Colorado Minimum Wage 2026
Colorado's minimum wage of $15.16 in 2026 is among the highest in the United States, and it is significantly higher than than the base federal minimum wage of $7.25 still used in 20 states.
Federal 
Colorado Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the weekly minimum wage in Colorado is $606.40. For full-time employees working 52 weeks per year, the annual minimum wage in Colorado is $31.5K.
Based on $15.16/hr minimum
Based on $15.16/hr minimum
The minimum wage rate of Colorado and its neighboring states ranges from $7.25 to $15.16, with an average of $11.36. Colorado, at $15.16, has the highest hourly minimum wage within this group of states. Arizona ($15.15), New Mexico ($12), Utah ($7.25), and Wyoming ($7.25) have lower hourly rates than Colorado.
Colorado While the general minimum wage is $15.16 per hour in Colorado, there are several exceptions where workers may legally receive less than this amount:
A salaried executive is is exempt from minimum wage legislation. An executive employee is defined as a salaried individual who directly serves the executive, and regularly performs duties important to the decision-making process of the executive. Said employee regularly exercises independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance and their primary duty is non-manual in nature and directly related to management policies or general business operations.
A salaried individual who directly serves the executive, and regularly performs duties important to the decision-making process of the executive. Said employee regularly exercises independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance and their primary duty is non-manual in nature and directly related to management policies or general business operations.
An employee, defined as a salaried individual employed in a field of endeavor who has knowledge of an advanced type in a field of science or learning customarily acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction and study is exempt from minimum wage legislation.
Tipped employees have a different minimum wage, known as 'tip credit'. The rate is $12.14 per hour.
Outside salespeople who spend most of their work time away from their place of employment are exempt from minimum wage legislation.
A few cities in Colorado have specific minimum wage exceptions as well:
Colorado's cost of living index for 2025 is 102.7, which places it as the 17th most expensive state to live in the United States.
National 100
Colorado 102.7
Assuming a standard 40-hour work week, the real wage in Colorado, adjusted for the state’s cost of living index of 102.7, is approximately $14.76 per hour. This means that while the nominal minimum wage is $15.16 per hour, the purchasing power of those earnings is lower due to Colorado's higher cost of living expenses. For full-time employees, the real weekly earnings amount to roughly $590.46, translating to an annual purchasing power of $30,703.80 when working 52 weeks per year.
Adjusted
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Adjusted
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According to the most recent data, the median household income in the United States has seen a significant increase in 2023.
Colorado maintains one of the highest state minimum wages in the U.S., with rates that are updated each year through a constitutional formula tied to inflation and voter-approved adjustments.
