Colorado Minimum Wage 2026
The minimum wage in Colorado is $14.81/hr ($7.56 above the $7.25 federal minimum).
What this means for hiring in Colorado
The Colorado minimum wage sets the floor for what you can legally pay hourly workers — but the real cost of hiring goes well past base pay. The cost of a bad hire (turnover, lost productivity, training a replacement) typically runs 30% of first-year wages. That's why employers are moving away from resume-only screening toward seeing real proof of skill before they bring someone on.
On Vetano, every candidate in Colorado is ID-verified and shows their skills on video before you ever see their profile — so you spend your minimum-wage hours on people who can actually do the job.
Federal vs. Colorado
The federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. Colorado has set a higher floor at $14.81/hr — when state and federal minimums differ, the higher one applies.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Colorado?+
$14.81 per hour as of 2026-05-15.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Colorado?+
$11.79 per hour. Employers must make up any shortfall if tips don't reach the full minimum.
Is Colorado's minimum wage going up?+
No scheduled increases at this time.
Minimum wage in every state
Browse 2026 rates for all 50 states + DC, or see the full wage index.