Boulder County (unincorporated) minimum wage
Minimum wage in Boulder County (unincorporated), Colorado, in effect since January 1, 2026
$16.82 an hour
Boulder County (unincorporated) sets its own minimum wage, $1.66 above the Colorado rate of $15.16. Employers in Boulder County (unincorporated) pay the higher local rate.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026. From January 1, 2027, adjusted each January 1 by the CPI (all items, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood) published each August.
Tipped employees
Employers in Boulder County (unincorporated) can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $13.80 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $3.02, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $16.82 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
How future increases are set
From January 1, 2027, adjusted each January 1 by the CPI (all items, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood) published each August.
Exceptions and details
- Applies only in unincorporated Boulder County (e.g. Niwot, Gunbarrel parts, Allenspark); not in Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie or other towns.
- Applies to all employers regardless of size, to workers under 18, and to anyone working 4 or more hours a week in unincorporated areas.
- The county's table shows 2027-2030 figures ($17.32 in 2027; tipped $14.30) that assume 3% CPI. They are estimates, not final rates.
- Schedule amended by the commissioners on November 20, 2025 (Ordinance 2025-1).
Other local minimum wages in Colorado
Running payroll in Boulder County (unincorporated)?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Boulder County Commissioners' Office · data as of January 1, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.