Colorado minimum wage in 2026 (and 2027)

State rate or local rate: where the work happens decides

Colorado lets local governments set a higher minimum, and four have. An employee working in Denver gets $19.29 an hour for those hours even if the employer is based in Aurora. A worker who spends part of the week in Boulder and part in Longmont earns $16.82 for the Boulder hours and $15.16 for the rest.

Each local rate moves on its own schedule. CDLE's notice says Edgewater's rate rises 10 percent a year through 2028, and the City of Boulder's rises 8 percent a year in 2025, 2026 and 2027; Boulder County adjusts by inflation after its phase-in. INFO #19 published no 2027 local figures. CDLE's later August 13, 2026 release reports Denver's ($19.84); Edgewater's and Boulder's 2027 rates were not on the pages we read. The table below lists the 2026 local rates and tipped wages.

City and county minimum wages in Colorado

Tipped pay and overtime

Colorado allows a $3.02 tip credit at the state level, so the 2026 tipped cash wage is $12.14. Locally, tipped workers get $16.27 in Denver, $13.50 in Edgewater (where the tip credit is $4.67) and $13.80 in the City and County of Boulder.

Overtime is 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a week or after 12 hours in a day, per the DOL state summary, so long shifts can trigger overtime even in a short week.

From hourly to annual: Colorado figures

• State $15.16: $606.40 a week, $2,627.73 a month, $31,532.80 a year
• Denver $19.29: $771.60 a week, $3,343.60 a month, $40,123.20 a year
• Edgewater $18.17: $726.80 a week, $3,149.47 a month, $37,793.60 a year
• Boulder $16.82: $672.80 a week, $2,915.47 a month, $34,985.60 a year

Each is the hourly rate x 40 hours, x 2,080 hours for the year, and the year / 12 for the month. A Denver minimum wage worker earns $8,590.40 more a year than one at the state rate.

Colorado's 2027 rate: $15.71

CDLE announced on August 13, 2026 that the state minimum wage will be $15.71 an hour in 2027, up $0.55 (3.6%) from $15.16. The tipped cash wage goes to $12.69, so the tip credit stays at $3.02. The same release reports that Denver will pay $19.84 in 2027, still $4.13 above the state rate. The release says "in 2027" and does not state an effective date; the 2026 local rates took effect January 1, 2026.

Full time, $15.71 is $628.40 a week, $2,723.07 a month and $32,676.80 a year, or $1,144.00 more than at $15.16. CDLE had not published 2027 figures for Edgewater, the City of Boulder or Boulder County on the pages we read; INFO #19 says Edgewater rises 10 percent a year through 2028 and the City of Boulder 8 percent in 2027, but gives no dollar amounts. Denver's details, including its head tax, are on the Denver minimum wage page. Budget 2027 payroll taxes from the 2026 rates above until CDLE publishes the 2027 unemployment and FAMLI figures.

What employers pay above the wage in Colorado

For a new employer, one full-time worker at the state rate ($31,532.80):

• FICA, 7.65%: $2,412.26
• FUTA, 0.6% on $7,000: $42.00
• Unemployment premium, 3.05% combined new employer rate (1.53% base, 0.17% support surcharge, 1.35% solvency surcharge) on the $30,600 wage base: $933.30
• FAMLI, employer half of the 0.88% premium (0.44%): $138.74

Total $3,526.30 on top, $35,059.10 all in. For a Denver worker at $40,123.20, the figures are $3,069.42 FICA, $42.00 FUTA, $933.30 unemployment (capped at the base) and $176.54 FAMLI, or $4,221.26 on top. Employers may pay the employee's FAMLI half too. Denver adds an Occupational Privilege Tax: $4.00 a month from the employer and $5.75 a month withheld from the employee, in any month the employee earns $500 or more for Denver work (Denver Department of Finance); with it, the Denver employer cost is $4,269.26 on top. We did not verify occupational taxes in other Colorado cities. Heavy construction pays a higher 6.285% combined unemployment rate. More on Colorado payroll taxes.

Payroll for multi-city Colorado teams

If your staff move between Denver, Boulder and suburban job sites, you need payroll that can assign a rate per work location and calculate FAMLI. Ask any provider to show you how it assigns a rate per work address. Gusto's Simple plan costs $49 a month and $6 a head (checked October 16, 2026). Compare alternatives in the best payroll services, or consider a Colorado PEO if you also want benefits and HR support. The employee cost calculator can price each location.

Neighbors pay far less: Utah and Wyoming stay at the federal $7.25, and New Mexico is $12.00.