Wisconsin nanny & household employment guide
Everything a family or nanny needs to know about household employment law in Wisconsin: overtime, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Overtime rules in Wisconsin
- Live-out overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Live-in overtime begins after exempt under the federal default.
- Overtime multiplier: 1.5x.
Payroll taxes in Wisconsin
Federal (applies everywhere): Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from both employer and employee, plus FUTA at 0.6% on the first $7,000 (employer only).
Wisconsin state taxes:
- State unemployment (SUTA, employer): 3.05% on the first $14,000 of wages.
- State income tax (employee, estimated effective): ~5.30%.
Workers' compensation in Wisconsin
Required for any household employee earning $1,000+ in a calendar quarter.
Put it in writing
Once you have the rules straight, document the terms. The free Kindred offer letter generator builds a professional nanny offer letter covering pay, overtime, PTO, and duties. See also the nanny tax calculator and take-home pay calculator.
Hiring in Wisconsin? Post a job free on Kindred or see what nannies earn.