Colorado Minimum Wage Calculator
Colorado's minimum is $15.16/hr, with a tipped cash wage of $12.14 where tips make up the difference.
Colorado minimum wage earnings estimator
Colorado's minimum is $15.16/hr, with a tipped cash wage of $12.14 where tips make up the difference.
Figures computed from U.S. DOL Wage & Hour Division (current) and U.S. Census Bureau (2024 5-year). Page last reviewed 2026-08-27. Estimates only — verify with the relevant agency before acting.
Colorado at a glance
| Figure | Colorado | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $15.16/hr | [1] |
| Tipped cash wage | $12.14/hr | [1] |
| Full-time annual gross | $31,533 | [1] |
| Median 2BR rent | $1,895 | [2] |
Colorado highlighted. Same data as the table below, shown as a distribution so the comparison is visible at a glance.
Highlighted: Colorado, ranked 9 of 50. Median $11.
Colorado earnings by hours and weeks worked
Annual gross at Colorado's $15.16 minimum across realistic schedules.
| Hours/week | 26 wks | 36 wks | 44 wks | 48 wks | 50 wks | 52 wks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 h | $3,942 | $5,458 | $6,670 | $7,277 | $7,580 | $7,883 |
| 12 h | $4,730 | $6,549 | $8,004 | $8,732 | $9,096 | $9,460 |
| 15 h | $5,912 | $8,186 | $10,006 | $10,915 | $11,370 | $11,825 |
| 18 h | $7,095 | $9,824 | $12,007 | $13,098 | $13,644 | $14,190 |
| 20 h | $7,883 | $10,915 | $13,341 | $14,554 | $15,160 | $15,766 |
| 24 h | $9,460 | $13,098 | $16,009 | $17,464 | $18,192 | $18,920 |
| 25 h | $9,854 | $13,644 | $16,676 | $18,192 | $18,950 | $19,708 |
| 28 h | $11,036 | $15,281 | $18,677 | $20,375 | $21,224 | $22,073 |
| 30 h | $11,825 | $16,373 | $20,011 | $21,830 | $22,740 | $23,650 |
| 32 h | $12,613 | $17,464 | $21,345 | $23,286 | $24,256 | $25,226 |
| 35 h | $13,796 | $19,102 | $23,346 | $25,469 | $26,530 | $27,591 |
| 37.5 h | $14,781 | $20,466 | $25,014 | $27,288 | $28,425 | $29,562 |
| 40 h | $15,766 | $21,830 | $26,682 | $29,107 | $30,320 | $31,533 |
| 45 h | $17,737 | $24,559 | $30,017 | $32,746 | $34,110 | $35,474 |
| 50 h | $19,708 | $27,288 | $33,352 | $36,384 | $37,900 | $39,416 |
Worked figures for Colorado
Colorado values:
| Hours | Weekly | Monthly | Annual | Rent Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 h/wk | $152 | $657 | $7,883 | 288% |
| 15 h/wk | $227 | $985 | $11,825 | 192% |
| 20 h/wk | $303 | $1,314 | $15,766 | 144% |
| 25 h/wk | $379 | $1,642 | $19,708 | 115% |
| 30 h/wk | $455 | $1,971 | $23,650 | 96% |
| 35 h/wk | $531 | $2,299 | $27,591 | 82% |
| 40 h/wk | $606 | $2,628 | $31,533 | 72% |
| 45 h/wk | $682 | $2,956 | $35,474 | 64% |
| 50 h/wk | $758 | $3,285 | $39,416 | 58% |
How Colorado compares nationally
On state minimum wage, Colorado ranks #9 of 50 at $15.16/hr — 33% above the median of $11.41/hr. The national range runs from $7.25/hr (Wyoming) to $17.13/hr (Washington).
| Rank | State | State minimum wage |
|---|---|---|
| #7 | New Jersey | $15.92/hr |
| #8 | Oregon | $15.55/hr |
| #9 | Colorado | $15.16/hr |
| #10 | Arizona | $15.15/hr |
| #11 | Maine | $15.10/hr |
Above the federal floors, ranked
Same rule structure as Colorado:
| State | State minimum wage | vs Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $17.00/hr | +12.1% |
| Connecticut | $16.94/hr | +11.7% |
| Hawaii | $16.00/hr | +5.5% |
| New Jersey | $15.92/hr | +5.0% |
| Colorado | $15.16/hr | — |
| Arizona | $15.15/hr | -0.1% |
| Maine | $15.10/hr | -0.4% |
| Illinois | $15.00/hr | -1.1% |
| Vermont | $14.42/hr | -4.9% |
| Michigan | $13.73/hr | -9.4% |
| Virginia | $12.77/hr | -15.8% |
| South Dakota | $11.85/hr | -21.8% |
Colorado questions, answered with Colorado numbers
What is the minimum wage in Colorado?▾
What does that pay full time in Colorado?▾
Can it cover Colorado rent?▾
What about tipped work in Colorado?▾
Part-time at 20 hours?▾
Other above the federal floors
Last reviewed 2026-08-27. Colorado figures only — verify with the relevant Colorado agency before acting. How this is calculated.