00/hr: Common WI retail & QSR starting wage.
$15.00/hr: Kenosha & Milwaukee fulfillment corridor.
$18.00/hr: Racine / Fox Valley plant floor.
$22.00/hr: WI LPN median (BLS OES).
$25.00/hr: Electrician / welder journey rate.
$30.00/hr: Milwaukee-area RN median.
$35.00/hr: Green Bay / Appleton industrial.
$40.00/hr: Madison tech corridor entry.
$50.00/hr: Physician assistant, senior dev.

Overtime, tips, second jobs, WT-4 exemptions, or 401(k) / HSA pre-tax deductions will shift these numbers. Plug your exact hourly rate and hours into the Wisconsin paycheck calculator above for a personalized estimate that re-runs the same 2026 federal + Wisconsin § 71.06 math.

Wisconsin EITC tip: if you're at the lower end of this table (roughly $7.25–$22/hr) and have qualifying children, you likely qualify for the Wisconsin Earned Income Credit — 4% of the federal EITC with 1 child, 11% with 2, and 34% with 3+ (Wis. Stat. § 71.07(9e)). That's real annual take-home the paycheck math above doesn't show — claim it on Schedule EIC-A with your Wisconsin Form 1. See the Wisconsin DOR EITC page.

Wisconsin overtime & tipped-wage handling

Wisconsin overtime is 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours per work-week (Wis. Admin. Code § DWD 274.03) — Wisconsin has no daily overtime rule. Tipped workers earn a $2.33/hr cash minimum with an employer tip credit up to $4.92/hr; cash + reported tips must equal the $7.25/hr state minimum each week or the employer owes the shortfall (Wis. Stat. § 104.035(3), § DWD 272.03).

Overtime estimator (DWD 274.03, 1.5× after 40 hrs)

Regular rate ($/hr)Hours / week

Straight-time pay (40 hrs): $880.00
Overtime pay (10 hrs × $33.00/hr): $330.00
Weekly gross: $1,210.00
Estimated WI net / week: $965.89
Annualized gross (× 52): $62,920

Tipped-wage estimator (§ 104.035(3), $2.33 cash + $4.92 tip credit)

Cash wageHours / wkTips $/hr

Cash pay (incl. makeup): $88.54
Reported tips: $456.00
Weekly reportable gross: $544.54
Effective $/hr: $14.33
Estimated WI net / week: $468.58

Wisconsin overtime quick table (single filer, WI net weekly)

Wisconsin overtime weekly gross and estimated net at common hourly rates and 45 / 50 / 55 / 60 hour work-weeks.
Rate	45 hrs gross	50 hrs gross	60 hrs gross
$15.00/hr	$712.50	$825.00	$1,050.00
$20.00/hr	$950.00	$1,100.00	$1,400.00
$25.00/hr	$1,187.50	$1,375.00	$1,750.00
$30.00/hr	$1,425.00	$1,650.00	$2,100.00
$40.00/hr	$1,900.00	$2,200.00	$2,800.00

Plug the weekly gross into the calculator above with Weekly frequency for a full WT-4 / § 71.06 net estimate.

Tipped-wage reference (Wis. Stat. § 104.035, DWD 272.03)

State minimum wage: $7.25/hr
Tipped cash wage (adult): $2.33/hr
Tipped cash wage (minor): $2.13/hr
Max tip credit: $4.92/hr
Opportunity wage (under 20, first 90 days): $5.90/hr
Tipped OT cash rate (1.5 × MW − tip credit): $5.96/hr

Reported tips are federal + Wisconsin taxable wages (IRC § 3401, Wis. Stat. § 71.06) and Medicare + Social Security wages. Employers must retain Form 4070 tip reports and cover FICA on reported tips up to the SS wage base.

No daily overtime: working 12 hours in one day does not trigger OT in Wisconsin — overtime is triggered only when total weekly hours exceed 40.
Exempt roles: executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and certain agricultural workers are exempt from OT under DWD 274.04 — the calculator above assumes non-exempt.
Tip pooling: Wisconsin allows valid tip pools among customarily tipped employees; managers and owners may not participate (aligning with the federal 2018 CAA amendment).
Service charges are not tips: mandatory service charges are wages, not tips, and cannot count toward the tip credit.

Wisconsin bonus & commission withholding — marginal-rate method

Wisconsin does not use a flat supplemental wage rate the way the IRS does (22% federal on bonuses under $1M). Instead, the Wisconsin DOR Publication W-166 directs employers to withhold on bonuses, commissions, retro pay, severance, and equity vests at the employee's marginal § 71.06 rate — the rate that applies to their next dollar of Wisconsin taxable wages. In practice that means Wisconsin withholding on a bonus can range from 3.50% to 7.65% depending on total annual pay and filing status.

How this calculator handles a bonus

Enter the bonus by increasing your gross for the pay period that includes it (or set frequency to Annual and add the bonus to base salary). The engine re-runs the full § 71.06 progressive schedule with your § 71.05(22)(dm) sliding-scale standard deduction, so extra dollars are taxed at your true marginal WI bracket — matching the aggregate method Pub. W-166 prescribes rather than a flat-rate approximation.

FICA still applies to Wisconsin bonuses

Bonuses and commissions are Medicare wages (1.45% + 0.9% above $200k single / $250k MFJ) and Social Security wages up to the 2026 $184,500 wage base. 401(k) and HSA elections generally apply to bonus pay unless your employer excludes supplemental wages — check your plan document. Wisconsin has no local wage tax, so no municipal withholding stacks on top.

Wisconsin marginal-rate withholding on representative bonus and commission scenarios, 2026 § 71.06 brackets, Pub. W-166 aggregate method.
Scenario	Base / Bonus	WI marginal rate	WI tax on bonus	Fed + FICA on bonus	Net bonus
Milwaukee retail associate — holiday bonus Single	$55,000 + $3,000	5.96%	$179	$590	$2,232
Madison analyst — Q4 performance bonus Single	$72,000 + $5,000	5.96%	$298	$1,483	$3,219
Green Bay engineer — annual bonus (MFJ) MFJ	$90,000 + $12,000	6.38%	$766	$2,358	$8,876
Milwaukee sales rep — commission run Single	$110,000 + $25,000	5.80%	$1,451	$7,677	$15,873
Madison director — equity vest (MFJ) MFJ	$150,000 + $40,000	5.35%	$2,142	$11,519	$26,339
Executive RSU vest — top-bracket example Single	$250,000 + $75,000	5.60%	$4,203	$27,343	$43,455

Aggregate vs. flat method: Wisconsin only permits the aggregate method (Pub. W-166, § 3.C) — add the bonus to the regular paycheck, compute WI tax on the combined amount, subtract WI tax already withheld from the regular wages, withhold the difference from the supplemental payment.

Federal side: The IRS allows either the 22% flat method (bonuses under $1M) or the aggregate method — many employers use flat 22% for federal even while Wisconsin uses aggregate. Above $1M of supplemental wages in a year, the federal rate steps to 37%.

Under-withholding risk: If your marginal WI bracket is 7.65% but your payroll system defaults to the lower "regular wage" percentage for a large bonus, you may owe on Form 1 in April. Use the calculator above to model your combined base + bonus and, if needed, add the shortfall to WT-4 line 2 (extra withholding per paycheck) or make a Form 1-ES estimated payment.

Wisconsin salary to take-home pay (Single, 2026)

Estimated Wisconsin net pay across common salary ranges — federal income tax + Wisconsin’s progressive 3.50%–7.65% state tax (Wis. Stat. § 71.06) + 7.65% FICA. No pre-tax deductions. Wisconsin has no municipal wage tax, so the numbers apply statewide (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton).

Filing statusOptional: your annual salary (USD)

Explore by annual salary$75,000 gross / $58,362 net

$20K$75K$150K$225K$300K

Hourly (net): $28.06
Weekly: $1,122
Biweekly: $2,245
Semimonthly: $2,432
Monthly: $4,864
Effective tax: 22.2%

Federal ≈ $7,670 · WI state ≈ $3,230 · FICA ≈ $5,738 per year. Drag the slider to see any salary from $20K to $300K under the Single filing status.

Wisconsin 2026 salary to take-home pay table — Single filer, no pre-tax deductions.
Gross / yr	Hourly (net)	Weekly	Biweekly	Semimonthly	Monthly	Net / yr	Effective tax
$30,000	$12.33	$493	$986	$1,068	$2,137	$25,639	14.5%
$40,000	$15.95	$638	$1,276	$1,382	$2,765	$33,177	17.1%
$50,000	$19.53	$781	$1,562	$1,692	$3,385	$40,616	18.8%
$60,000	$23.10	$924	$1,848	$2,002	$4,005	$48,054	19.9%
$70,000	$26.51	$1,060	$2,121	$2,298	$4,595	$55,143	21.2%
$75,000	$28.06	$1,122	$2,245	$2,432	$4,864	$58,362	22.2%
$80,000	$29.61	$1,184	$2,369	$2,566	$5,132	$61,582	23.0%
$90,000	$32.70	$1,308	$2,616	$2,834	$5,668	$68,020	24.4%
$100,000	$35.80	$1,432	$2,864	$3,102	$6,205	$74,459	25.5%
$120,000	$41.99	$1,680	$3,359	$3,639	$7,278	$87,336	27.2%
$150,000	$51.07	$2,043	$4,086	$4,426	$8,852	$106,228	29.2%
$175,000	$58.65	$2,346	$4,692	$5,083	$10,166	$121,990	30.3%
$200,000	$66.69	$2,668	$5,335	$5,780	$11,559	$138,714	30.6%
$250,000	$81.88	$3,275	$6,551	$7,097	$14,193	$170,319	31.9%

Estimates use 2026 IRS Publication 15-T percentage-method tables + Wisconsin Publication W-166 / Wis. Stat. § 71.06 brackets + 6.2% Social Security (up to $176,100 wage base) + 1.45% Medicare (+ 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000). Hourly assumes 40 hrs/wk × 52 wks = 2,080 hours/yr.

Wisconsin paycheck coverage — 18 largest cities

Estimated 2026 take-home pay for a single filer earning the local BLS OES metro median wage in Wisconsin's 18 largest cities. Because Wisconsin has no municipal wage tax, the paycheck math is identical statewide — federal income tax + Wisconsin's progressive 3.50%–7.65% state tax under Wis. Stat. § 71.06 + FICA. Row-level differences reflect local wage medians, not different tax rules.

Estimated 2026 Wisconsin take-home pay for a single filer earning the metro-area median wage in 18 Wisconsin cities. Columns: city, county, population, median gross wage, effective tax rate, net hourly / biweekly / monthly / annual pay.
City	County	Population	Median wage	Eff. rate	Net / hr	Net biweekly	Net monthly	Net / yr
Milwaukee	Milwaukee	561,000	$52,500	19.1%	$20.42	$1,634	$3,540	$42,476
Madison	Dane	281,000	$63,500	20.2%	$24.35	$1,948	$4,221	$50,658
Green Bay	Brown	107,000	$51,000	18.9%	$19.88	$1,591	$3,447	$41,360
Kenosha	Kenosha	99,500	$48,500	18.6%	$18.99	$1,519	$3,292	$39,500
Racine	Racine	76,000	$47,500	18.4%	$18.63	$1,491	$3,230	$38,756
Appleton	Outagamie	75,500	$52,000	19.0%	$20.24	$1,619	$3,509	$42,104
Waukesha	Waukesha	72,500	$56,500	19.6%	$21.85	$1,748	$3,788	$45,451
Oshkosh	Winnebago	66,500	$49,500	18.7%	$19.35	$1,548	$3,354	$40,244
Eau Claire	Eau Claire	70,000	$48,000	18.5%	$18.81	$1,505	$3,261	$39,128
Janesville	Rock	65,500	$49,000	18.6%	$19.17	$1,534	$3,323	$39,872
West Allis	Milwaukee	59,000	$52,000	19.0%	$20.24	$1,619	$3,509	$42,104
La Crosse	La Crosse	52,500	$48,500	18.6%	$18.99	$1,519	$3,292	$39,500
Sheboygan	Sheboygan	49,500	$50,000	18.8%	$19.53	$1,562	$3,385	$40,616
Wauwatosa	Milwaukee	48,500	$55,500	19.4%	$21.49	$1,720	$3,726	$44,707
Fond du Lac	Fond du Lac	44,500	$48,000	18.5%	$18.81	$1,505	$3,261	$39,128
Brookfield	Waukesha	42,000	$60,000	19.9%	$23.10	$1,848	$4,005	$48,054
New Berlin	Waukesha	40,500	$58,500	19.8%	$22.57	$1,805	$3,912	$46,939
Wausau	Marathon	39,500	$48,500	18.6%	$18.99	$1,519	$3,292	$39,500
Sources: Wisconsin Department of Administration 2024 population estimates; BLS OES May 2024 metro median wage (all occupations). Net pay assumes single filer, no pre-tax deductions, standard 2026 § 71.05(22)(dm) sliding-scale deduction, and § 71.06 progressive brackets.

Need a personalized number for your city, filing status, WT-4 exemptions, or 401(k) / HSA contributions? Use the Wisconsin paycheck calculator above or scroll to the deeper worked examples for Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, and Appleton.

Wisconsin retirement income treatment (2026)

Wisconsin fully exempts Social Security, US military retirement, Railroad Retirement, and grandfathered pre-1964 government pensions from state income tax. General pension, 401(k), 403(b), and traditional IRA distributions are taxed at the regular § 71.06 progressive rates (3.50%–7.65%), but filers age 65+ can subtract up to $5,000 per qualifying person if federal AGI is under $15,000 (Single/HoH/MFS) or $30,000 (MFJ) under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(6)(b)28. See DOR Publication 126 for the complete list.

Wisconsin state income tax treatment of common retirement income categories for 2026.
Income category	WI state tax	Treatment	Authority
Social Security benefits	Exempt	100% excluded from Wisconsin AGI even when the federal return taxes up to 85%. Enter federal SS as a Schedule SB subtraction.	Wis. Stat. § 71.05(1)(a); Pub. 126
Railroad Retirement (Tier 1 & Tier 2)	Exempt	100% exempt in Wisconsin under federal preemption. Also exempt from state withholding.	45 U.S.C. § 231m
US military retirement & Survivor Benefit Plan	Exempt	100% exempt from Wisconsin income tax at any age, any income level.	Wis. Stat. § 71.05(1)(am)
Pre-1964 government pensions (WRS, MPS, City/County of Milwaukee, federal CSRS pre-1964)	Exempt	100% exempt for members who were retired or contributing to the plan before 1964 (grandfathered). Post-1963 hires do NOT qualify.	Wis. Stat. § 71.05(1)(a); Pub. 126
Age-65+ retirement income subtraction	Partial	Up to $5,000 per qualifying person (pension, IRA, 401(k), 403(b) distributions) if federal AGI < $15,000 single / HoH / MFS or < $30,000 MFJ. Phases to zero above the cap.	Wis. Stat. § 71.05(6)(b)28.
Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), traditional IRA (general case)	Taxable	Fully taxable as Wisconsin income at the § 71.06 progressive rates (3.50%–7.65%). Withholding is optional under Form WT-4P — many retirees elect zero WI withholding and pay via estimates.	Wis. Stat. § 71.03, § 71.06
Roth 401(k) / Roth IRA qualified distributions	Exempt	Not taxable federally or in Wisconsin when the distribution is qualified (age 59½ and 5-year rule).	IRC § 408A; Wis. Stat. § 71.01(6)(am) conforms

How to model retiree take-home with this calculator

Exclude Social Security, military retirement, Railroad Retirement, and any pre-1964 grandfathered pension from the gross field — Wisconsin taxes them at 0%.
Enter traditional 401(k) / IRA / pension distributions at full value with Annual frequency. WI applies § 71.06 brackets and the sliding-scale standard deduction.
If age 65+ and federal AGI < $15K single / $30K joint, subtract up to $5,000 per person from the taxable retirement gross before entry.
Uncheck FICA (not applicable to retirement distributions), or disregard the OASDI / Medicare lines — 401(k)/IRA payouts are not wages under IRC § 3121.

Withholding on retirement distributions (WT-4P)

Wisconsin withholding on periodic pension, annuity, and IRA distributions is voluntary. Payers must offer Form WT-4P (Wis. Stat. § 71.67(5)). Many retirees elect zero WI withholding and pay via quarterly estimates (Form 1-ES). Non-periodic lump sums default to no WI withholding unless requested. Roth qualified distributions have no withholding requirement.

No age-based tax cliff: Wisconsin does not offer a general "senior exemption" or higher personal exemption at age 65 beyond the $250 personal exemption and the $5,000 low-income retirement subtraction.
Homestead Credit (Schedule H) may add up to $1,168 in relief for qualifying retirees with household income under $24,680 — separate from paycheck withholding.
Reciprocity under Form W-220 covers wages only — pension and IRA distributions are sourced to the retiree's state of residence, not the plan's location.

Self-employed or 1099 in Wisconsin?

This calculator estimates W-2 employee paychecks. If you’re a Wisconsin freelancer, gig worker, LLC member, or 1099 contractor, you also owe the 15.3% federal self-employment tax (12.4% Social Security on the first $184,500 of 2026 net earnings + 2.9% Medicare, plus 0.9% additional Medicare above $200,000) on top of federal income tax and Wisconsin’s 3.50%–7.65% state income tax under Wis. Stat. § 71.06. Wisconsin requires quarterly estimated payments (Form 1-ES) when you expect to owe $500+ at year-end. A dedicated Wisconsin self-employment tax calculator with SE tax, QBI deduction, and 1-ES scheduling is coming soon — in the meantime, run your net W-2-equivalent salary through the calculator above and add ~7.65% for the employer-side FICA portion to approximate your quarterly liability.

Wisconsin pay-frequency law (Wis. Stat. § 109.03)

Wisconsin employers must pay all earned wages at least once per calendar month and each payday must fall within 31 days of the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned (Wis. Stat. § 109.03(1)). Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly cycles are all compliant. Late wages accrue increased damages under § 109.11, and enforcement runs through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

Legality of common payroll frequencies under Wisconsin Statutes § 109.03(1) — at-least-monthly and 31-day rules.
Frequency	Paychecks / year	§ 109.03(1)	Notes
Weekly	52	Allowed	Meets the § 109.03(1) at-least-monthly and 31-day rules automatically.
Biweekly	26	Allowed	Most common WI private-sector schedule. 14-day cycle satisfies the 31-day rule.
Semi-monthly	24	Allowed	Typically paid on the 15th and last day. Compliant with § 109.03.
Monthly	12	Allowed with conditions	Legal only if each payday is within 31 days of the last day of the pay period.
Quarterly / annual	1	Not by itself	Violates the at-least-monthly rule unless the worker falls under a § 109.03(1)(a)–(f) exemption or a valid CBA.

Statutory exemptions from the monthly rule — § 109.03(1)(a)–(f)

Categories of Wisconsin workers exempt from the at-least-monthly pay-frequency requirement under § 109.03(1)(a)–(f).
Exempt class	Citation	Detail
School district employees	§ 109.03(1)(a)	Teachers and other school staff may be paid on a schedule set by the school board (typically 10 or 12 installments over the school year).
Employees covered by a valid CBA	§ 109.03(1)(b)	A collective bargaining agreement may specify a different pay period, including semi-monthly or biweekly windows outside the default.
Logging-industry piece-rate workers	§ 109.03(1)(c)	Loggers paid by piece rate for pulpwood/logs may be paid on completion of the job rather than monthly.
Part-time firefighters and EMS personnel	§ 109.03(1)(d)	Volunteer or part-time first responders may be paid on the municipality's regular schedule (often quarterly).
Sales agents paid solely by commission	§ 109.03(1)(e)	Commission-only sales representatives may be paid when commissions are earned/settled, not monthly.
Agricultural / dairy piece-rate workers	§ 109.03(1)(f)	Piece-rate ag work may follow the harvest / production cycle instead of the monthly rule.

Final wages on separation — § 109.03(2)

Final wages (regular pay + earned commissions/bonuses) are due on the next regular payday, but no later than 31 days after the last day worked — whichever is earlier. Vacation payout depends on the employer's written policy. Unpaid final wages trigger increased damages of up to 100% under § 109.11(2) plus a private cause of action or a DWD wage claim.

Direct deposit and pay statements — §§ 109.035, 103.457

Direct deposit or payroll-card pay requires the employee's prior written authorization (§ 109.035). Employers may not mandate a specific bank. Each pay stub must itemize hours, rate, gross wages, and all deductions (Wis. Stat. § 103.457). Electronic pay stubs are allowed if the employee can access and print them.

This calculator supports every § 109.03-compliant frequency — weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly. Pick the frequency that matches your employer's schedule for an accurate WI net estimate.

What changed in 2026 vs 2025 (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin's four statutory rates (3.50% / 4.40% / 5.30% / 7.65%) did not change for tax year 2026. What did change is the annual inflation indexing of the bracket thresholds under Wis. Stat. § 71.06(2e) and the sliding-scale standard deduction under § 71.05(22)(dm). Effective 1/1/2026.

Updated for 2026

Single filer — bracket thresholds (Wis. Stat. § 71.06)
Bracket	Rate	2025	2026	Δ
1st bracket ceiling	3.50%	$14,080	$14,320	+$240
2nd bracket ceiling	4.40%	$28,170	$28,640	+$470
3rd bracket ceiling	5.30%	$310,110	$315,310	+$5,200
Top marginal rate	7.65%	above $310,110	above $315,310	threshold up

Married Filing Jointly — bracket thresholds (Wis. Stat. § 71.06)
Bracket	Rate	2025	2026	Δ
1st bracket ceiling	3.50%	$18,770	$19,090	+$320
2nd bracket ceiling	4.40%	$37,550	$38,190	+$640
3rd bracket ceiling	5.30%	$413,510	$420,420	+$6,910
Top marginal rate	7.65%	above $413,510	above $420,420	threshold up

Sliding-scale standard deduction — Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm)
Filing status	Max deduction (2025)	Max deduction (2026)	Phase-out (2025)	Phase-out (2026)
Single / HoH	$13,230	$13,460	$18,570 – $130,860	$18,860 – $132,890
Married Filing Jointly	$23,850	$24,250	$26,810 – $148,610	$27,230 – $150,930
Married Filing Separately	$11,320	$11,510	$12,740 – $70,570	$12,940 – $71,670

Estimated Wisconsin take-home impact (no other changes)
Gross income	Filing status	2025 net	2026 net	Annual change
$50,000	Single	≈ $40,540 net / yr	≈ $40,616 net / yr	+$76 / yr
$75,000	Single	≈ $58,272 net / yr	≈ $58,362 net / yr	+$90 / yr
$100,000	Single	≈ $74,353 net / yr	≈ $74,459 net / yr	+$106 / yr
$120,000	MFJ	≈ $95,890 net / yr	≈ $96,015 net / yr	+$125 / yr

No rate change: the statutory rates 3.50% / 4.40% / 5.30% / 7.65% are unchanged for 2026; only bracket thresholds moved.
Automatic in payroll: Wisconsin employers implement 2026 tables from Pub. W-166 — no new WT-4 required unless your status changes.
Reciprocity unchanged: Wisconsin's Form W-220 reciprocity with IL, IN, KY, and MI carries into 2026 with the same rules.
Estimator above uses 2026: the paycheck calculator on this page already reflects the 2026 bracket ceilings and sliding-scale deduction values.

Sources for 2026 updates

Bracket ceilings, sliding-scale standard deduction caps, and phase-out ranges above come directly from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's annual inflation-indexing announcements and the federal § 1(f) index that Wis. Stat. § 71.06(2e) piggy-backs on.

Wisconsin DOR

Publication W-166 — Wisconsin Employer's Withholding Tax Guide (PDF) — 2026 WT-4 tables, bracket schedule, supplemental wage rules.
DOR — Individual Income Tax Inflation-Indexed Amounts for 2026 — Official announcement of 2026 bracket ceilings and standard-deduction caps.
Wis. Stat. § 71.06 — Statutory rates (3.50 / 4.40 / 5.30 / 7.65%) and § 71.06(2e) indexing rule.
Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) — Sliding-scale standard deduction formula (indexed annually).
Form WT-4 — Employee's Wisconsin Withholding Exemption Certificate (PDF) — Line 1 status, Line 3 additional withholding.

IRS indexing basis

IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (PDF) — Annual inflation adjustments used to compute the § 1(f) index Wisconsin references.
IRS newsroom — Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 — Plain-language summary of the 2026 indexing factor.
26 U.S.C. § 1(f) — Federal bracket-indexing statute Wisconsin's § 71.06(2e) references.
IRS Publication 15-T — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (PDF) — Federal withholding tables paired with WT-4 for the take-home estimates above.
SSA — Contribution and Benefit Base — 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500) used in the net-pay math.

Footnotes

[1]WI DOR Pub. W-166 (2026) — Publication W-166 — Wisconsin Employer's Withholding Tax Guide (PDF). 2026 WT-4 tables, bracket schedule, supplemental wage rules.
[2]WI DOR 2026 indexed-amounts release — DOR — Individual Income Tax Inflation-Indexed Amounts for 2026. Official announcement of 2026 bracket ceilings and standard-deduction caps.
[3]Wis. Stat. § 71.06 & (2e) — Wis. Stat. § 71.06. Statutory rates (3.50 / 4.40 / 5.30 / 7.65%) and § 71.06(2e) indexing rule.
[4]Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) — Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm). Sliding-scale standard deduction formula (indexed annually).
[5]WI Form WT-4 — Form WT-4 — Employee's Wisconsin Withholding Exemption Certificate (PDF). Line 1 status, Line 3 additional withholding.
[6]IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (PDF). Annual inflation adjustments used to compute the § 1(f) index Wisconsin references.
[7]IRS 2026 inflation newsroom — IRS newsroom — Tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026. Plain-language summary of the 2026 indexing factor.
[8]26 U.S.C. § 1(f) — 26 U.S.C. § 1(f). Federal bracket-indexing statute Wisconsin's § 71.06(2e) references.
[9]IRS Pub. 15-T (2026) — IRS Publication 15-T — Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods (PDF). Federal withholding tables paired with WT-4 for the take-home estimates above.
[10]SSA 2026 wage base — SSA — Contribution and Benefit Base. 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500) used in the net-pay math.

Retrieval date: bracket and deduction values above were last reconciled against DOR's 2026 inflation-indexed amounts release and IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. If DOR issues a revised W-166 or the IRS updates its 2026 tables, we re-run all figures on this page.

Methodology · Wisconsin

How we calculate your Wisconsin paycheck

Every number our estimator produces is traceable to a specific Wisconsin Department of Revenue publication, statute, or IRS guidance document. Below is the exact ten-step pipeline we run for every Wisconsin paycheck, with the primary source for each step.

1
Step 1 — Annualize gross wages
Convert your entered pay (hourly, weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly, or annual) to an annual gross using the pay-period count DOR uses in Pub. W-166 (52 / 26 / 24 / 12).
```
annual_gross = per_period_gross × periods_per_year
```
Sources:WI Pub. W-166 — Method A/B tables IRS Pub. 15-T — annualized wage method
2
Step 2 — Subtract pre-tax deductions
Traditional 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), HSA, FSA, and Section-125 health premiums reduce both federal and Wisconsin taxable wages. Roth 401(k) and after-tax deductions do NOT reduce taxable wages.
```
taxable_wages = annual_gross − pre_tax_deductions
```
Sources:IRC § 401(k) — elective deferrals IRC § 125 — cafeteria plans IRS Pub. 15-B — fringe benefits
3
Step 3 — Compute federal income tax withholding
We apply Publication 15-T's Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems using your W-4 filing status, Step 2 checkbox, dependents (Step 3), and other income/deductions (Step 4).
```
fed_wh = pct_method(taxable_wages, w4_status, w4_step2/3/4)
```
Sources:IRS Pub. 15-T — Percentage Method (Auto Payroll)IRS Form W-4 (2026)
4
Step 4 — Compute FICA (Social Security + Medicare)
Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to the 2026 SSA wage base of $184,500. Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, plus an Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages over $200,000 (single filer threshold used at the payroll level per IRS rules).
```
ss = 6.2% × min(taxable_wages, 184500); medicare = 1.45% × taxable_wages + 0.9% × max(0, taxable_wages − 200000)
```
Sources:SSA — 2026 Contribution and Benefit Base IRS — Additional Medicare Tax (§ 3101(b)(2))
5
Step 5 — Apply Wisconsin standard deduction (sliding scale)
Wisconsin uses a sliding-scale standard deduction under Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm) that phases out as AGI rises. We select the Single, MFJ, MFS, or HoH schedule and interpolate using DOR's 2026 amounts.
```
wi_std = sliding_scale(agi, filing_status, tax_year=2026)
```
Sources:Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm)WI DOR — 2026 Indexed Amounts
6
Step 6 — Apply Wisconsin bracket schedule
Wisconsin taxable income runs through the 3.50% / 4.40% / 5.30% / 7.65% brackets from Wis. Stat. § 71.06, using the 2026 ceilings DOR published under the § 71.06(2e) indexing rule.
```
wi_tax_before_credits = brackets_2026(max(0, agi − wi_std), filing_status)
```
Sources:Wis. Stat. § 71.06 WI Pub. W-166 — 2026 bracket schedule
7
Step 7 — Apply WT-4 withholding adjustments
Your WT-4 Line 1 exemptions and Line 3 additional per-pay-period withholding are applied on top of the bracket calculation, matching the DOR's Method A/B tables for the pay frequency you selected.
```
wi_wh = pub_w166_lookup(taxable_wages, wt4_line1, frequency) + wt4_line3
```
Sources:WI Form WT-4 WI Pub. W-166 — Methods A & B
8
Step 8 — Handle reciprocity (if applicable)
If you file Form W-220 as an IL/IN/KY/MI resident working in Wisconsin, WI withholding is suppressed and only your home-state tax is withheld per DOR's reciprocity guidance.
```
wi_wh = 0  if  W-220 on file and residence ∈ {IL, IN, KY, MI}
```
Sources:WI Form W-220 WI DOR — Nonresident/Reciprocity guidance
9
Step 9 — Handle supplemental / bonus wages
For bonuses, commissions, and other supplemental pay, Wisconsin requires the aggregate method (add to regular wages and withhold using Pub. W-166) rather than a flat state rate. Federal uses the 22% flat rate up to $1M supplemental (37% above).
```
wi_supp_wh = aggregate_method(regular + supp) − regular_wh;  fed_supp_wh = 22% (or 37% > $1M)
```
Sources:WI Pub. W-166 — Supplemental wages IRS Pub. 15 (Circular E) — supplemental rates
10
Step 10 — Compute net take-home
Net pay is what lands in your bank account per pay period, after all federal, state, FICA, and voluntary deductions are subtracted from gross.
```
net = gross − fed_wh − wi_wh − ss − medicare − pre_tax − post_tax
```
Sources:IRS Pub. 15 — Employer's Tax Guide WI Pub. W-166

This methodology is re-validated whenever DOR updates Publication W-166 or the IRS revises Publication 15-T. See the Sources for 2026 updates section for the specific bulletins currently in effect.

Wisconsin paycheck calculator vs. ADP, SmartAsset, and Gusto

Side-by-side comparison of inputs and Wisconsin-specific rules — with a focus on Form WT-4 handling (line 1 exemptions, line 2 extra withholding), § 71.05(22)(dm) standard deduction, and Form W-220 reciprocity. Every row reflects what each public calculator actually exposes to the user, not what each vendor's paid payroll product can do behind the scenes.

Wisconsin paycheck calculator compared with ADP, SmartAsset, and Gusto across WT-4 inputs, § 71.06 handling, and accuracy features.
Feature / input	This calculator	ADP	SmartAsset	Gusto
WT-4 line 1 (exemptions) Wisconsin Publication W-166 reduces annual wages by $400 × exemptions before applying § 71.06 brackets.	Modeled — enter exemption count; annual reduction applied exactly per Pub. W-166.	Generic exemption input; W-166 $400/exemption reduction not surfaced.	Not exposed — assumes 0 exemptions in the paycheck view.	Not exposed in the public calculator; captured only inside the payroll product.
WT-4 line 2 (extra withholding) Additional flat $/paycheck a Wisconsin employee elects.	Dedicated input; added to WI withholding each period.	Combined with federal extra withholding; no WI-specific line.	Not supported.	Not supported in the public calculator.
§ 71.05(22)(dm) standard deduction Wisconsin's sliding-scale standard deduction phases out by AGI and filing status.	Applied per filing status with the correct phase-out curve.	Applied but not explained; no phase-out transparency.	Applied; not itemized in results.	Applied inside the black box; not shown to the user.
Head-of-Household treatment WI uses Single brackets for HoH under § 71.06(1q) but grants a larger standard deduction.	HoH selectable; Single brackets + larger standard deduction applied correctly.	HoH selectable but standard-deduction treatment not surfaced.	Filing status limited to Single / Married in paycheck view.	HoH supported inside payroll product, not in the public calculator.
MFS half-threshold brackets Married Filing Separately uses half the MFJ bracket thresholds under § 71.06.	Explicit MFS filing status with correct half-threshold math.	MFS supported; no visible note on half thresholds.	MFS often not offered in the public tool.	MFS handled in payroll product only.
Form W-220 reciprocity IL, IN, KY, MI residents working in WI file W-220 to skip WI withholding (state tax only).	Dedicated W-220 reciprocity card with partner-state forms and direction guidance.	Not modeled — WI tax withheld regardless of resident state.	Not modeled in the paycheck view.	Handled in payroll setup; absent from the public calculator.
Municipal / local wage tax Wisconsin has no city or county income tax — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay net = state net.	Explicit 'no municipal wage tax' clarification in AEO block and worked examples.	Silent; users often assume Milwaukee has a local tax.	Silent on the point.	Silent on the point.
Pre-tax deductions (401(k), HSA, § 125) Reduce both federal and Wisconsin taxable wages before withholding.	Separate inputs for 401(k) %, HSA $, § 125 health $, other pre-tax — applied to fed + WI.	Single generic pre-tax field.	401(k) only, as a % of gross.	Not exposed in the public calculator.
Supplemental / bonus wages WI supplemental withholding is the top marginal 7.65% rate on separately-paid bonuses.	Bonus mode uses WI supplemental 7.65% + federal 22% flat.	Supported in a separate 'bonus calculator' page.	Not supported in the paycheck view.	Handled in payroll product only.
Signup / lead capture Whether the calculator gates the result behind an email, trial, or advisor match.	No signup, no email, no sales follow-up — result is the deliverable.	Promotes ADP payroll trial.	Funnels to financial-advisor matching questionnaire.	Prompts Gusto trial signup.

How does this Wisconsin paycheck calculator compare to ADP's calculator on WT-4 handling?

ADP treats WT-4 as a generic exemption count and does not surface the $400-per-exemption annual wage reduction that Wisconsin Publication W-166 requires. This calculator models WT-4 line 1 (exemptions) and line 2 (extra $/paycheck) as separate inputs and applies the $400 reduction exactly as Pub. W-166 specifies, so per-check numbers reconcile with what a Wisconsin employer actually withholds under Wis. Stat. § 71.06.

How does this compare to SmartAsset's Wisconsin paycheck calculator on inputs?

SmartAsset is accurate on the § 71.06 brackets but exposes a narrow input set (Single/Married, 401(k) % only) because its paycheck view is a lead-in to its financial-advisor matching product. This tool exposes WT-4 exemptions + extra withholding, HoH vs. Single (with the correct standard-deduction difference), MFS half-thresholds, § 125 health, HSA, dependent-care FSA, and other pre-tax items — no advisor match, no email capture.

How does this compare to Gusto's Wisconsin salary paycheck calculator?

Gusto's public calculator is a marketing surface for its payroll product: it computes WI withholding on a single gross figure and prompts a trial signup. It does not expose WT-4 line 1/line 2 granularly, does not model Form W-220 reciprocity for IL/IN/KY/MI cross-border workers, and does not distinguish HoH (Single brackets + larger standard deduction under § 71.06(1q)) from Single. This calculator handles all of those plus hourly+salary hybrid pay, 1.5× overtime, and WI supplemental 7.65% bonus withholding — no signup.

Which Wisconsin paycheck calculator is most accurate for cross-border commuters?

Only calculators that model Form W-220 reciprocity between Wisconsin and Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan handle cross-border commuters correctly. ADP, SmartAsset, and Gusto's public calculators apply WI withholding regardless of resident state, which over-withholds a W-220-eligible commuter every paycheck. This tool exposes a dedicated W-220 reciprocity card and lets you toggle the WI-only-state-tax exemption while keeping federal, FICA, and any local resident-state tax accurate.

Comparisons reflect each vendor's public Wisconsin paycheck calculator, not their paid payroll platforms. Confirm every W-4 / WT-4 change with your employer before payday.

Enter gross pay, not net — here's the difference

Gross pay is your salary or hourly rate before any tax or deduction — the top-line number on your offer letter. Net pay (take-home) is what actually lands in your bank account after federal tax, Wisconsin state tax, FICA, and pre-tax deductions come out. Type the gross figure into the calculator; it does the rest.

Gross salary

$35,000

Net / year

$29,409

Federal tax: −$2,020
WI state tax: −$893
Net / biweekly: $1,131

Gross salary

$50,000

Net / year

$40,616

Federal tax: −$3,820
WI state tax: −$1,739
Net / biweekly: $1,562

Gross salary

$75,000

Net / year

$58,362

Federal tax: −$7,670
WI state tax: −$3,230
Net / biweekly: $2,245

Gross salary

$100,000

Net / year

$74,459

Federal tax: −$13,170
WI state tax: −$4,721
Net / biweekly: $2,864

Gross salary

$150,000

Net / year

$106,228

Federal tax: −$24,734
WI state tax: −$7,563
Net / biweekly: $4,086

Gross vs. net Wisconsin salary examples for 2026 (single filer, no pre-tax deductions).
Gross salary (enter this)	Federal tax	WI state tax	Net (annual)	Net per biweekly check
$35,000	−$2,020	−$893	$29,409	$1,131
$50,000	−$3,820	−$1,739	$40,616	$1,562
$75,000	−$7,670	−$3,230	$58,362	$2,245
$100,000	−$13,170	−$4,721	$74,459	$2,864
$150,000	−$24,734	−$7,563	$106,228	$4,086

2026 rates, single filer, no pre-tax 401(k)/HSA/health. Net also reflects Social Security 6.2% (up to $184,500), Medicare 1.45%, and Wisconsin state withholding at Progressive 3.50%–7.65% (Wis. Stat. § 71.06).

• Salaried? Enter your annual gross ($75,000 in the example above) and pick Annual.
• Hourly? Enter your hourly rate (e.g. $25/hr) and hours per week — the calculator annualizes for you.
• Paid biweekly? Enter your biweekly gross (e.g. $2,885) and pick Biweekly. Do not enter your take-home from your last stub.
• Add pre-tax deductions (401(k) %, HSA, health premiums) in the deduction fields — the calculator subtracts them before federal and Wisconsin state tax.

Wisconsin Tax Information 2026

State Income Tax	Progressive brackets
Federal Brackets	10% / 12% / 22% / 24% / 32% / 35% / 37%
Social Security	6.2% up to $184,500
Medicare	1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000)
Standard Deduction (single)	$15,000

Progressive 3.50%–7.65% (Wis. Stat. § 71.06).

Common Wisconsin Salaries — Take-Home Estimates

Single filer, no pre-tax deductions, 2026 rates.

Annual	Federal	WI State	Net Biweekly	Net Annual
$35,000	$2,020	$893	$1,131	$29,409
$50,000	$3,820	$1,739	$1,562	$40,616
$75,000	$7,670	$3,230	$2,245	$58,362
$100,000	$13,170	$4,721	$2,864	$74,459
$150,000	$24,734	$7,563	$4,086	$106,228

Keep this state at the top of your quick nav.

Nearby states

Bordering Wisconsin — compare take-home pay across state lines.

Popular states

How we calculate your Wisconsin paycheck

Enter gross pay — your salary or hourly wage before any taxes or deductions come out. The calculator does the pre-tax math for you; do not subtract your 401(k), HSA, or health premiums first. The 2026 engine then runs the same six-step pipeline for every Wisconsin paycheck:

1. Annualize gross wages. Weekly × 52, biweekly × 26, semimonthly × 24, or monthly × 12 — so all withholding tables see the same annual figure.
2. Subtract pre-tax deductions. Traditional 401(k)/403(b), HSA, FSA, and Section 125 health/dental/vision premiums are removed from federal and Wisconsin state taxable income. Roth 401(k) and after-tax deductions are not subtracted here.
3. Apply 2026 federal income tax. IRS brackets 10%–37%, standard deduction, and your W-4 filing status and dependents.
4. Withhold FICA. Social Security 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, plus Medicare 1.45% on all wages and an additional 0.9% Medicare on wages above $200,000. FICA applies to 401(k) contributions but not to Section 125 or HSA.
5. Apply Wisconsin state and local tax. Progressive 3.50%–7.65% (Wis. Stat. § 71.06). These rates apply to your post-pre-tax-deduction wages using your state withholding certificate. No broad city or county income tax applies to Wisconsin wages in 2026 — the state line above is the only jurisdictional tax withheld.
6. Subtract post-tax items. Roth contributions, garnishments, and voluntary post-tax benefits reduce net pay but do not lower taxable income. The remainder is your take-home, which the calculator divides back by pay frequency for per-check net.

Results are estimates for 2026 W-2 wages and are not a substitute for Form W-4, your Wisconsin withholding certificate, or advice from a licensed tax professional.

Keep exploring Wisconsin paycheck math with related calculators from US State Paycheck Calculator:

Wisconsin paycheck FAQs

Progressive 3.50%–7.65% (Wis. Stat. § 71.06). US State Paycheck Calculator applies these brackets to your taxable wages after pre-tax deductions.

Wisconsin salary paycheck calculator

How much do I take home in Wisconsin?

2026 Wisconsin brackets

Wisconsin vs neighboring states (2026)

Example 2026 take-home (single filer, no pre-tax deductions)

Step 1 — Your Pay

Step 2 — Your State

Your Estimated Take-Home Pay

Good salary benchmark — Wisconsin

Paycheck Estimate — 2026

Inputs

Results

Take-home — Wisconsin

Assumptions & Notes

What this calculation covers

What's not modeled

Where every dollar goes

Wisconsin payroll taxes at a glance (2026)

Wisconsin standard deduction, brackets & WT-4 withholding details

Wisconsin 2026 income tax bracket schedule (Wis. Stat. § 71.06)

Wisconsin Form WT-4 withholding schedule (Pub. W-166, 2026)

Wisconsin standard deduction by filing status (Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dm), 2026)

Related Wisconsin payroll tools

Wisconsin reciprocity & commuter rules — Form W-220 for WI ↔ IL, IN, KY, MI

Live in IL / IN / KY / MI · Work in Wisconsin

Live in Wisconsin · Work in IL / IN / KY / MI

Sources — official Wisconsin statutes & DOR guidance

No local income tax in Wisconsin

Wisconsin take-home by filing status — Milwaukee & Madison (HoH vs MFS)

Married, both work — Wisconsin WT-4 worked example

Worked example — $75,000 + $60,000, both biweekly, MFJ

Option A — Line 3 add-on (recommended)

Option B — Check "Single" on both WT-4s

Wisconsin worked paycheck examples — Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Appleton

Milwaukee, WI — Registered Nurse

Madison, WI — Software Developer

Green Bay, WI — Mechanical Engineer

Kenosha, WI — Warehouse Supervisor

Racine, WI — Manufacturing Technician

Appleton, WI — Financial Analyst

Milwaukee paycheck calculator — 2026 worked examples

Wisconsin hourly wage worked examples — weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly

Wisconsin overtime & tipped-wage handling

Overtime estimator (DWD 274.03, 1.5× after 40 hrs)

Tipped-wage estimator (§ 104.035(3), $2.33 cash + $4.92 tip credit)

Wisconsin overtime quick table (single filer, WI net weekly)

Tipped-wage reference (Wis. Stat. § 104.035, DWD 272.03)

Wisconsin bonus & commission withholding — marginal-rate method

How this calculator handles a bonus

FICA still applies to Wisconsin bonuses

Wisconsin salary to take-home pay (Single, 2026)

Wisconsin paycheck coverage — 18 largest cities

Wisconsin retirement income treatment (2026)

How to model retiree take-home with this calculator

Withholding on retirement distributions (WT-4P)

Self-employed or 1099 in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin pay-frequency law (Wis. Stat. § 109.03)

Statutory exemptions from the monthly rule — § 109.03(1)(a)–(f)

Final wages on separation — § 109.03(2)

Direct deposit and pay statements — §§ 109.035, 103.457

What changed in 2026 vs 2025 (Wisconsin)

Sources for 2026 updates

Wisconsin DOR

IRS indexing basis

Footnotes

How we calculate your Wisconsin paycheck

Step 1 — Annualize gross wages

Step 2 — Subtract pre-tax deductions

Step 3 — Compute federal income tax withholding

Step 4 — Compute FICA (Social Security + Medicare)

Step 5 — Apply Wisconsin standard deduction (sliding scale)

Step 6 — Apply Wisconsin bracket schedule

Step 7 — Apply WT-4 withholding adjustments

Step 8 — Handle reciprocity (if applicable)

Step 9 — Handle supplemental / bonus wages

Step 10 — Compute net take-home

Wisconsin paycheck calculator vs. ADP, SmartAsset, and Gusto

Wisconsin Tax Information 2026

Common Wisconsin Salaries — Take-Home Estimates

Nearby states