Colorado Minimum Wage 2026
Current minimum wage, scheduled increases, tipped worker rules, and political context for Colorado’s wage policy in 2026.
$14.42
Current Minimum Wage
$15.00 (est.)
Projected 2026 Rate
$11.40
Tipped Worker Rate
CPI-indexed annually
Scheduled Increases
Minimum Wage Overview
Colorado voters passed Amendment 70 in 2016, raising the minimum wage to $12 by 2020 with CPI indexing. Denver has a higher local minimum. Colorado minimum wage is among the higher rates in Mountain West states.
Wage Policy Details
| Policy | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Minimum Wage | $14.42/hour |
| Tipped Worker Minimum | $11.40/hour |
| Scheduled Increases | CPI-indexed annually |
| Projected 2026 Rate | $15.00 (est.)/hour |
| Legislative Source | Amendment 70 (2016) + CPI |
| Passed by Ballot Initiative | 2016 |
Political Context
Amendment 70 passed 55-45% with voter support. The Democratic-controlled legislature has also pursued wage policy. Some smaller mountain communities argue the statewide minimum doesn’t reflect their lower cost of living compared to Denver.