Hourly pay after taxes in Wisconsin
$20 an hour in Wisconsin comes to $1,305.13 every two weeks after taxes, for a single person working full time.
Updated for 2026Checked Oct 29, 2026 against IRS and Wisconsin Department of Revenue sourcesHow we check
Take-home pay by hourly wage, 2026
| Wage | Two weeks | Month | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.25 | $524.77 | $1,137 | $13,644 |
| $18.00 | $1,186.07 | $2,570 | $30,838 |
| $20.00 | $1,305.13 | $2,828 | $33,933 |
| $22.00 | $1,424.19 | $3,086 | $37,029 |
| $25.00 | $1,602.78 | $3,473 | $41,672 |
| $30.00 | $1,900.44 | $4,118 | $49,411 |
| $35.00 | $2,173.87 | $4,710 | $56,521 |
| $40.00 | $2,433.86 | $5,273 | $63,280 |
| $50.00 | $2,954.26 | $6,401 | $76,811 |
Every column after the wage is take-home pay. Each row assumes 40 hours a week all year, one paycheck every two weeks, single, no dependents, and no benefits taken out. The monthly and yearly columns are that paycheck times 26. Use the paycheck calculator for your own hours and deductions.
What comes out of an hourly paycheck
At $25 an hour, a two-week paycheck in Wisconsin starts at $2,000.00 and ends at $1,602.78.
| Federal income tax | $156.15 |
| Social Security | $124.00 |
| Medicare | $29.00 |
| Wisconsin income tax | $88.07 |
Wisconsin's income tax has four rates: 3.5, 4.4, 5.3, and 7.65 percent. Paycheck withholding still uses the state's 2022 formula, so the amount taken from each check is an estimate of the tax, settled on the annual return. Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare come out too, and Wisconsin adds no disability or leave premium or local wage tax.
Four rates, an old formula, and a return that settles the difference make the Wisconsin line the one to treat as close, not exact.
What changes your number
The Wisconsin line is an approximation. Because employers use a 2022 formula against 2026 rates, the amount withheld can run above or below the final tax, and the return corrects it. Do not read the state figure as exact to the dollar.
Form WT-4 counts exemptions for you, a spouse, and each dependent. The four rates climb to 7.65 percent, so higher wages meet a steeper state line. An opportunity wage for young workers is also allowed, covered in the minimum wage note below.
Hours matter too. At $20 an hour and 30 hours a week instead of 40, a two-week paycheck in Wisconsin comes to $1,007.47.
The minimum wage in Wisconsin
The minimum wage in Wisconsin is $7.25 an hour, and a full-time worker at $7.25 takes home about $1,137 a month. Wisconsin's tipped wage is $2.33 provided tips bring the average to at least $7.25 over the pay period, and an opportunity wage of $5.90 is allowed for workers under 20 in their first 90 days.
Sources and checks
Checked on Oct 29, 2026. Source: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, "Wisconsin Tax Update - Fall 2025" (R. 11/03/2025; www.revenue.wi.gov/Documents/2025-Tax-Update-One-Slide.pdf, fetched Oct 29, 2026): 2025 Wis. Act 15 widened the 4.4 percent bracket for tax years after December 31, 2024, with 2025 rates of 3.50, 4.40, 5.30, and 7.65 percent; Publication W-166, Withholding Tax Guide (1/26), "Effective for Withholding Periods Beginning on or After January 1, 2022" (www.revenue.wi.gov/DOR%20Publications/pb166.pdf).
Disability: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, "Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)" (dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/civilrights/fmla/, fetched Oct 29, 2026): the state law "provides unpaid leave"; Wisconsin has no state disability or paid-leave payroll deduction, and W-166's withholding methods contain none.
Local taxes: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Publication W-166 (1/26), section 6, "Other Taxes to Be Aware Of": the only local taxes it lists are county and City of Milwaukee sales and use taxes; the guide's withholding methods cover state income tax only, with no city or county wage tax.
Minimum wage: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, "Minimum Wage" (dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/laborstandards/minimumwage.htm, fetched Oct 29, 2026): adult $7.25 as of 7/24/09; tipped employee $2.33 (tips must bring the average to at least $7.25 over the pay period); opportunity wage $5.90 for workers under 20 in their first 90 days.
Federal withholding: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A and its "2026 Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems and Withholding on Periodic Payments of Pensions and Annuities," pages 10 to 12. Fetched directly from irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p15t.pdf and transcribed Oct 28, 2026.
Every figure above comes from the sources listed here. How we check our numbers.
Spot a wrong number? Email contact@paydeskcalc.com with the page and the figure.