Colorado Minimum Wage 2027: $15.71 an Hour
Short answer: Colorado's minimum wage rises from $15.16 to $15.71 an hour in 2027 (the state agency says "in 2027"; Colorado law ties changes to January 1). A full-time worker earns about $32,677 a year before taxes.
What changes on January 1, 2027
Colorado's constitution requires an annual inflation adjustment using the federal CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment announced the 2027 rate on August 13, 2026.
What to know in Colorado
- The increase is 3.6% over the current $15.16 and 41.5% above the 2019 rate of $11.10, according to CDLE.
- Tipped workers: the 2027 minimum is $12.69 per hour before tips.
- Denver sets its own minimum, which CDLE reports as $19.84 for 2027. Other localities set rates by their own ordinances.
What $15.71 an hour pays
| Schedule | At $15.16 (2026) | At $15.71 (2027) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per hour | $15.16 | $15.71 | +$0.55 |
| Per 40-hour week | $606.40 | $628.40 | +$22.00 |
| Per two-week paycheck (80 hours) | $1,212.80 | $1,256.80 | +$44.00 |
| Per month (full-time ÷ 12) | $2,627.73 | $2,723.07 | +$95.33 |
| Per year, full-time | $31,533 | $32,677 | +$1,144 |
| Per year, part-time (20 h/week) | $15,766 | $16,338 | +$572 |
Use the minimum wage pay calculator to change the hours or weeks.
Overtime at the Colorado minimum wage and the federal tax deduction
Suppose a nonexempt worker earning $15.71 an hour works 6 hours of overtime a week for 45 weeks, paid at time-and-a-half. That overtime pay is $15.71 × 1.5 × 6 × 45 = $6,363. Only the premium over the regular rate, $15.71 × 0.5 × 6 × 45 = $2,121, can be deducted under the federal no-tax-on-overtime rules (up to $12,500, or $25,000 on a joint return). Try your own numbers in the overtime calculator.
Remember that some states add their own overtime rules beyond the federal 40-hour week, but only overtime required by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act counts toward the federal deduction. Read the details in Qualified Overtime and the FLSA.
How Colorado compares
Closest 2027 rates on this site:
See every state in 2027 minimum wage by state or the ranking of states raising wages on January 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado in 2027?
Colorado's minimum wage for most adult workers is $15.71 per hour in 2027, up from $15.16 in 2026. The figure comes from the state source linked below.
How much more will a full-time Colorado worker earn at $15.71?
The raise is $0.55 an hour (3.6%). For a full-time worker at 2,080 hours a year, that is $1,144 more per year before taxes, from $31,533 to $32,677.
How does Colorado rank among 2027 minimum wages?
Among the 15 state rates with a 2027 rate on this site, Colorado ranks number 6 (1 is highest). The highest is Washington at $17.73.
Where can I confirm Colorado's rate?
Use the official source: Colorado CDLE press release (Aug. 13, 2026) (https://cdle.colorado.gov/press-releases/press-release-colorado-minimum-wage-will-increase-to-1571/hour-in-2027). For payroll or a wage dispute, contact the state labor department directly.
Does the federal minimum wage still apply in Colorado?
Yes. The federal minimum is $7.25 an hour under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but where state law is higher, workers covered by both get the higher state rate.
Sources and citations
Every dollar figure on this page was checked against the official pages below on November 14, 2026. If an agency updates its guidance, the agency page controls.