Short answer. CDLE, August 13, 2026: $15.71 per hour in 2027, a 3.6% increase; $12.69 for tipped workers.
$15.71
Colorado minimum wage from January 1, 2027 (+$0.55, 3.6%)
Colorado minimum wage at a glance
- 2027 rate
- $15.71 from January 1, 2027
- 2026 rate
- $15.16 in 2026; tipped cash wage $12.14 (CDLE).
- Change
- +$0.55 an hour (3.6%)
- Tipped employees
- Cash wage $12.14 → $12.69; maximum tip credit $3.02
- Local rates
- CDLE: other localities set their own minimum wages by ordinance; Denver's 2027 rate is $19.84. CDLE publishes state and local rates.
Colorado tipped employees in 2027
Tip credit stays $3.02 ($15.71 minus $12.69). A server on $12.69 who works 30 hours needs at least $90.60 in tips that week to reach $15.71 an hour; the employer covers any shortfall.
What the Colorado change costs: an example
Each row compares a pay rate with the Colorado 2027 floor. Weekly cost is the raise times hours, with overtime at time and a half; the last column runs from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2027 (52.14 weeks). Employer taxes aren't included.
| Employee | Rate now | Hours | Raise | Weekly | Rest of 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the 2026 minimum | $15.16 | 40 | +$0.55 | $22.00 | $1,147.08 |
| Between the two rates | $15.44 | 30 | +$0.27 | $8.10 | $422.33 |
| Full time plus 5 hours overtime | $15.16 | 45 | +$0.55 | $26.13 | $1,362.42 |
| Already above 2027 | $16.21 | 40 | None | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Tipped, at the 2026 cash wage | $12.14 | 30 | +$0.55 | $16.50 | $860.31 |
Run your own staff list in the payroll change calculator set to Colorado.
Updating Colorado payroll
- Before January 1, 2027, list everyone paid under $15.71 an hour (or under $12.69 cash for tipped staff), including part-timers and seasonal staff.
- Check whether any work happens in a place with its own rate; Colorado's state page lists some, and the higher rate wins there.
- Change the rates in payroll with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and split any pay period that crosses it.
- For tipped staff, update the cash wage and keep checking each week that cash wage plus tips reaches $15.71.
- Replace the Colorado minimum wage poster with the 2027 version from the state labor department.
Official Colorado sources
- CDLE: Colorado minimum wage will increase to $15.71/hour in 2027
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated November 5, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised July 1, 2026)
- Colorado: local minimum wage information
General information, not legal advice, checked November 2026 against the official Colorado pages above. A state can change a rate after we check, cities and counties can set higher rates, and exemptions depend on the job and the employer. Before you change payroll, confirm the rate on the state labor department's site or with your payroll provider or employment attorney. MCC Solutions isn't affiliated with any government agency.
Colorado 2027 minimum wage questions
What is the Colorado minimum wage in 2027?
$15.71 an hour from January 1, 2027, up from $15.16. CDLE, August 13, 2026: $15.71 per hour in 2027, a 3.6% increase; $12.69 for tipped workers.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado for 2027?
$12.69 an hour in cash wages ($12.14 before the change), with tips making up the rest of $15.71. Tip credit stays $3.02 ($15.71 minus $12.69).
Do cities in Colorado have their own minimum wage?
CDLE: other localities set their own minimum wages by ordinance; Denver's 2027 rate is $19.84. CDLE publishes state and local rates. Where a local rate is higher, the employer pays the higher one for work done there.
How much more does a full-time Colorado minimum wage worker cost each week in 2027?
$0.55 an hour more, so $22.00 for a 40-hour week before employer taxes, or about $1,147.08 over the rest of 2027. Overtime hours add the raise at time and a half.
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