Wisconsin payroll · Updated November 6, 2026
Wisconsin paycheck calculator for 2026
See what comes out of a Wisconsin paycheck: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Wisconsin income tax, using the state’s Publication W-166 withholding formula. Enter a salary, an hourly rate or one paycheck.
Calculate my take-home payCalculate your Wisconsin take-home pay
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,831.74
$47,625 a year
| Paycheck | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 | -$870 |
| Wisconsin income tax | -$106.33 | -$2,765 |
| Take-home pay | $1,831.74 | $47,625 |
2026 estimate for one paycheck, using the IRS percentage method and Wisconsin’s withholding formula. Your employer's payroll may differ by a few cents to a few dollars. Not tax advice.
What comes out of a Wisconsin paycheck
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | Wages after the W-4 standard amount, by filing status |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 for 2026 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages, no cap |
| Wisconsin income tax | 3.54% to 7.65% withholding rates | Wages minus a phased-out standard deduction and $400 per WT-4 exemption |
Example: $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks
| Line | Per paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay ($60,000 ÷ 26) | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 | −$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 | −$870 |
| Wisconsin income tax | −$106.33 | −$2,765 |
| Take-home pay | $1,831.74 | $47,625 |
How Wisconsin withholding works
Wisconsin’s withholding formula, in Publication W-166, annualizes your pay and subtracts a standard deduction that shrinks as pay rises: $6,702 for single filers, phasing out to nothing at $73,630, or $9,461 for married filers, gone at $73,032. It subtracts $400 for each exemption on Form WT-4 and applies rates of 3.54%, 4.65%, 5.30% and 7.65%. Without a WT-4, your employer uses zero exemptions.
The withholding schedule has not changed since 2022, even though the tax brackets on Wisconsin returns have, so what is withheld and what you owe can differ a little. Wisconsin unemployment insurance is paid by employers; nothing is deducted from paychecks for it.
Minimum wage in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour ($2.33 for tipped employees).
Your federal withholding and Form W-4
Federal withholding is separate from the state’s and depends on your Form W-4: your filing status, the Step 2 box if you have two jobs or both spouses work, and the Step 3 amount for children and other dependents. Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b) and cafeteria-plan health premiums come out before income tax is figured. If you are paid on a 1099 instead of a W-2, nothing is withheld; use the self-employment tax calculator and plan for estimated payments.
Questions
How much is taken out of a $60,000 paycheck in Wisconsin?
For a single person paid every two weeks with no W-4 adjustments, one WT-4 exemption, about $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $106.33 Wisconsin income tax come out of each $2,307.69 paycheck, leaving about $1,831.74.
What are the Wisconsin withholding rates?
3.54%, 4.65%, 5.30% and 7.65%, applied after the standard deduction and $400 per WT-4 exemption.
How many exemptions should I claim on Form WT-4?
One for yourself, one for your spouse and one for each dependent. Each lowers withholding on $400 of wages a year.
Why is my paycheck different from this calculator?
Payroll systems round differently, and paychecks can include things this calculator leaves out: overtime, bonuses withheld at the flat supplemental rate, after-tax deductions, extra withholding on your W-4, or W-4 Step 4 adjustments.
Owe at tax time, or getting too much back?
We prepare federal returns for clients in every state and can tell you how to set your W-4 so next year comes out closer. We work remotely through a secure portal, by phone or video.
Tax preparation serviceWhere these rules come from
- Wisconsin DOR: Withholding Tax Guide, Publication W-166 (PDF)
- Wisconsin DOR: Form WT-4 (PDF)
- Wisconsin DWD: Minimum wage
- Wisconsin DWD: Unemployment benefits handbook
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026): Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
Related
- Paycheck calculators for other states
- Wisconsin income tax
- What is FICA tax? Rates for 2026 and 2027
- Federal tax brackets for 2026 and 2027
- Self-employment tax calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
USTAXX prepares tax returns and offers tax planning. We are not a CPA firm and do not represent clients before the IRS. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.