Government budget and revenue in Wisconsin, United States: official figures
Wisconsin's state government took in $50.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, $8,478 per resident, 16th lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Wisconsin state government spend?
The Wisconsin state government spent $53.8 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $9,034 per resident, 21st lowest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 22.8% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($43.8 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Wisconsin state government have?
Wisconsin state government debt outstanding was $22.8 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $3,826 per resident, 18th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 45% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $22.7 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Wisconsin get?
The federal government provided $15.3 billion to the Wisconsin state government in fiscal year 2024, $2,571 per resident and 30.3% of its general revenue, 13th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Wisconsin spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $9.3 billion or 61% of Wisconsin's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $3.1 billion (21%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Wisconsin state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,730 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 23rd lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,060 per resident and highways $413.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Wisconsin give to local governments and schools?
27.2% of Wisconsin's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($14.6 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 14th highest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Wisconsin collect?
Wisconsin collected $25.3 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $4,236 per resident, 24th highest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 4.7% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($24.2 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Wisconsin rely on?
The individual income tax raised $10.2 billion (40.4% of state taxes, 13th highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $7.8 billion (31.0%, 24th highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the individual income tax (40.4%), followed by the general sales and gross receipts tax (31.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Wisconsin have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Wisconsin, corporate net income tax raised $2.7 billion (10.8% of state taxes); state property tax raised $70.2 million; no severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals was collected.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Wisconsin state government hold in reserves?
The Wisconsin state government held $166.4 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $27,929 per resident, of which $162.7 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Wisconsin compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 35 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Alabama | $8,789 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $8,690 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $8,662 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $8,478 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $8,473 |
| 37 | Ohio | $8,401 |
| 38 | Indiana | $8,305 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 30 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Virginia | $9,302 |
| 28 | Iowa | $9,264 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $9,228 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $9,034 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $8,949 |
| 32 | Ohio | $8,683 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $8,607 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 18 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Oregon | $3,964 |
| 16 | Colorado | $3,936 |
| 17 | Washington | $3,862 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $3,826 |
| 19 | Virginia | $3,825 |
| 20 | Maine | $3,765 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $3,730 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 41 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Tennessee | $2,766 |
| 39 | Colorado | $2,737 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $2,729 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $2,571 |
| 42 | Nevada | $2,564 |
| 43 | Virginia | $2,517 |
| 44 | Utah | $2,416 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 38 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Minnesota | 31.0% |
| 36 | New Mexico | 30.9% |
| 37 | Illinois | 30.4% |
| 38 | Wisconsin | 30.3% |
| 39 | Washington | 30.2% |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 29.8% |
| 41 | New Jersey | 29.8% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Wisconsin ranks 24 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Idaho | $4,376 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $4,363 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $4,330 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $4,236 |
| 25 | Montana | $4,225 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $4,032 |
| 27 | Michigan | $4,029 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Wisconsin ranks 13 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Missouri | 43.2% |
| 11 | Utah | 42.8% |
| 12 | North Carolina | 42.1% |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 40.4% |
| 14 | Delaware | 39.6% |
| 15 | Maine | 39.5% |
| 16 | New Jersey | 38.9% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Wisconsin ranks 24 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Louisiana | 33.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 32.6% |
| 23 | Michigan | 32.3% |
| 24 | Wisconsin | 31.0% |
| 25 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
| 26 | Rhode Island | 30.6% |
| 27 | New Mexico | 30.3% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Wisconsin ranks 28 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | North Carolina | $2,802 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $2,800 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $2,742 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $2,730 |
| 29 | Virginia | $2,685 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $2,638 |
| 31 | Montana | $2,551 |
More on Wisconsin: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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