Wisconsin tip pooling laws & tipped minimum wage
In Wisconsin, employers can pay tipped workers $2.33/hr as long as tips bring them to the $7.25 minimum — here's how that works and who can legally share your tips.
| Regular minimum wage | $7.25/hr |
| Minimum cash wage for tipped workers | $2.33/hr |
| Maximum tip credit | $4.92/hr |
| Tips belong to | Employees — always |
Rates reviewed June 2026. Rates change — confirm with the Wisconsin labor department. Not legal advice.
Tip pooling in Wisconsin
Wisconsin follows the federal baseline: employers may require tip pooling. If your employer takes the tip credit (pays $2.33/hr cash), the pool may only include customarily tipped workers — servers, bussers, bartenders, runners, hosts. Back-of-house can only be included if everyone is paid full minimum wage with no tip credit. Managers and supervisors are always excluded.
Two federal rules apply no matter what: managers and supervisors can never take from a tip pool, and credit card processing fees can only be deducted from tips where state law allows it .
What this means for your tip-out
Because part of your legal wage in Wisconsin comes from tips, every dollar you tip out matters — your employer's tip credit assumes those tips reached you. Track what you actually keep. Use our tip-out calculator to split a shift by your house's percentages or by hours, and see standard tip-out percentages to check whether your house's rates are typical.
Wisconsin tip law FAQs
What is the tipped minimum wage in Wisconsin?
Employers in Wisconsin may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $2.33/hr and claim a tip credit of up to $4.92/hr toward the $7.25 minimum wage. If tips don't close the gap in a workweek, the employer must make up the difference.
Is mandatory tip pooling legal in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin follows the federal baseline: employers may require tip pooling. If your employer takes the tip credit (pays $2.33/hr cash), the pool may only include customarily tipped workers — servers, bussers, bartenders, runners, hosts. Back-of-house can only be included if everyone is paid full minimum wage with no tip credit. Managers and supervisors are always excluded.
Can my manager take a cut of the tip pool in Wisconsin?
No. Federal law prohibits managers, supervisors, and owners from keeping any portion of employee tips in every state, including Wisconsin. A manager may keep only tips they directly and solely earned (e.g., a table they personally served start to finish).