Colorado minimum wage in 2026
The minimum wage in Colorado is $15.16 an hour in 2026, in effect since January 1, 2026.
Scheduled increases
No change has been confirmed yet. We couldn't find a 2027 rate published by Colorado's labor department or in state law when we last checked (October 2026), so none is shown. Check back, or see the state labor department.
Tipped minimum wage
Tipped workers: at least $12.14 an hour in cash wages ($3.02 below the full rate), as long as tips bring them to $15.16.
Good to know
- Local rates: Some Colorado cities and counties, such as Denver, set their own higher minimum wages. The state's pay order points to coloradolaborlaw.gov for local rates.
How the pay is calculated
Monthly = weekly × 52 ÷ 12 · Yearly = weekly × 52
Federal law requires time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek for most hourly workers, so the calculator pays 1.5× for those hours. The after-tax figure subtracts 2026 federal income tax (with the standard deduction), Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), Colorado income tax and state payroll deductions for the whole year.
Worked example
A full-time job at $15.16 an hour, 40 hours a week: $15.16 × 40 = $606.40 a week. Times 52 weeks, that's $31,533 a year, or $2,627.73 a month.
For a single filer, taxes for the year come to $1,603.94 federal income tax, $2,412.26 Social Security and Medicare, Colorado income tax of $679 and $138.74 in state payroll deductions. That leaves about $26,699 a year, or $513.44 a week.
Colorado minimum wage pay table
| Hours a week | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly | Yearly after tax* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $303.20 | $1,313.87 | $15,766 | $14,491 |
| 30 hours | $454.80 | $1,970.80 | $23,650 | $20,649 |
| 40 hours | $606.40 | $2,627.73 | $31,533 | $26,699 |
*Single filer, 2026 taxes, no pre-tax deductions or local tax.
What this doesn't cover
- Some jobs have their own rules: tipped workers, minors, students, trainees, farm work and very small employers can have different minimums. The U.S. Department of Labor notes its state table doesn't show these.
- Daily overtime rules (for example California's after 8 hours a day) aren't included; only weekly overtime over 40 hours is.
- Tax is an estimate for a full year at the same hours. Refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, which many minimum wage workers qualify for, aren't included.
See your exact paycheck with the Colorado paycheck calculator. Compare every state on the minimum wage by state page.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: 2026 PAY CALC Order (7 CCR 1103-14)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (July 1, 2026)
Figures last reviewed October 2026. Tax estimates use the same 2026 federal and state tables as the paycheck calculator.