Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator

How to estimate your Wisconsin take-home pay in 2026

Wisconsin uses a four-bracket progressive state income tax with rates from 3.5% to 7.65%, applied to gross wages after pre-tax deductions, the Wisconsin standard deduction, and personal exemption. This calculator estimates your 2026 net pay after federal withholding, FICA payroll taxes, and Wisconsin state tax so you can plan monthly expenses and compare job offers with confidence.

Enter your annual salary or build it from hourly wages using our gross pay calculator. If you receive 26 paychecks per year, the biweekly pay calculator shows how gross and net amounts spread across the calendar. For federal tax details and dependent credits, see the income tax calculator and salary calculator.

What gets deducted from a Wisconsin paycheck

A typical Wisconsin W-2 paycheck includes three layers of mandatory withholding plus any voluntary deductions you elect through your employer:

• Federal income tax: Calculated from 2026 IRS brackets, your W-4 filing status, and qualifying child tax credits.
• FICA taxes: Social Security at 6.2% (capped at the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare at 1.45%, with an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers. Use our FICA tax calculator to isolate these amounts.
• Wisconsin state income tax: Progressive rates of 3.5%, 4.4%, 5.3%, and 7.65% applied to Wisconsin taxable income after state deductions and exemptions.

Wisconsin does not levy a separate state disability insurance tax on wages. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions and HSA deposits reduce gross wages before Wisconsin taxable income is calculated.

How Wisconsin state tax is calculated

Wisconsin taxable income starts with gross wages after pre-tax 401(k) contributions, then subtracts the Wisconsin standard deduction and personal exemption:

For 2026, Wisconsin standard deductions are $13,960 (single), $25,840 (married filing jointly and head of household). Personal exemptions are $700 (single and head of household) and $1,400 (married filing jointly). State tax then applies within four brackets for single filers:

• $0 to $13,990: 3.5%
• $13,990 to $27,980: 4.4%
• $27,980 to $311,710: 5.3%
• Over $311,710: 7.65%

Wisconsin taxable income in this calculator

Wisconsin taxable income subtracts both a state standard deduction and a personal exemption from gross wages after pre-tax contributions. This is similar to Maryland but with different deduction amounts and bracket thresholds.

Worked example: $65,000 salary, single, biweekly, 5% 401(k)

Consider a single Wisconsin employee earning $65,000 per year, paid biweekly, contributing 5% to a traditional 401(k), with no dependents or health premium deductions:

1. Pre-tax 401(k): $65,000 x 5% = $3,250 per year
2. Gross after pre-tax: $65,000 - $3,250 = $61,750
3. Wisconsin taxable income: $61,750 - $13,960 (WI standard deduction) - $700 (personal exemption) = $47,090
4. Wisconsin state tax: About $2,118.04 per year (progressive brackets on $47,090, marginal rate 5.3%)
5. Federal taxable income: $61,750 - $16,100 (federal standard deduction) = $45,650. Federal income tax: $5,230
6. FICA: Social Security $4,030 plus Medicare $942.50 = $4,972.50 total on the full $65,000 gross
7. Estimated net per paycheck: About $1,901.13 biweekly after all withholdings

If you expect a performance bonus on top of base salary, estimate the gross amount with our bonus calculator and add it to your annual salary before running this tool.

Wisconsin vs. neighboring state tax burdens

Wisconsin sits in a region with varied tax policies across the Upper Midwest. Compare your salary against Minnesota (progressive rates), Illinois (flat rate), and Michigan (flat rate). Running the same inputs through each state calculator reveals how relocation affects your monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions