Colorado minimum wage 2027: $15.71 an hour
Reviewed Nov 12, 2026 20 official sources How we verify
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Colorado minimum wage 2027: $15.71 per hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”) (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026; CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed)). Verified Nov 12, 2026 on two official pages.
Is the minimum wage going up in Colorado in 2027?
Yes. Colorado's minimum wage goes up to $15.71 per hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”). That is 3.6% more than the $15.16 in force now (computed from the two verified rates). (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026)
Minimum wage today: $15.16 per hour (Colorado minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws table); verified Sep 27, 2026).
“announced today that Colorado’s minimum wage will increase to $15.71 per hour in 2027”
Second official source: “As proposed September 30, 2026; if adopted, effective January 1, 2027. Rule 1. Statement of Purpose, Requirements, and Calculations . . . 1.2 Coverage and Application. 1.2.1 Following are the 2027 minimum pay and income levels and future adjustments in each cited COMPS Order rule, and/or mandated by constitutional, statutory, or rule provisions the COMPS Order implements, or from which it derives. Minimum Pay Level in COMPS Order Rule 2027 Level (Yearly Calculation) Future Annual Adjustments (A) Full Colorado minimum wage (R. 3.1) $15.71 per hour” (CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed)).
What changes for Colorado employers in 2027
Rate in force now: Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 per hour. (Colorado minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws table); 7 CCR 1103-14, 2026 PAY CALC Order, Rule 1.2.1(A) (Code of Colorado Regulations, Colorado Secretary of State); verified Sep 27, 2026).
Paying the minimum wage in Colorado: paydays, final pay and breaks
- Paydays: Colorado requires regular pay periods of no longer than one calendar month or 30 days, whichever is longer. (U.S. DOL WHD State Payday Requirements; C.R.S. 8-4-103(1)(a) (Colorado Wage Act, CDLE compilation revised August 6, 2025); verified Sep 25, 2026)
- Meal breaks: Employees are entitled to an uninterrupted, duty-free meal period of at least 30 minutes (½ hour) when the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours; when an uninterrupted meal period is impractical, an on-duty meal must be allowed and fully compensated. (Colorado administratively issued Wage Order / COMPS (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table); 7 CCR 1103-1, COMPS Order #40, Rule 5.1; verified Sep 27, 2026)
- Rest breaks: Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work or major fraction thereof, in the middle of the work period as practicable. (Colorado Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table); 7 CCR 1103-1, COMPS Order #40, Rule 5.2; verified Sep 27, 2026)
Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: Colorado employer rulebook.
Exempt salary threshold in 2027: $1,111.23 a week; $57,784 a year. In force since February 1, 2026; 2027 proposed, not adopted: $1,151.23 a week (CDLE 2026 PAY CALC Order; 7 CCR 1103-14 (Secretary of State)) Verified Oct 21, 2026
Other Colorado changes with a 2027 date, from the 2027 list:
- Colorado: Tipped minimum wage: $12.69/hour from January 1, 2027 (confirmed; cdle.colorado.gov)
- Boulder (city), CO: Minimum wage: $18.17/hour from January 1, 2027 (scheduled by statute; bouldercolorado.gov)
- Boulder County (unincorporated), CO: Minimum wage: $17.43/hour from January 1, 2027 (confirmed; bouldercounty.gov)
Each change with its official text: Colorado rules.
Colorado minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next
| When | Who | Rate per hour | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| In force now | All covered employers | $15.16 | Source: Colorado minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws table); 7 CCR 1103-14, 2026 PAY CALC Order, Rule 1.2.1(A) (Code of Colorado Regulations, Colorado Secretary of State) |
| From January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”) | Statewide | $15.71 | Sources: CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026; CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed) |
| Since July 24, 2009 | Federal minimum wage (FLSA) | $7.25 | Sources: U.S. DOL minimum wage page; 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo) |
How the next Colorado rate is set
“Per the State’s constitution, Colorado’s minimum wage is adjusted for inflation every year using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.” (Colo. Const. art. XVIII, sec. 15; CDLE press release)
2027 minimum wage: Colorado and neighboring states
Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.
| State | Minimum wage 2027 |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $15.71 per hour in 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”) (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026) |
| Wyoming | No 2027 change found in official sources yet |
| Nebraska | $15.26 per hour from January 1, 2027 (Nebraska AG Opinion No. 26-003). Every 2027 rate: Nebraska minimum wage 2027 |
| Kansas | No increase scheduled in 2027: the federal $7.25 per hour (K.S.A. 44-1203 (Kansas Revisor)) |
| Oklahoma | No increase scheduled in 2027: the federal $7.25 per hour (Oklahoma DOL Wage and Hour FAQs). Every 2027 rate: Oklahoma minimum wage 2027 |
| New Mexico | No 2027 change found in official sources yet |
| Arizona | Pending verification (Arizona official minimum wage source) |
| Utah | No increase scheduled in 2027: the federal $7.25 per hour (Utah Admin. Code R610-1) |
How to act on it
Full-time pay at the 2027 rate (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $15.71 = $628.40 a week, $32,677 a year.
Questions about the Colorado minimum wage in 2027
What is the Colorado minimum wage in 2027?
Colorado's statewide minimum wage: $15.71 per hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”) (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026; CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed)). Verified Nov 12, 2026.
What is the Colorado exempt salary threshold in 2027?
$1,111.23 a week; $57,784 a year. In force since February 1, 2026; 2027 proposed, not adopted: $1,151.23 a week (CDLE 2026 PAY CALC Order; 7 CCR 1103-14 (Secretary of State)) Verified Oct 21, 2026
What other Colorado employment law changes take effect in 2027?
Colorado: Tipped minimum wage: $12.69/hour from January 1, 2027 (confirmed; cdle.colorado.gov); Boulder (city), CO: Minimum wage: $18.17/hour from January 1, 2027 (scheduled by statute; bouldercolorado.gov); Boulder County (unincorporated), CO: Minimum wage: $17.43/hour from January 1, 2027 (confirmed; bouldercounty.gov). Every change with its official text: Colorado in the 2027 list.
When does the 2027 Colorado minimum wage take effect?
$15.71 per hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”). (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026; CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed))
How does the Colorado minimum wage compare with the federal minimum wage?
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, in force since July 24, 2009 (U.S. DOL minimum wage page; 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)). Colorado's 2027 rate, $15.71 per hour, is $8.46 an hour above it (computed).
Is the minimum wage going up in Colorado in 2027?
Yes. Colorado's minimum wage goes up to $15.71 per hour from January 1, 2027 (date in the proposed 2027 PAY CALC Order: “if adopted, effective January 1, 2027”). That is 3.6% more than the $15.16 in force now (computed from the two verified rates).
How is the next Colorado minimum wage decided?
The official text is quoted under How the next Colorado rate is set (CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026).
Sources (20)
- CDLE press release, Aug. 13, 2026
- CDLE 2027 PAY CALC Order (proposed)
- Colorado minimum wage (U.S. DOL WHD State Minimum Wage Laws table)
- CDLE 2026 PAY CALC Order
- 7 CCR 1103-14 (Secretary of State)
- 7 CCR 1103-14, 2026 PAY CALC Order, Rule 1.2.1(A) (Code of Colorado Regulations, Colorado Secretary of State)
- U.S. DOL WHD State Payday Requirements
- C.R.S. 8-4-103(1)(a) (Colorado Wage Act, CDLE compilation revised August 6, 2025)
- Colorado administratively issued Wage Order / COMPS (U.S. DOL WHD meal period table)
- 7 CCR 1103-1, COMPS Order #40, Rule 5.1
- Colorado Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order (U.S. DOL WHD rest period table)
- bouldercolorado.gov
- bouldercounty.gov
- U.S. DOL minimum wage page
- 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
- Nebraska AG Opinion No. 26-003
- K.S.A. 44-1203 (Kansas Revisor)
- Oklahoma DOL Wage and Hour FAQs
- Arizona official minimum wage source
- Utah Admin. Code R610-1
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error
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