The best source of information on the population status of Wilson's Warbler is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Although the northernmost portion of the Wilson Warbler's range is poorly covered, precision is high, and overall reliability of the BBS is considered medium. The national BBS trend shows a decline of approximately 25% from the early 1970s to late 1980s, and then fluctuation around that level ever since, with the current level of 27% below 1970 levels. However, at a regional scale, almost all Bird Conservation Regions with medium or high BBS reliability for this species show large long-term declines, ranging from 51% along the Pacific Coast to 80% in the Rockies; the only exception is in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region, where the population is very small but has shown little change. BBS trends for the northern Boreal show some increases, but reliability is low because of limited coverage.

The goal for Wilson's Warbler is to increase the population to the level it was at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that Wilson's Warbler is currently below its goal range, but it has shown an increase over the past decade. Analysis of recent trends and potential growth rates suggests that Wilson's Warbler could reach its population goal by 2050 with the support of conservation action.