Minimum wage in Colorado in 2026
The minimum wage in Colorado is $15.16 an hour in 2026, and up to $19.29 in Denver. It rises to $15.71 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
Checked against official sources.
Colorado minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $15.16
- A week, 40 hours
- $606.40
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $31,533
- Tipped cash wage
- $12.14before tips
In effect since . A year means 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, before taxes.
Upcoming raises
- $15.71 an hour, $32,677 a year (announced by the state)
Local minimum wages in Colorado
These places set their own, higher minimum wage. If you work there, your employer must pay the local rate.
| Place | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $19.29 | January 1, 2026 | $19.84 on January 1, 2027 |
| Edgewater | $18.17 | January 1, 2026 | $19.84 on January 1, 2027 |
| Boulder | $16.82 | January 1, 2026 | $18.17 on January 1, 2027 |
| Unincorporated Boulder County | $16.82 | January 1, 2026 | $17.43 on January 1, 2027 |
Tipped workers
Employers in Colorado can pay tipped workers as little as $12.14 an hour in cash and count up to $3.02 an hour in tips toward the $15.16 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. The tipped cash wage rises to $12.69 on January 1, 2027.
Who gets a different rate
- Minors who are not emancipated: $12.89 an hour. Up to 15% below the full minimum wage
Colorado minimum wage by year
| Year | Rate on January 1 |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $12.56 |
| 2023 | $13.65 |
| 2024 | $14.42 |
| 2025 | $14.81 |
| 2026 | $15.16 |
Colorado's constitution raises the rate every January 1 by inflation in Colorado (CPI-U). The state announces it in late summer.
Common questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado in 2026?
The minimum wage in Colorado is $15.16 an hour in 2026, and up to $19.29 in Denver. It rises to $15.71 on January 1, 2027, as announced by the state.
How much is minimum wage a year in Colorado?
At $15.16 an hour, a full-time worker on 40 hours a week earns $606.40 a week and $31,533 a year before taxes.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Colorado?
Employers in Colorado can pay tipped workers as little as $12.14 an hour in cash and count up to $3.02 an hour in tips toward the $15.16 minimum wage. If tips do not make up the difference, the employer must. The tipped cash wage rises to $12.69 on January 1, 2027.
When does the minimum wage go up in Colorado?
It rises to $15.71 on January 1, 2027. Colorado's constitution raises the rate every January 1 by inflation in Colorado (CPI-U). The state announces it in late summer.
Which cities in Colorado have a higher minimum wage?
Denver ($19.29), Edgewater ($18.17), Boulder ($16.82) and unincorporated Boulder County ($16.82) have their own minimum wages above the state rate. Workers there get the local rate.
Is there a different minimum wage for some workers in Colorado?
Minors who are not emancipated: $12.89 an hour (up to 15% below the full minimum wage).
Minimum wage in other Western states
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Colorado minimum wage will increase to $15.71/hour in 2027, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, updated
- 2026 PAY CALC Order, 7 CCR 1103-14, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, updated
- Citywide Minimum Wage, Denver Labor, Auditor's Office
- Labor Standards and Statistics: Annual Minimum Wages, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Ordinance No. 2026-11, City of Edgewater, updated
- Labor Standards and Statistics: Annual Minimum Wages, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Minimum Wage, City of Edgewater
- Local Minimum Wage, City of Boulder
- Labor Standards and Statistics: Annual Minimum Wages, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Local Minimum Wage, Boulder County
- Labor Standards and Statistics: Annual Minimum Wages, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- State Minimum Wage Laws, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, updated
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.