Minimum Wage
Wisconsin’s current minimum wage is $7.25.
For more information on Wisconsin’s minimum wage laws, visit our Wisconsin Minimum Wage Laws page, which includes topics such as minimum wage, tip minimum wage, tip sharing and pooling, and subminimum wages.
Related topic covered on other pages include:
Overtime
Wisconsin labor laws require an employer to pay overtime to employees, unless otherwise exempt, for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. WI Admin. Rules DWD 274.03. See FLSA: Overtime for more information regarding overtime requirements.
Prevailing Wages
Under certain circumstances, employers in Wisconsin may be required to pay residents wage rates established by the federal or state prevailing wage rates and rules. The prevailing wage rates may be different from the state’s standard minimum wage rates. Employees may be eligible for prevailing wages if they work on federal or state government or government-funded construction projects or perform certain federal or state government services. See the Wisconsin Prevailing Wages, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), and Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (PCA) for more information about prevailing wages.
Meals and Breaks
Wisconsin labor laws require employers to provide employees under the age of eighteen (18) at least a 30-minute duty free meal period when working a shift greater than six (6) hours in duration.
Wisconsin does not require employers to provide breaks, including lunch breaks, for workers eighteen (18) years old or older, although it is recommended. An employer who chooses to provide a break in excess of thirty (30) minutes does not have to pay wages for the break period if the employee is free to leave the worksite and the employee does not actually perform work. Breaks lasting less than thirty (30) minutes must be paid. WI Dept. of Workforce Dev.: Meal and Breaks, WI Admin. Rules DWD 274.02.
One Day Rest in Seven
Wisconsin requires employers operating factories or mercantile establishments to provide employees with at least one (1) period of twenty-four (24) consecutive hours of rest in every calendar week. WI Dept. of Workforce Dev.: One Day Rest in Seven.
Nursing Mother Breaks
Wisconsin labor laws do not require employers to provide nursing mothers with breaks to express breast milk. However, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires certain employees to provide nonexempt nursing mothers for one (1) year following a child’s birth with reasonable rest breaks to express milk and private spaces, other than a bathroom, to express breast milk.
Vacation Leave
Information about Wisconsin vacation leave laws may now be found on our Wisconsin Leave Laws page.
Sick Leave
Information about Wisconsin sick leave laws may now be found on our Wisconsin Leave Laws page.
Holiday Leave
Information about Wisconsin holiday leave laws may now be found on our Wisconsin Leave Laws page.
Jury Duty Leave
Information about Wisconsin jury duty leave laws may now be found on our Wisconsin Leave Laws page.
Voting Leave
Information about Wisconsin voting leave laws may now be found on our Wisconsin Leave Laws page.
Severance Pay
Wisconsin labor laws do not require employers to provide employees with severance pay. If an employer chooses to provide severance benefits, it must comply with the terms of its established policy or employment contract.
Unemployment
Under certain circumstances, Wisconsin residents may be eligible for unemployment benefits while they search for another job. You are required to certify that you are unemployed on a weekly basis to receive these benefits. See Wisconsin State Unemployment Benefits.