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Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Estimate your Wisconsin take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and WI state income tax.

How this calculator works

Like the Texas calculator, this estimates federal tax and FICA the same way; Wisconsin doesn’t change those. On top of that, it computes Wisconsin’s own state income tax using Wisconsin’s own standard deduction and bracket schedule, not the federal ones. Wisconsin’s standard deduction is unusual: instead of a flat dollar amount, it shrinks by a set percentage of income once you cross a threshold, disappearing almost entirely for high earners. Wisconsin has no state disability insurance and no state paid leave payroll tax, so the only state-level deduction is income tax.

The formula

(federal tax, FICA, and net-pay assembly are identical to the Texas calculator)

wiStandardDeduction = base amount, reduced by a fixed percentage of
                    (wagesAfterPretax - phaseOutStart) once income
                    passes a threshold, clamped between $0 and the
                    base amount
                    (base $13,960 single / $25,840 joint;
                     phase-out rate 12% single / 19.778% joint)

wiTaxableIncome = max(0, wagesAfterPretax - wiStandardDeduction - personalExemption)
                (personal exemption: $700 single / $1,400 joint)

wiIncomeTax     = 2026 WI bracket schedule applied to wiTaxableIncome
                (3.5% / 4.4% / 5.3% / 7.65%)

stateTax = wiIncomeTax   (no SDI, no paid-leave tax, no local income tax)

Worked example

A single filer earning $60,000/year, paid biweekly, with no 401(k) or extra deductions:

  • FICA: $4,590.00/year (same as any state)
  • Federal tax: $5,020.00/year (same as any state)
  • Wisconsin standard deduction: $13,960 base, reduced by 12% of the $39,880 excess over the $20,120 phase-out start = $9,174.40
  • Wisconsin taxable income: $60,000 − $9,174.40 − $700 personal exemption = $50,125.60
  • Wisconsin income tax: $528.85 (through $15,110) + 4.4% of the remaining $35,015.60 = $2,069.54/year
  • Net pay: $60,000 − $4,590.00 − $5,020.00 − $2,069.54 = $48,320.46/year, or $1,858.48 per biweekly paycheck

We cross-checked this against SmartAsset’s Wisconsin Paycheck Calculator for the same inputs (zip 53201, Milwaukee, accessed 2026-08-26): it showed a gross paycheck of $2,308, state income tax of $77/period, combined FICA of $177/period (exactly 7.65%, confirming no added state payroll tax), and take-home of $1,859/period. SmartAsset’s figures come from a per-paycheck withholding table rather than this calculator’s real annual tax liability, which explains the small gap between its $77/period state tax estimate and this calculator’s $79.60/period ($2,069.54 ÷ 26) figure.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What are Wisconsin's 2026 income tax brackets?

Four brackets: 3.5% up to $15,110 (single) or $20,150 (joint), 4.4% up to $51,950 or $69,260, 5.3% up to $332,720 or $443,630, and 7.65% above that. The dollar thresholds are adjusted for inflation each year, and the second bracket was cut from 4.65% to 4.4% by a 2023 state law.

Does Wisconsin's standard deduction really shrink as I earn more?

Yes. Wisconsin's standard deduction starts at $13,960 (single) or $25,840 (joint) but shrinks by a fixed percentage of income above a threshold, reaching close to $0 by about $136,000 (single) or $160,000 (joint). Most states use a flat standard deduction instead, so this is a distinctly Wisconsin quirk.

Does Wisconsin have state disability insurance or paid family leave payroll taxes?

No. Unlike California, New Jersey, or Connecticut, Wisconsin does not withhold any state disability insurance or paid family and medical leave premium from employee paychecks. Wisconsin workers only see federal FICA (Social Security and Medicare), federal income tax, and Wisconsin income tax withheld.

Are tips and overtime tax-free in Wisconsin?

No. The federal 2025-2028 "no tax on tips" and "no tax on overtime" deductions only reduce your federal taxable income. Wisconsin has not adopted matching state deductions, so tips and overtime remain fully taxable on your Wisconsin return.

Does Wisconsin have any city or county income taxes?

No. Wisconsin has no local or municipal income tax anywhere in the state. Some Wisconsin counties and the city of Milwaukee do charge extra sales tax, but none of them add a local income tax on top of the state's own income tax.

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