At a glance
- Minimum wage: $7.25 an hour.
- Tipped cash wage: $2.33.
- Overtime: after 40 hours in a workweek.
- Final paycheck if fired: by the next regular payday.
- Paid sick leave: No. Paid family leave program: No.
What Wisconsin employers need to know
Wisconsin follows the federal $7.25 minimum wage and blocks local minimum wage ordinances. It's best known for its own family and medical leave law, which runs alongside the federal FMLA and lets employees substitute paid leave in ways federal law doesn't. Wisconsin also has an opportunity wage of $5.90 for workers under 20 during their first 90 days.
Wisconsin minimum wage
| Minimum wage | $7.25 |
|---|---|
| Tipped cash wage | $2.33 |
| Next change | None scheduled |
Pay the highest rate that applies where the employee works: federal, state, or local. For comparison, neighboring states pay Minnesota ($11.41), Iowa ($7.25), Illinois ($15.00), Michigan ($13.73). See every state side by side in our minimum wage by state table, and convert between hourly and annual pay with the salary to hourly calculator.
Wisconsin overtime rules
The federal FLSA rule applies: overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. There is no daily overtime rule.
Exempt salary test: the federal minimum of $684 a week ($35,568 a year) applies. Duties tests apply too, so job titles alone don't make someone exempt.
Work out overtime owed with our overtime calculator, compare states in overtime laws by state, and check classification with our guide to exempt vs non-exempt employees.
Wisconsin meal and rest break laws
Meal breaks: Not required for adults. State rules recommend a 30-minute meal period near normal meal times, and it must be paid if the employee isn't fully relieved of duty.
Rest breaks: No state rest break law for adults. Under federal law, short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid.
Many states have stricter break rules for minors. Compare adult rules nationwide in break laws by state, and total up shifts with the time card calculator.
Wisconsin final paycheck law
| If you fire or lay off the employee | By the next regular payday. |
|---|---|
| If the employee quits | By the next regular payday. |
| Unused vacation or PTO | Not required by state law. Follow your written policy or contract, and apply it consistently. |
Build the deadline into your offboarding checklist. Our offboarding guide covers the full process, the PTO payout calculator works out the amount, and the final paycheck laws by state table compares every state.
Wisconsin paid sick leave and family leave
Paid sick leave: No statewide paid sick leave law. Check city and county rules, and federal contractor rules (Executive Order 13706) if they apply.
Paid family and medical leave: No paid program. Wisconsin's own Family and Medical Leave Act gives employees of employers with 50 or more employees up to 6 weeks of unpaid family leave and 2 weeks of unpaid medical leave a year, alongside the federal FMLA.
Federal FMLA: employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles must also give eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Read our FMLA guide, and compare states in paid leave laws by state.
Hiring, pay transparency, and payroll setup
Pay transparency: No statewide pay transparency law requiring pay ranges in job postings.
New hire reporting: Report each new hire within 20 days of the hire date, the federal deadline.
State income tax withholding: Yes. Register with the state tax agency before the first payroll.
Our pay transparency laws guide explains posting rules in more depth, and our job description templates include pay data for 50 common roles.
What trips up Wisconsin employers
- Wisconsin's state FMLA runs alongside the federal FMLA, with different eligibility and substitution rules.
- Workers under 20 can be paid an opportunity wage of $5.90 for their first 90 days.
- Cities can't set higher minimum wages.
Sources and the agency to contact
- Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (state labor agency)
- US Department of Labor: state minimum wage laws
- US Department of Labor: minimum wages for tipped employees by state
- US Department of Labor: state meal period requirements
General information for US employers, not legal advice. Laws change and have exceptions by industry, employer size, and city. Confirm current rules with the state agency or employment counsel before you rely on them.
Cite or share this data
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<a href="https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/wisconsin/">Wisconsin labor laws for employers (2026)</a> (source: HRTally)
Suggested citation: HRTally Research Team. "Wisconsin labor laws for employers (2026)." HRTally, updated October 20, 2026. https://www.hrtally.com/state-labor-laws/wisconsin/
Frequently asked questions
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Written by the HRTally Research Team
Our guides are written and reviewed by people with hands-on US HR, payroll, and HR technology experience. Legal and tax facts are checked against primary sources, such as the Department of Labor, IRS, EEOC, and USCIS, and linked at the end of each guide. Vendors never review or pay for our editorial content.