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For service members leaving the military

Why Wisconsin

One of the most veteran-friendly states in the country, with benefits that travel with you, a real job market, and room to put down roots.

Full-ride state GI Bill No tax on military retirement ~2.2% veteran unemployment Low cost of living

What Wisconsin gives a veteran

These are state benefits, separate from your federal VA benefits. They are some of the strongest in the country.

1

A full-ride state GI Bill

Full tuition and fee remission at any UW System or Wisconsin Technical College school, for you and for your spouse and children. One of the most generous state education benefits in the nation.

2

Your military retirement pay is not taxed

Wisconsin fully exempts military retirement pay and survivor benefits from state income tax. Social Security is untaxed too.

3

A property tax credit that can wipe out your bill

Eligible disabled veterans and surviving spouses get an income-tax credit refunding up to 100% of property taxes on a primary residence.

4

25 state programs in all

Education, employment, grants, housing and recovery, recreation, and long-term care, all administered by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

See the full program list and apply through the tool below, every benefit links to its official WDVA page.

A real place to work, not just retire

Wisconsin pairs strong benefits with a healthy job market and a low cost of living.

~2.2%
Wisconsin veteran unemployment (2022), below the nonveteran rate
USAFacts (BLS / Census)
~$333/mo
Average cost for mortgage-free veteran homeowners
AHRN best-states analysis
134,952
Working-age (18-64) veterans already in Wisconsin
U.S. Census ACS 2023
$3.5B
VA-related spending in Wisconsin in 2021, supporting ~36,600 jobs
UW-Madison Extension WIndicators

Why this matters now

Wisconsin's veteran community is shrinking, and the state wants to change that.

Wisconsin's veteran population fell from 494,962 in 2002 to 342,823 in 2021, about a 31% drop, and the veteran share of the population fell from 9.1% to 5.8%. That follows a national trend as Vietnam-era and older veterans age. The states that hold up best will be the ones that actively welcome younger veterans leaving service today.

Wisconsin is making that case. Strong benefits, a healthy job market, and communities large enough to have what you need and small enough to feel like home. If you are deciding where to land after service, Wisconsin is worth a serious look.

Sources: UW-Madison Extension WIndicators; USAFacts; VA VetPop2023. Veteran population figures count all veterans; the 134,952 figure above is working-age veterans specifically.

Day-to-day life here

The practical things you weigh before moving a family.

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VA healthcare you can reach

Three VA medical centers in Madison, Milwaukee, and Tomah, a Green Bay outpatient clinic, and roughly 15 community clinics statewide. Western Wisconsin is also served by the Minneapolis VA.

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Cost of living near the national average

Housing runs below the coasts and Colorado. For a mortgage-free veteran homeowner, average monthly cost is about $333.

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A veteran community already here

About 288,000 veterans live in Wisconsin, with a County Veterans Service Officer in all 72 counties plus 11 Tribal service officers, the local people who walk you through applying for everything above.

Sources: U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs (facilities); World Population Review / VA VetPop (veteran counts); AHRN (housing cost). Cost figures are approximate.

See where you fit

Enter your MOS and see the careers your training maps to, the Wisconsin employers hiring veterans, and every state benefit with a link to apply.

Find your fit in Wisconsin → All WDVA benefits ↗
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State benefit information from the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (dva.wi.gov). This page is informational and is not affiliated with or endorsed by WDVA.