On January 1, 2027, Colorado's minimum wage rises from $15.16 to $15.71 per hour. The tipped cash wage rises from $12.14 to $12.69 per hour (the tip credit stays at $3.02). In Denver, the 2027 rates are $19.84 and $16.82 for tipped employees, according to the state labor department's table.
| Rate | 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide minimum wage | $15.16 | $15.71 | +$0.55 |
| Tipped employee cash wage | $12.14 | $12.69 | +$0.55 |
| Tip credit (tips needed per hour) | $3.02 | $3.02 | — |
If a tipped employee's cash wage plus tips does not reach $15.71 an hour, the employer must pay the difference. As of November 9, 2026, the state's 2027 wage order (COMPS Order #41) had not yet been adopted; the rates above come from CDLE's announcement.
Some Colorado cities set their own, higher minimum wage. If your restaurant is inside one of them, the local rate is your floor.
| City | 2027 minimum wage | 2027 tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $19.84 | $16.82 |
| City of Boulder | $18.17 | $15.15 |
Local amounts are from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's local minimum wage table. We have not yet confirmed them on the cities' own websites.
Enter only the staff who are paid below the new 2027 rates today. Everything is calculated in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Assumes 52 weeks a year. Tipped staff: only the employer cash wage changes, assuming tips still bring them to the full minimum wage. If tips fall short, you must pay the difference, so your real cost can be higher. Groups without a current rate are left out.
A restaurant outside Denver and Boulder with 10 servers earning $12.14 working 25 hours a week and 5 kitchen staff earning $15.16 working 30 hours a week:
At $80,000 in monthly sales, that is about 1.3% of sales.
Paying servers $12.14 after January 1. The tipped cash wage changes too, to $12.69.
Using the state rate inside Denver or Boulder. Those cities set higher rates: $19.84 / $16.82 in Denver and $18.17 / $15.15 in Boulder.
Assuming tips always cover the gap. If cash wage plus tips is below the full minimum wage, you owe the difference.
Yes. It rises from $15.16 to $15.71 per hour on January 1, 2027.
$12.69 per hour, up from $12.14. The tip credit stays at $3.02. If tips plus $12.69 do not reach $15.71 per hour, the employer must pay the difference.
$19.84 per hour, or $16.82 for tipped employees, according to CDLE's local minimum wage table.
In the City of Boulder: $18.17 per hour, or $15.15 for tipped employees, according to CDLE's local minimum wage table.
CDLE announced the $15.71 rate, but as of November 9, 2026 the 2027 wage order (COMPS Order #41) had not yet been adopted. We will update this page if anything changes.
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Last verified November 9, 2026.