Colorado minimum wage 2027
$15.71 from January 1, 2027, up from $15.16 now (+$0.55, +3.63%). Checked on the official page on 2026-09-30.
| Figure | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage now | $15.16 | January 1, 2026 | In force |
| Minimum wage 2027 | $15.71 | January 1, 2027 | Announced |
| Tipped cash wage now | $12.14 | ||
| Tipped cash wage 2027 | $12.69 | Announced | |
| Exempt salary threshold now | $57,784 a year ($1,111.23 a week) | January 1, 2026 | In force |
| Exempt salary threshold 2027 | To be announced | January 1, 2027 | To be announced |
Announced: The official 2027 figure has been published.
Coverage: Denver and some other localities set higher local minimums.
What it costs per employee
For someone paid exactly $15.16 today, reaching $15.71 is +$0.55 an hour: $1,144 a year at 40 hours a week (52 weeks), before payroll taxes. Staff already paid above the new rate cost nothing; paste your list into the raise calculator to see who falls under it and from when.
Local rates in Colorado
| Place | Now | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Denver (city and county) | $19.29 | $19.84 from January 1, 2027 |
Look up another place
Minimum wage at the end of 2027, Colorado
$15.71
Announced$15.71 from January 1, 2027
Colorado minimum wage
2027
- $15.71 from January 1, 2027AnnouncedSource, checked 2026-09-30
Denver and some other localities set higher local minimums.
- Tipped cash wage now
- $12.14
- Tipped cash wage 2027
- $12.69
- Exempt salary threshold (Colorado)
- Now $57,784 a year ($1,111.23 a week); 2027: To be announced from January 1, 2027
Budgeting 2027 raises? Pro makes it a workbook.
Your staff list with the 2027 floor per person, the raise, its cost and the exempt salary check, a totals sheet and a rate card per state with sources, as Excel with live formulas.
Sources for Colorado
- Colorado: rate now: https://cdle.colorado.gov/press-releases/press-release-colorado-minimum-wage-will-increase-to-1571/hour-in-2027, read on 2026-09-30
- Colorado: tipped wage: https://cdle.colorado.gov/dlss, read on 2026-09-30
- Exempt salary threshold: https://cdle.colorado.gov/dlss/labor-rules-proposed-and-adopted, read on 2026-09-30
- Denver (city and county): rate now: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Auditors-Office/Denver-Labor/Citywide-Minimum-Wage, read on 2026-09-30
- Denver (city and county): 2027-01-01: https://www.denvergov.org/News-articles/2026/Denver-Local-Minimum-Wage-Adjusts-to-19.84-per-Hour-for-2027, read on 2026-09-30
Rates from official state and city sources, checked on the date shown next to each figure. Some 2027 rates are announced later in the year. Not legal advice; check your state labor department and local ordinances. Not affiliated with the US Department of Labor or any state agency.
Frequently asked questions
- What will the minimum wage be in Colorado in 2027?
- $15.71 from January 1, 2027. It is $15.16 now (since January 1, 2026).
- When does the Colorado minimum wage go up in 2027?
- January 1, 2027.
- What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado in 2027?
- The minimum cash wage is $12.14 now; for 2027: $12.69. Tips must bring the total to at least the full minimum wage.
- What is the exempt salary threshold in Colorado in 2027?
- To be announced from January 1, 2027; now $57,784 a year ($1,111.23 a week). Below it, a salaried employee is owed overtime even with exempt duties.