The High Road Strategy Center has released an updated edition of Can’t Survive on $7.25, examining the impact of Wisconsin’s stagnant minimum wage and the potential benefits of raising the state’s wage floor. Wisconsin’s minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009, while inflation has steadily eroded its value and neighboring states have moved ahead with significantly higher minimum wages.

Drawing on analysis from the Economic Policy Institute, the report examines the impact of raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2030 and eliminating the state’s tipped minimum wage. The findings show that a higher wage floor would benefit hundreds of thousands of workers, particularly women, workers of color, and workers in low-wage industries.

In addition to the full report, the High Road Strategy Center has produced fact sheets in both English and Spanish to make the findings accessible to a broader audience.

Key findings:

More than 736,000 Wisconsin workers would see higher wages

Raising Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $20 per hour by 2030 would increase wages for 736,500 workers — more than one in four workers statewide (27%).

Women and workers of color would benefit disproportionately

One-third of Wisconsin women workers would receive a raise, and nearly half of Black and Hispanic workers would also see their wages increase. The increase would help reduce persistent racial and gender wage gaps.

Retail and restaurant workers would see significant gains

Nearly 40% of all workers benefiting from a higher minimum wage are employed in retail and restaurant jobs. More than 152,000 retail workers and 134,000 restaurant workers would receive higher pay.

Families living in poverty would gain

The policy would raise wages for more than 154,000 workers living in poverty.

Ending the tipped minimum wage would help more than 52,000 workers

Wisconsin’s tipped minimum wage remains just $2.33 per hour, the lowest in the region. Eliminating the tipped wage and establishing one wage floor for all workers would increase pay for the state’s 52,700 tipped workers.

“The results of our hard work have flowed out of Wisconsin communities – especially our rural, Black, Brown and low-income communities – into the pocketbooks of the wealthy few for far too long,” shared Michele Mackey, CEO for Kids Forward. “It’s time for Wisconsin to invest in everyday families by raising the wage floor.” Kids Forward is a statewide antiracist policy center focused on advancing opportunity for Wisconsin children and families.

To view Can’t Survive on $7.25: 2026 Update, click here.

To view the English and Spanish fact sheets, click here.