Short answer. CDLE local minimum wage table: Boulder County (unincorporated areas only) $17.43 in 2027.
$17.43
Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.61, 3.6%)
Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $17.43 an hour from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $16.82 an hour
- Change
- +$0.61 an hour (3.6%)
- Colorado rate, 2027
- $15.71 an hour
- Boulder County (unincorporated) above Colorado
- $1.72 an hour (10.9%) in 2027
- Kind of rate
- County ordinance, unincorporated areas only
- Tipped employees
- CDLE: the tipped minimum (with tip credit) is $13.80 in 2026 and $14.41 in 2027.
- Official page
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE): Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, state and local minimum wages
Boulder County (unincorporated) rate history: 2026 to 2027
CDLE local minimum wage table: Boulder County (unincorporated areas only) $16.82 in 2026. CDLE local minimum wage table: Boulder County (unincorporated areas only) $17.43 in 2027. That is $0.61 more an hour, a 3.6% increase, for hours worked in Boulder County (unincorporated) on or after January 1, 2027.
Who the Boulder County (unincorporated) rate covers
Only unincorporated areas of Boulder County, per CDLE; the City of Boulder has its own higher rate.
Boulder County (unincorporated) compared with the Colorado minimum wage
The Colorado general rate is $15.16 in 2026 and $15.71 in 2027. Boulder County (unincorporated)'s $17.43 is $1.72 an hour, or 10.9%, above the state's 2027 rate; in 2026 the gap was $1.66. Over a 2,080-hour year that's $3,578 more than the state minimum for one full-time employee. See the Colorado 2027 minimum wage page for the state rules.
Boulder County (unincorporated) tipped employees
CDLE: the tipped minimum (with tip credit) is $13.80 in 2026 and $14.41 in 2027. A server paid the $14.41 cash wage for 30 hours needs at least $90.60 in tips that week to reach $17.43 an hour; the employer makes up any shortfall.
What the Boulder County (unincorporated) rate means for pay
Weekly gross pay at the Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum, before taxes. Hours over 40 are paid at time and a half under federal overtime rules. A full-time year of 2,080 hours comes to about $36,254 at the 2027 rate, against $34,986 at the 2026 rate and $32,677 at the Colorado 2027 rate.
| Schedule | Boulder County (unincorporated) 2026 | Boulder County (unincorporated) 2027 | Difference | Colorado 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full time, 40 hours | $672.80 | $697.20 | +$24.40 | $628.40 |
| Part time, 30 hours | $504.60 | $522.90 | +$18.30 | $471.30 |
| 46 hours (6 at time and a half) | $824.18 | $854.07 | +$29.89 | $769.79 |
For a staff list, the payroll change calculator works out raises against the Colorado rate; compare its results with Boulder County (unincorporated)'s $17.43 for anyone who works in Boulder County (unincorporated).
Updating payroll for Boulder County (unincorporated)
- List everyone who works in Boulder County (unincorporated) and is paid under $17.43 an hour, including part-time and seasonal staff and anyone who works there only some of the week.
- Set the new rate in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it so hours before the date stay at $16.82.
- For tipped staff, raise the cash wage to $14.41 and check each week that cash wage plus tips reaches $17.43.
- Replace the Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage notice with the 2027 version from the official page.
For the Colorado rules beyond the local minimum wage (new hire reporting, unemployment tax, final pay and more), the Colorado Employer Compliance Kit 2027 ($19) has a checklist, a deadline calendar and an Excel tracker.
Other local rates in Colorado
- Boulder: $18.17 from January 1, 2027
- Denver: $19.84 from January 1, 2027
- Edgewater: $19.84 from January 1, 2027
Official sources for Boulder County (unincorporated)
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE): Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, state and local minimum wages (checked November 2026)
General information, not legal or payroll advice; we are not lawyers or payroll advisers. Checked November 2026 against the official Boulder County (unincorporated) pages above. A city or county can change a rate after we check, and coverage, employer-size rules and exemptions differ from place to place. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate with the local labor standards office, your payroll provider or an employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage questions
What is the Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage in 2027?
$17.43 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $16.82. CDLE local minimum wage table: Boulder County (unincorporated areas only) $17.43 in 2027.
How does the Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage compare with the Colorado rate?
In 2027, Boulder County (unincorporated) is $1.72 an hour (10.9%) above the Colorado rate of $15.71. In 2026 the gap was $1.66. Employers pay the Boulder County (unincorporated) rate for work done there.
How much is a full-time Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage job in 2027?
$697.20 a week for 40 hours, or about $36,254 a year at 2,080 hours, before taxes. That is $24.40 a week more than at the 2026 rate.
Who does the Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage cover?
Only unincorporated areas of Boulder County, per CDLE; the City of Boulder has its own higher rate.
All localities: local minimum wage 2027 · Colorado minimum wage 2027 · Minimum wage by state