Dresser, L. Can’t Survive on $7.25: 2026 Update. High Road Strategy Center, 2026.
Wisconsin’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009, even as prices and the cost of living have continued to rise. This updated report examines the impact of raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $20 by 2030 and highlights the hundreds of thousands of workers who would benefit from a stronger wage floor. Using new analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, the report explores who stands to gain, including women, Black and Hispanic workers, service sector employees, and tipped workers. A higher and well-enforced minimum wage can reduce inequality, strengthen communities, and help ensure that Wisconsin workers can thrive, not just survive.