Wisconsin paycheck taxes at a glance
| State income tax | 3.5% to 7.65% (4 brackets) |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | None |
| Personal exemption | $700 single, $1,400 joint |
| Per dependent | $700 exemption |
| Pre-tax deductions | 401(k), HSA and health premiums lower state tax too |
| Local income tax | None on wages |
| State payroll deductions | None |
| Reciprocity | With IL, IN, KY, MI |
| Figures | Tax year 2025 (see note) |
Every paycheck also has federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%), worked out with the same 2026 IRS figures as ourmain paycheck calculator.
Wisconsin income tax brackets
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $14,680 | 3.5% |
| $14,680 to $50,480 | 4.4% |
| $50,480 to $323,290 | 5.3% |
| Over $323,290 | 7.65% |
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 to $19,580 | 3.5% |
| $19,580 to $67,300 | 4.4% |
| $67,300 to $431,060 | 5.3% |
| Over $431,060 | 7.65% |
Wisconsin also has rules the brackets alone do not show (see the notes below); the calculator applies them.
Worked examples
A $55,000 salary in Madison, single, paid every two weeks
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,115.38 | $55,000 |
| Federal income tax | − $170.00 | − $4,420 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $161.83 | − $4,208 |
| Wisconsin income tax | − $71.06 | − $1,848 |
| Take-home pay | $1,712.50 | $44,525 |
Single, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Wisconsin taxable income is $44,994 and the state tax is $1,848, an effective 3.359% of gross pay. At $55,000 the standard deduction has already shrunk well below its $13,560 maximum, and the top slice of income reaches the 5.3% bracket.
A $100,000 household in Milwaukee, married filing jointly with two children
| Per paycheck | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $3,846.15 | $100,000 |
| 401(k) at 5% | − $192.31 | − $5,000 |
| Federal income tax | − $101.54 | − $2,640 |
| Social Security and Medicare | − $294.23 | − $7,650 |
| Wisconsin income tax | − $133.61 | − $3,474 |
| Take-home pay | $3,124.46 | $81,236 |
Married filing jointly, 2 children, paid every two weeks (26 paychecks). Wisconsin taxable income is $80,300 and the state tax is $3,474, an effective 3.474% of gross pay. The 5% 401(k) deferral lowers Wisconsin income, which also keeps more of the sliding standard deduction, so the saving is larger than the bracket rate alone.
The sliding standard deduction
For 2025 a single filer gets the full $13,560 up to $19,550 of Wisconsin income; above that it drops by 12 cents for every extra dollar. Joint filers start at $25,110 and lose 19.778% of income above $28,210. Heads of household start at $17,520 and lose 22.515% above $19,550, but never get less than a single filer. Because of this, middle earners face a higher marginal rate than the bracket table suggests.
Reciprocity: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan
If you live in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky or Michigan and work in Wisconsin, your wages are taxed only by your home state; give your employer Form W-220. Minnesota is not on the list: the Wisconsin–Minnesota agreement ended in 2010, so Minnesota residents working in Wisconsin pay Wisconsin tax and claim a credit at home. See the Minnesota and Illinois calculators.
What this estimate leaves out
The calculator covers the standard deduction, exemptions and brackets. It does not include the married couple credit for couples where both spouses work, the school property tax or renter’s credit, or the extra $250 exemption for people 65 or older. Those lower the final bill, so two-earner couples and homeowners may owe a little less than shown. No Wisconsin city or county taxes wages.
Wisconsin vs. neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $75,000 salary, single, no pre-tax deductions and no local tax:
| State | Income tax | State tax + programs | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 3.5% to 7.65% (4 brackets) | $2,985 | $58,607 |
| Minnesota | 5.35% to 9.85% (4 brackets) | $4,007 | $57,586 |
| Iowa | Flat 3.8% | $2,198 | $59,394 |
| Illinois | Flat 4.95% | $3,568 | $58,025 |
| Michigan | Flat 4.25% | $2,937 | $58,656 |
Where you work and where you live can both matter. See paycheck calculators for every state for the full comparison.