Intro to Colorado Labor Laws

The state minimum wage in Colorado is $15.16 per hour. 

Some Colorado cities and counties have their own wage requirements that exceed Colorado’s state-wide minimum wage. Employers with potentially impacted employees should review both state and local requirements. Below are the minimum wages in some of Colorado’s larger cities or localities that exceed the state rate: 

• Denver - $19.29 per hour 

Please check the references for additional minimum wage requirements across localities.

Colorado also has overtime requirements that exceed federal requirements, including required overtime pay for eligible employees who exceed 12 hours of work in a day, among others.

References: 

• Colorado State Minimum Wage(opens in a new tab) 

• Minimum Wage Tracker(opens in a new tab)

The minimum salary threshold in Colorado for eligible employees under the administrative, executive, or professional exemption is $56,485 per year or $1,086.25 per week.

References: Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards Order(opens in a new tab)

Employees in Colorado working over five hours a day are eligible to receive at least a 30-minute meal break. Employees working over two hours are entitled to a 10-minute rest break.  Employees may be entitled to additional rest breaks depending on their daily working hours. For more information on rest break requirements for hours worked, check out the resource linked below.

References: Meal & Rest Break Requirements(opens in a new tab)

Employers in Colorado with at least one employee must allow employees to take breaks, paid or unpaid, to pump breast milk, and provide a reasonably private place to pump, other than a restroom stall.

References: Workplace Accommodations for New Mothers(opens in a new tab)