Laws by state · data
Colorado wage and hour laws, 2026
The minimum wage in Colorado is $15.16 an hour in 2026; overtime is owed after 12 hours a day or 40 a week (see the notes below). Tipped workers can be paid $12.14 an hour in cash, with up to $3.02 of their tips counted toward the $15.16 minimum.
Minimum wage
| Minimum wage, per hour | $15.16 |
|---|---|
| Set by | State law |
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026; Michigan: $15.00 scheduled for January 1, 2027). Checked November 5, 2026. The full table: Minimum wage by state, 2026
Tipped minimum wage
| Minimum cash wage | $12.14 |
|---|---|
| Max tip credit | $3.02 |
| Full minimum wage | $15.16 |
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (last revised July 1, 2026). Checked November 5, 2026. The full table: Tipped minimum wage by state, 2026
Overtime
| Time and a half after, per day | 12 h |
|---|---|
| Time and a half after, per week | 40 h |
COMPS Order #39 also owes overtime for a long run of consecutive hours, even one that crosses into the next workday; see the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) for that threshold.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws: premium pay after designated hours (updated July 1, 2026); Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Overtime (COMPS Order #39). Checked November 5, 2026. The full table: Overtime laws by state, 2026
Worked examples at the minimum wage
A 40-hour week: $606.40
Five 8-hour days at the $15.16 minimum, before taxes: 40 regular hours, no overtime.
A 45-hour week: $720.10
Five 9-hour days at the $15.16 minimum, before taxes: 40 regular hours and 5 overtime hours at $22.74 (1.5 times $15.16), $113.70 of overtime pay.
A year of full time: $31,532.80
40 hours a week for 52 weeks at the $15.16 minimum, before taxes: $2,627.73 a month.
A tipped worker’s 30 hours: $454.80
The employer pays $364.20 in cash wages ($12.14 an hour) and may count up to $90.60 of tips toward the rest; if tips fall short, the employer makes up the difference.
The overtime calculator applies the federal rule and California’s. For these 9-hour days, Colorado’s daily rule after 12 hours owes no more overtime, but the calculator will not apply that daily rule to a longer day you enter.
A summary of what these agencies and statutes say, not legal advice. Cities and counties may set higher minimum wages, and exemptions or industry rules can change what you are owed: check your state’s labor department.
Wage and hour laws in every state