Wisconsin Take-Home Pay Calculator (2026)

Wisconsin has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 7.65%, which applies to income above $315,310 for single filers. Below that threshold, the brackets are 3.54% on the first $13,810, 4.65% on income from $13,810 to $27,630, and 5.3% on income from $27,630 to $315,310. For most workers earning between $30,000 and $150,000, the effective Wisconsin state rate is around 5% to 6%.

Wisconsin conforms to the federal standard deduction, so the $14,600 deduction for single filers reduces Wisconsin taxable income dollar for dollar. After that deduction, a worker earning $70,000 has $55,400 of Wisconsin taxable income. The blended tax at bracket rates comes to approximately $2,700 to $3,000. The effective rate on gross income is roughly 4% to 4.5% at that level.

Wisconsin has no local income taxes. Milwaukee and Madison do not charge city income taxes on wages. The 7.65% top rate sounds high but applies only to very high earners. Most moderate-income workers in Wisconsin are in the 5.3% bracket or below. This is a distinction worth noting when comparing Wisconsin to states like Minnesota, which has a 9.85% top rate that kicks in at a much lower threshold.

Wisconsin taxes retirement income, including Social Security benefits for higher earners, which is a consideration for retirement planning. The state does exempt some military pension income and has partial exemptions for certain other retirement income sources. For active workers, these exemptions do not affect current withholding. Workers comparing Wisconsin to neighboring states should note that Minnesota's effective rates for middle-income earners are notably higher than Wisconsin's despite the proximity and similar economy.