Colorado tipped minimum wage
In effect since January 1, 2026
$12.14 minimum cash wage
Employers can take a tip credit of up to $3.02 an hour, as long as cash wages plus tips reach the $15.16 minimum for every hour worked.
Next change: on January 1, 2027 the minimum wage becomes $15.71 and the tipped cash wage $12.69.
Tip credit check
Enter one pay period for a tipped employee in Colorado. The calculator shows whether tips covered the gap between the cash wage and the minimum wage, and what you owe if they didn't.
Assumes a single workweek and straight-time hours. Overtime, tip pools and service charges have separate rules.
Local tipped wages in Colorado
| Place | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder County (unincorporated) | $16.82 | $13.80 |
| Denver | $19.29 | $16.27 |
| Edgewater | $18.17 | $13.50 |
Rules that apply everywhere
- The employer must tell tipped employees about the tip credit before taking it, under federal rules.
- Tips belong to the employee. Managers and supervisors can't share in a tip pool.
- If tips and cash wages fall short of the minimum in a workweek, the employer pays the difference.
Federal tip rules: DOL Fact Sheet #15.
Running payroll in Colorado?
Sources
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics · 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.