Colorado Minimum Wage 2026: $15.16 Statewide, $19.29 in Denver, $15.71 in 2027
Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 an hour in 2026 with a $12.14 tipped wage, rising to $15.71 on January 1, 2027. Denver ($19.29), Edgewater ($18.17), and Boulder ($16.82) set higher local rates. All adjust for inflation every January.
The Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 per hour in 2026, with a tipped minimum of $12.14 after the state's fixed $3.02 tip offset. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has already announced the 2027 rate: $15.71 statewide, effective January 1, 2027. Three local governments set higher floors: Denver at $19.29, Edgewater at $18.17, and the City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County at $16.82. Colorado also has daily overtime after 12 hours, which most states do not.
Reviewed September 2026
Rates on this page were checked against the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the City and County of Denver, and the US Department of Labor state minimum wage tables as of July 1, 2026. Local rates for 2027 are announced by each jurisdiction in the fall. See our labor law compliance guides for other Colorado rules.
Current Colorado Minimum Wage
Colorado's minimum wage is set by Article XVIII, Section 15 of the state constitution, which voters amended in 2016 (Amendment 70) to raise the rate to $12.00 by 2020 and then adjust it every January 1 for inflation. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) publishes the new figure each fall based on the Consumer Price Index for the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood area.
For 2026 the statewide rate is $15.16, up from $14.81 in 2025. In its announcement of the 2027 rate, CDLE set the figure at $15.71 with a tipped minimum of $12.69, effective January 1, 2027. Employers therefore know two years of rates at once, which is unusual and helps with budgeting.
The state rate applies to all employers covered by the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order (COMPS Order), which is nearly every private employer in the state. The COMPS Order is reissued each year and also governs overtime, meal and rest breaks, and pay for travel time.
Colorado Minimum Wage vs Federal Minimum Wage
| Colorado 2026 | Colorado 2027 | Federal (FLSA) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard hourly minimum | $15.16 | $15.71 | $7.25 |
| Tipped cash wage | $12.14 | $12.69 | $2.13 |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.02 | $3.02 | $5.12 |
| Annual adjustment | CPI, January 1 | CPI, January 1 | None |
| Daily overtime | After 12 hours | After 12 hours | None |
| Local rates allowed | Yes, since 2019 | Yes | Not applicable |
The federal figure is irrelevant for almost every Colorado worker, since the state rate is more than double and applies more broadly.
Tipped Minimum Wage in Colorado
Colorado's tip offset is a fixed $3.02 per hour, written into the constitution. Because the offset does not grow with the minimum wage, the tipped cash wage rises by the same amount as the standard rate each year: $12.14 in 2026 and $12.69 in 2027. Employers must be able to show that tips plus the cash wage reached the full minimum for every hour in the workweek and must make up any shortfall.
Local rates change the math. Denver's tipped food and beverage rate is $16.27 in 2026, which is the local minimum less the same $3.02 offset. Edgewater and Boulder follow the same structure: the local rate minus $3.02 for employees who customarily receive tips.
Tip pooling is permitted among employees who customarily and regularly receive tips. Employers, managers, and supervisors may not take a share, and Colorado requires that a notice be given to customers if any service charge is not passed through to staff.
Colorado Minimum Wage Increase Schedule
| Effective date | Statewide rate | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2021 | $12.32 | $9.30 |
| January 1, 2022 | $12.56 | $9.54 |
| January 1, 2023 | $13.65 | $10.63 |
| January 1, 2024 | $14.42 | $11.40 |
| January 1, 2025 | $14.81 | $11.79 |
| January 1, 2026 | $15.16 | $12.14 |
| January 1, 2027 | $15.71 | $12.69 |
The constitutional formula only allows increases, so the rate holds steady in a year with no inflation. Because CDLE announces the next year's figure in September or October, employers have at least a quarter to update payroll.
Local Minimum Wages in Colorado
A 2019 state law (HB 19-1210) allows Colorado local governments to set their own minimum wage above the state rate. Three have done so, and the local rate applies to any employee who works within the jurisdiction for at least four hours in a week, regardless of where the employer is based.
| Jurisdiction | 2026 minimum wage | 2026 tipped rate | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | $15.16 | $12.14 | CPI, January 1 |
| Denver | $19.29 | $16.27 | CPI, January 1 |
| Edgewater | $18.17 | $15.15 | CPI, January 1 |
| City of Boulder | $16.82 | $13.80 | Scheduled steps, then CPI |
| Unincorporated Boulder County | $16.82 | $13.80 | Scheduled steps, then CPI |
Denver's rate comes from a 2019 ordinance that reached $15.87 in 2022 and now adjusts for inflation each year; the City and County of Denver published the 2026 figure in late 2025. The City of Boulder adopted Ordinance 8664 in 2024, which sets a schedule through 2027 that mirrors the county's. Edgewater's ordinance took effect in 2024 and is published by the city. Employers with staff who travel between Denver and suburbs such as Aurora or Lakewood, which use the state rate, need location-based timekeeping to apply the right rate to the right hours.
Who Is Covered and Who Is Exempt
The COMPS Order covers most employees in Colorado. Exemptions from the minimum wage or overtime include:
- Executive, administrative, and professional employees who meet the Colorado duties tests and are paid at least the Colorado salary threshold, which is higher than the federal $684 per week and adjusts annually
- Certain agricultural workers, with separate rules under the Agricultural Labor Rights and Responsibilities Act
- Some in-residence workers, casual babysitters, and property managers
- Employees of some seasonal camps and outdoor education programs, with a separate reduced rate
Colorado's exempt salary threshold is well above the federal level, so an employee who is exempt under federal law may still be non-exempt in Colorado. See exempt vs non-exempt employees for the tests, and check the current COMPS Order for the Colorado threshold.
Overtime and the Minimum Wage
Colorado requires overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, over 12 in a workday, or over 12 consecutive hours regardless of the workday start. The employee is paid whichever calculation produces more overtime. Colorado does not have a double-time rule.
For a minimum wage employee working 45 hours in five 9-hour days:
- 40 hours at $15.16 = $606.40
- 5 overtime hours at $22.74 = $113.70
- Weekly gross pay = $720.10
If the same 45 hours were worked as three 15-hour days, daily overtime would apply to the 9 hours over 12, and the weekly calculation would apply to the 5 hours over 40; the employee gets the larger overtime total. Model any pattern with the overtime calculator, and see overtime pay laws by state for how Colorado compares.
What a Minimum Wage Worker Earns in Colorado
| Schedule | Statewide $15.16 | Boulder $16.82 | Denver $19.29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40-hour week | $606.40 | $672.80 | $771.60 |
| Month (173.33 hours) | $2,627.68 | $2,915.41 | $3,343.54 |
| Year (2,080 hours) | $31,532.80 | $34,985.60 | $40,123.20 |
Gross figures before taxes. Convert any rate with the salary to hourly calculator, and see what gross pay includes.
Employer Compliance Checklist
- Update rates to $15.16 now and schedule the change to $15.71 for the first pay period of January 2027; watch for local 2027 announcements in the fall.
- Track where each employee works. Four or more hours in a week inside Denver, Edgewater, or Boulder triggers the local rate for those hours.
- Apply the $3.02 tip offset only when tips actually bring the employee to the applicable minimum, and keep tip records to prove it.
- Calculate overtime on both the weekly and daily thresholds and pay the greater amount.
- Check salaried employees against Colorado's exempt salary threshold, not just the federal one.
- Use a time card calculator or time tracking software that records punches to the minute; the COMPS Order requires records of hours worked and meal periods for three years.
- Post the current COMPS Order poster and see the Colorado labor law guide for break and paid leave rules.
Track Denver and Statewide Hours Separately
HiveDesk records clock-in and clock-out times by employee and location, so hours worked inside Denver are paid at $19.29 and hours in Aurora at $15.16, with daily and weekly overtime calculated automatically. $5/user/month, 14-day free trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado in 2026?
$15.16 per hour statewide. Denver is $19.29, Edgewater is $18.17, and the City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County are $16.82.
What will Colorado minimum wage be in 2027?
$15.71 per hour statewide, with a tipped minimum of $12.69, effective January 1, 2027, as announced by CDLE.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado?
$12.14 per hour in 2026. Colorado allows a fixed tip offset of $3.02 against the applicable minimum wage.
What is the minimum wage in Denver?
$19.29 per hour in 2026, with a tipped rate of $16.27 for food and beverage workers. Denver adjusts its rate every January 1.
Does Colorado have daily overtime?
Yes. Overtime applies after 12 hours in a workday or 12 consecutive hours, as well as after 40 hours in a week. The employee receives whichever is greater.
Does the Denver rate apply if my company is based outside Denver?
Yes, for any employee who performs four or more hours of work in Denver in a week. The local rate follows the work location.
How much is Colorado minimum wage per year?
$31,532.80 for a full-time employee working 2,080 hours at $15.16, before taxes.
Can Colorado minimum wage go down?
No. The constitutional formula only allows increases for inflation; in a year with no inflation the rate stays the same.
For a comparison with every other state, see minimum wage by state.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, 2027 minimum wage announcement
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Minimum Wage
- City and County of Denver, 2026 local minimum wage
- City of Edgewater, Minimum Wage
- US Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws
- US Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees