Working full time at $13 an hour ($27,040 a year) in Wisconsin, a single filer takes home about $23,444 a year, $1,954 a month or $11.27 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $433 Wisconsin income tax.
#24 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $27,040 | $2,253 |
| Federal income tax | $1,094 | $91 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $1,676 | $140 |
| Medicare | $392 | $33 |
| Wisconsin income tax | $433 | $36 |
| Take-home | $23,444 | $1,954 |
| Federal marginal rate | 10% | |
| Wisconsin marginal rate | 3.50% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: South Carolina. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $10,940 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 10% bracket ($0 to $12,400). You have about $1,460 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 12%. Only that top slice is taxed at 10%: your average federal rate is 4.0%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 13.3% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $788 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $10,940 | $1,094 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 10% | 21.2% |
| Effective (average) | 4.0% | 13.3% |
Compared with the Wisconsin median
$27,040 is 35% of the Wisconsin median household income of $77,485 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $676/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $88,000 |
| Wisconsin median home value | $266,500 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Wisconsin median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($1,622/yr) | $1,622 | $1,403 | $219 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,469 | $931 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Wisconsin income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- All of your taxable income sits in the lowest 10% federal bracket.
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
- Wisconsin's deductions and lower brackets keep your state tax under 2% of pay, even though your top state rate is 3.50%.
Wisconsin jobs that typically pay about $27,040
$27,040 is above the median pay of 1 of the 100 common occupations we track in Wisconsin (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Wisconsin median between $23,920 and $30,160:
| Occupation | Wisconsin median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $27,080 | +$40 |
| Driver/Sales Workers | $27,560 | +$520 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,060 | +$1,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,600 | +$1,560 |
| Fast Food Cooks | $28,920 | +$1,880 |
| Dishwashers | $29,070 | +$2,030 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,670 | +$2,630 |
Where $27,040 lands inside other Wisconsin jobs
for 10, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Wisconsin pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | 10th | $26,080 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 10th | $26,270 |
| General Office Clerks | 10th | $27,130 |
| Retail Salespersons | 10th | $27,300 |
| Restaurant Cooks | 10th | $28,010 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 10th | $28,030 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 10th | $28,080 |
| Preschool Teachers | 10th | $28,530 |
| Cashiers | 25th | $28,620 |
| Teaching Assistants | 10th | $29,060 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $13 an hour after taxes in Wisconsin?
Working full time at $13 an hour ($27,040 a year) in Wisconsin, a single filer takes home about $23,444 a year, $1,954 a month or $11.27 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $433 Wisconsin income tax.
How much is $13 an hour per month after taxes in Wisconsin?
About $1,954 a month, or $902 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $13 an hour in Wisconsin?
About $433 a year (marginal rate 3.50%).