Colorado Minimum Wage & Labor Laws (2026)
In 2026, the Colorado minimum wage is $15.16/hour. Overtime is required daily (over 12 hrs) and weekly (over 40). Below are the wage, overtime, final-paycheck and break rules, a calculator pre-set to Colorado, and how to file a wage claim if you're owed money.
- Overtime
- Daily over 12 hours and weekly over 40. Colorado requires 1.5× over 12 hours/day and over 40/week (COMPS Order). Colorado also has a separate 'over 12 consecutive hours' rule that this calculator does not model, so confirm if a single shift runs 12+ continuous hours.
- Tipped pay
- $12.14/hr cash. Tip credit up to $3.02.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: Immediately (within 6 hrs of next workday, or 24 hrs if payroll is off-site). Quit: Next regular payday.
- Meal & rest breaks
- Meal: 30-min unpaid meal for shifts over 5 hrs. Rest: 10-min paid rest per 4 hrs worked (COMPS Order).
Colorado pay & overtime calculator
Pre-set to Colorado. Enter your rate and hours.
Your hours
Your pay this week
OT $30.00/hrColorado follows the FLSA weekly rule: 1.5× the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek.
Colorado figures are current for 2026 and compiled from the U.S. Department of Labor and Colorado's labor department. Cities and counties may set higher local minimums, and industry rules vary, so confirm with your state labor department before relying on this for payroll or a legal decision.
Next change: minimum wage $15.71 on January 1, 2027
Annual inflation adjustment. Official source. Get a reminder before it starts.
How to file a wage claim in Colorado
To recover unpaid wages in Colorado, file with Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Labor Standards. Federal law lets you claim up to 2 years of back pay (3 if the violation was willful), plus an equal amount in liquidated damages.
- Agency
- Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Labor Standards. File a wage claim
- Federal window
- 2 years of back pay, or 3 if the violation was willful, plus equal liquidated damages.
- Colorado adds
- Colorado can add penalties of up to 2× the unpaid wages when an employer fails to pay after a written demand.
Step by step
- 1Gather your records
Collect pay stubs, time records, schedules and any texts about hours. In Colorado, your own honest records can carry a claim if the employer's are missing.
- 2Work out what you're owed
The back-pay estimator adds up the unpaid wages and how far back you can recover them.
- 3Send a written demand
Many disputes settle after a dated letter that states the amount owed and the deadline you're giving the employer to pay.
- 4File with Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Labor Standards
If the employer doesn't pay, file a wage claim with the agency below. Filing is free and you don't need a lawyer.
- 5Mind the deadline
Federal claims must be filed within 2 years (3 if willful). Your state may set a shorter deadline for its own process, so don't wait.
Colorado wage claim questions
Who do I file an unpaid-wage claim with in Colorado?
Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Labor Standards. You can also sue in court, often with an employment attorney.
How far back can I recover unpaid wages in Colorado?
Federal law (FLSA) allows 2 years of back pay, or 3 years for a willful violation, plus an equal amount in liquidated damages. Colorado can add penalties of up to 2× the unpaid wages when an employer fails to pay after a written demand.
Can my employer retaliate for filing a wage claim in Colorado?
No. Federal and state law prohibit firing, demoting or punishing you for asserting your right to be paid. Retaliation is a separate violation you can also claim.
Cities in Colorado with a higher minimum wage
These Colorado localities set a local minimum above the state's $15.16/hr: