Minimum Wage/Colorado/Denver
Denver Minimum Wage 2026
The Denver rate, tipped rules, and how it compares with the Colorado state minimum. Every figure below is checked against primary sources.
| Tipped minimum | $16.27 / hour ($3.02 tip credit) |
|---|---|
| Colorado state minimum | $15.16 / hour (tipped $12.14) |
Against the state minimum
Hourly minimums compared
Hourly minimum wage as verified August 18, 2026. Bars start at $0.
Nearby rates and notes
Edgewater ($18.17 / hour, tipped $13.50) and the City of Boulder ($16.82 / hour) also set their own 2026 rates.
The City of Boulder rate applies only within city limits; unincorporated Boulder County follows a separate, lower schedule of its own.
Denver has already published its 2027 rate: $19.84 / hour, effective January 1, 2027.
Deep dive: Boulder County vs City of Boulder
Rate record
What has taken effect, what we have checked, and what is coming next.
January 1, 2026
Denver minimum in effect: $19.29 / hour
August 18, 2026
Every figure on this page re-verified against the primary sources below.Latest check
Jan 1, 2027
Denver’s published 2027 rate, $19.84 / hour, takes effect.
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in Denver in 2026?
$19.29 per hour, effective January 1, 2026, well above the Colorado state minimum of $15.16.
What is Denver's tipped minimum wage in 2026?
$16.27 per hour. Colorado allows a $3.02 tip credit against the full local rate.
Do other Colorado cities have their own minimum wage?
Yes. Edgewater requires $18.17 (tipped $13.50) and the City of Boulder $16.82 in 2026, and unincorporated Boulder County follows a separate schedule of its own. Elsewhere the Colorado state rate of $15.16 applies.
When does Denver's minimum wage change next?
Denver adjusts its rate each January 1 based on inflation. The next change takes effect January 1, 2027.
Sources and caveats
Caveat: The state rate document is the adopted 2026 PAY CALC Order (7 CCR 1103-14), a PDF published on CDLE's Labor Rules page; download it there to verify the state figures directly.
Get notified when Denver changes its rate
State employment law changes, in plain English, verified against primary sources.
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