Colorado minimum wage 2026
OfficialThe Colorado rate, the next increase and a full-time paycheck after tax.
- Minimum wage
- $15.16
- an hour
- Next rate
- $15.71
- January 1, 2027
- Full time, after tax
- $26,699
- a year
- Rank
- #10 of 51
- by minimum wage, 1 is the highest
What is the minimum wage in Colorado in 2026?
The Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 an hour in 2026, above the $7.25 federal minimum.
Will the Colorado minimum wage go up in 2027?
Yes. It rises to $15.71 an hour on January 1, 2027 (announced), $0.55 more than today.
$15.16 an hour
- Today, November 1, 2026
Projected
$15.71 an hour
How much is minimum wage a year in Colorado?
Full time, a Colorado minimum wage job pays $31,533 a year before tax.
- A year
- $31,533
- A month
- $2,627.73
- Every two weeks
- $1,212.80
- A week
- $606.40
How this is calculated
- The hourly rate times 40 hours a week times 52 weeks.
How much is a minimum wage paycheck after taxes in Colorado?
After taxes, full-time minimum wage work in Colorado takes home $26,699 a year. Each paycheck every two weeks comes to $1,008.93. It takes 77.9 hours of work to take home $1,000.
- Take-home per year
- $26,699
- Every two weeks
- $1,008.93
- Per hour after tax
- $12.84
- In national prices
- $25,908
How this is calculated
- Full-time pay of $31,533 through federal, Social Security, Medicare and Colorado taxes for 2026.
- The reference worker is a single filer with one job, paid every two weeks, with a standard Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions, under 65.
Is $20 an hour good pay in Colorado?
It is below the middle: $20 an hour is more than 21% of Colorado workers earn, but less than half of them. The Colorado median wage is $28.75 an hour.
Wage statistics cover employees in all jobs, full and part time, not the self-employed.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado?
Tipped workers in Colorado can be paid $12.14 an hour if tips bring them to at least $15.16.
The employer must make up the difference in any week tips fall short.
Which Colorado cities have a higher minimum wage?
Some Colorado cities and counties set their own higher minimum wage. Denver pays $19.29 an hour. Other local rates on this page: Boulder ($16.82), Edgewater ($18.17) and Boulder County (unincorporated areas) ($16.82).
| Place | Kind | Minimum wage | Since | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | city | $19.29 | January 1, 2026 | $19.84 on January 1, 2027 |
| Boulder | city | $16.82 | January 1, 2026 | $18.17 on January 1, 2027 |
| Edgewater | city | $18.17 | January 1, 2026 | $19.84 on January 1, 2027 |
| Boulder County (unincorporated areas) | county | $16.82 | January 1, 2026 | $17.43 on January 1, 2027 |
Denver, Edgewater, the City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County set higher minimum wages.
How has the Colorado minimum wage changed?
The Colorado minimum wage rose from $8.31 an hour in 2016 to $15.16 today. It was $1.90 in 1979.
How does the Colorado minimum wage compare with other states?
Colorado ranks #10 of 51; the highest is Washington, DC at $18.40 an hour. The minimum wage by state page lists all of them.
Questions people ask
How much is minimum wage per week in Colorado?
Full time, a Colorado minimum wage job takes home $513.44 a week after taxes.
Is the Colorado minimum wage worth more in local prices?
No. After taxes and Colorado prices, a full-time minimum wage job is worth $25,908 a year at average US prices, less than its $26,699 take-home.