Minimum Wage Preemption: Madison vs Middleton
How do minimum wage preemption rules compare between Madison, WI and Middleton, WI?
Madison has fewer restrictions than Middleton.
Madison, WI
Dane County
Wisconsin's minimum wage matches the federal $7.25 per hour. Wis. Stat. 104.001 (2017 Act 21) preempts Madison and other cities from setting any higher local minimum wage.
View full Madison rules →Middleton, WI
Dane County
Wisconsin Statute 104.001 expressly preempts cities, villages, towns, and counties from establishing a minimum wage higher than the state minimum, ensuring uniform wage rules across Wisconsin.
View full Middleton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Madison | Middleton |
|---|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $7.25/hour | - |
| Tipped wage | $2.33/hour | - |
| Preemption | Wis. Stat. 104.001 (Act 21) | - |
| City living wage | City contractors only | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Madison FAQ
Can Madison pass a $15 minimum wage?
Not for private employers. Wis. Stat. 104.001 preempts higher local wages. Madison can only set wage floors for its own workers and direct city contractors.
Does federal contracting raise it?
Federal contractors must pay at least the federal contractor minimum wage, which is significantly higher than Wisconsin's $7.25, but only on covered federal contracts.
Middleton FAQ
Compare other topics
See how Madison and Middleton compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool