What is the minimum wage in Colorado?

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Colorado minimum wage is set by   Article XVIII, § 15 of the Colorado Constitution   (Amendment 42, 2006), C.R.S. § 8-6-101 et seq., and the COMPS Order issued annually by the Colorado Division of Labor Standards.    1. Current State Rate   -   $14.81/hour   as of January 1, 2025. -   Indexed annually   to the   Denver-Aurora-Lakewood CPI  .    2. Tipped Workers   Cash wage = state minimum minus   $3.02 tip credit   =   $11.79/hour   (2025). If cash + tips < $14.81, employer makes up shortfall (COMPS § 3.4).    3. Local Minimum Wages (2025)   -   Denver (City and County)  :   $18.81   (effective Jan. 1, 2025). Tipped cash wage $15.79. Indexed annually. -   Edgewater  : $16.52 (effective Jan. 1, 2025). -   Boulder County (unincorporated)  : $16.57 (effective Jan. 1, 2025). - C.R.S. § 8-6-101 et seq. (HB 19-1210)   authorized local minimum wage   ordinances starting Jan. 1, 2020. Where local rate is higher,   local applies  .    4. Overtime — Colorado's Daily OT Rule (COMPS § 4)   Colorado has stronger overtime than federal: -   1.5x after 40 hours/week  , OR -   1.5x after 12 hours/workday  , OR -   1.5x after 12 consecutive hours   worked, regardless of start/end of workday. The greater of these calculations applies.    5. Meal/Rest Periods (COMPS § 5)   -   30-minute uninterrupted meal period   after 5 hours. -   10-minute paid rest period   for every 4 hours worked.    6. Salary Threshold   COMPS Order salary threshold is HIGHER than federal: -   2025  : $1,165.97/week ($60,630.44/year). - Phasing up to track Colorado's growth.    7. Exemptions (COMPS § 2)   - Executive, administrative, professional, computer, outside sales (state-specific duties test). - Agriculture (limited; specific COMPS rules). - Range workers. - Companions for elderly/disabled (limited). - Some seasonal employees.    8. Healthy Families and Workplaces Act   Separate from minimum wage, Colorado employers must provide paid sick leave: 1 hour per 30 worked, up to 48 hours/year (C.R.S. § 8-13.3-401).    9. Enforcement   Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics. Private right of action under C.R.S. § 8-4-110 — unpaid wages + automatic penalties up to 200% of unpaid wages + attorney's fees.   3-year statute of limitations   (extended from 2 years).  This is legal information, not legal advice.