Is Wisconsin’s minimum wage in 2026 the same as it was in 2009?

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Is Wisconsin’s minimum wage in 2026 the same as it was in 2009?

May 21, 2026, 9:25 AM CT

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Yes.

Wisconsin’s minimum wage was last updated in July 2009 and remains at $7.25 per hour, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.

That’s the same as the federal minimum wage, which was also set in July 2009. State law does not directly tie Wisconsin’s minimum wage to changes in the federal rate, but it matches.

Wisconsin is one of 13 states whose minimum wage is equal to the federal $7.25 rate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Wisconsin has different rates for tipped workers, golf caddies and camp counselors. Wisconsin’s minimum wage does not adjust automatically for inflation, as it does in some states.

Recent efforts by Democrats to raise the minimum wage have failed in Wisconsin. Business lobbying groups have said Wisconsin employers regularly offer hourly rates above $7.25 to attract workers.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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Wisconsin Watch

Originally published by Wisconsin Watch.

Hope Karnopp / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Hope Karnopp / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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