Colorado Division of Labor
633 17th Street, Suite 200
Denver, Colorado 80202-3660
www.coworkforce.com/lab
Bil Riter, Jr., Governor
Donald J. Mares, Executive Director
Michael McArdle, Director of Labor
Peter Wingate, Labor Standards Administrator
DIVISION OF LABOR
FACT SHEETS
COLORADO
MINIMUM WAGE
COLORADO WAGE ACT
COLORADO MINIMUM WAGE ORDER
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT LAW
GENERAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS
EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION LAW
PUBLIC CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES LAW
BILL RITTER, JR.
Governor
DONALD J. MARES
Executive Director
MICHAEL J. MCARDLE
Director of Labor
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
DIVISION OF LABOR
633 17th Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80202-3660
Telephone (303) 318-8441 Toll Free 1-888-390-7936 Fax (303) 318-8400
www.coworkforce.com/lab
Colorado Minimum Wage Fact Sheet
September 2008
This information is subject to change and does not constitute legal advice.
Background
Article XVIII, Section 15, of the Colorado Constitution requires the Colorado minimum wage to be adjusted
annually for inflation. This fact sheet describes the minimum wage and inflation adjustment process.
Colorado State Minimum Wage
•
January 1, 2009, will increase to $7.28 per hour.
•
January 1, 2008, increased to $7.02 per hour.
•
January 1, 2007, increased to $6.85 per hour.
Tipped Employees Minimum Wage (employees who regularly receive tips)
•
January 1, 2009, will increase to $4.26 per hour ($7.28-$3.02).
•
January 1, 2008, increased to $4.00 per hour ($7.02-$3.02).
•
January 1, 2007, increased to $3.83 per hour ($6.85-$3.02).
No more than $3.02 per hour in tip income may be used to offset the minimum wage of tipped employees.
Inflation Adjustment Process
In accordance with the Colorado Constitution, the Colorado minimum wage is adjusted annually for inflation as
measured by the Consumer Price Index used for Colorado. The inflation adjustment is based on the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), All Items, for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley combined metropolitan