Colorado minimum wage 2026–2027: $15.16 now, $15.71 on January 1, 2027
Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026 – $7.91 more than the federal $7.25. The next change is on January 1, 2027: $15.71 an hour (+$0.55, 3.6%), announced by the state. 3.6% increase; tipped workers $12.69.
Share
Colorado minimum wage pay calculator
Colorado minimum wage rates
| Who | Rate | From | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most workers (state rate) | $15.16 | January 1, 2026 | official |
| Scheduled increase | $15.71 | January 1, 2027 | announcement |
| Tipped workers (cash wage) | $12.14 | now | official |
| Tipped workers (cash wage) | $12.69 | January 1, 2027 | official |
When does the Colorado minimum wage go up?
The next change is on January 1, 2027: $15.71 an hour (+$0.55, 3.6%), announced by the state. 3.6% increase; tipped workers $12.69. Adjusted each January 1 by the Colorado consumer price index.
Tipped workers in Colorado
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $12.14 an hour and count up to $3.02 of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $15.16 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference. From January 1, 2027 the tipped cash wage is $12.69.
City and county minimum wages in Colorado
These places set their own, higher rate; inside their limits it replaces the state rate.
| Place | Now | Next | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DenverTipped: $16.27 in 2026, $16.82 in 2027 | $19.29since January 1, 2026 | $19.84 · January 1, 2027 | city |
| Edgewater | $18.17since January 1, 2026 | $19.84 · January 1, 2027 | city |
| City of Boulder | $16.82since January 1, 2026 | $18.17 · January 1, 2027 | city |
| Unincorporated Boulder County | $16.82since January 1, 2026 | TBA · January 1, 2027 | city |
Colorado minimum wage history
On January 1, 2020 the Colorado minimum wage was $12.02; today it is $15.16 – up $3.14, or 26.1%.
| January 1 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $12.02 | $12.32 | $12.56 | $13.65 | $14.42 | $14.81 | $15.16 |
How Colorado compares
Colorado ranks 10th of the 50 states and D.C. The average statewide minimum wage is $11.53; Colorado's $15.16 is $3.63 above it. Neighbors: Arizona $15.15, Kansas $7.25, Nebraska $15.00, New Mexico $12.00, Oklahoma $7.25, Utah $7.25, Wyoming $7.25.
Overtime and pay rules
Overtime: Over 12 hours a day and 40 a week, at one and a half times the regular rate. A full-time week at the minimum wage pays $606.40; with 5 overtime hours it is $720.10.
Good to know
- Colorado's minimum wage is 41.5% higher in 2027 than the $11.10 of 2019 (CDLE).
Where to get help
The minimum wage in Colorado is enforced by the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics; wage claims: cdle.colorado.gov. The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints in every state at 1-866-487-9243, and your name is kept confidential.
Colorado minimum wage questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado right now?
$15.16 an hour for most adult workers. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 an hour, in force since January 1, 2026 – $7.91 more than the federal $7.25.
What will the Colorado minimum wage be in 2027?
$15.71 an hour from January 1, 2027 – announced by the state.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado?
Employers may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $12.14 an hour and count up to $3.02 of tips toward the minimum wage, as long as wages plus tips reach $15.16 for every hour; otherwise the employer pays the difference. From January 1, 2027 the tipped cash wage is $12.69.
How much is the Colorado minimum wage per year?
At $15.16 an hour and 40 hours a week, $606.40 a week, about $2,628 a month and $31,533 a year before taxes. At the 2027 rate of $15.71: $32,677 a year.
Do cities in Colorado have a higher minimum wage?
Yes. Denver: $19.29 ($19.84 from January 1, 2027); Edgewater: $18.17 ($19.84 from January 1, 2027); City of Boulder: $16.82 ($18.17 from January 1, 2027); Unincorporated Boulder County: $16.82. Inside those limits the local rate applies.
Where do I report unpaid minimum wage in Colorado?
With the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics – or with the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (1-866-487-9243). Keep your pay stubs and a record of your hours.
Other states
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – State Minimum Wage Laws, Consolidated Minimum Wage Table and Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026 editions), the DOL's history table, and each state's and city's own labor department pages, linked on every state page. Checked October 16, 2026. Rates are for most adult, non-exempt workers; some jobs, industries and employers are exempt or have other rates. This is general information, not legal advice – the state labor department has the final word.