Colorado labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Colorado's basic minimum wage is $15.16 per hour, as listed by the US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026). The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a meal-period requirement for adult private-sector employees for Colorado, and its rest-period table lists a paid rest-period requirement.
Colorado labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Colorado | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.16 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Daily - 12, Weekly - 40 Minimum wage rate and overtime provisions applicable to retail and service, commercial support service, food and beverage, and health and medical industries. | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40 non-school day/week 6-40 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | 8-40 | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Colorado
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.16
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Daily - 12, Weekly - 40
Minimum wage rate and overtime provisions applicable to retail and service, commercial support service, food and beverage, and health and medical industries.
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Colorado
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| ½ hour if work shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours. On-duty meal period counted as time worked and permitted when nature of work prevents relief from all duties. | Administratively issued Wage Order for 4 industries | Applicable to retail and service, food and beverage, commercial support service, and health and medical industries. Exempts administrative, executive/supervisor, professional, outside sales employees, elected officials and their staff, companions, casual babysitters, and domestic employees employed by households or family members to perform duties in private residences, property managers, interstate drivers, driver helpers, loaders or mechanics of motor carriers, taxi cab drivers, and bona fide volunteers. Also exempt are: students employed by sororities, fraternities, college clubs, or dormitories, and students employed in a work experience study program and employees working in laundries of charitable institutions which pay no wages to workers and inmates, or patient workers who work in institutional laundries. |
The DOL lists Colorado among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Colorado
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours of work, or major fractions thereof. As practicable the rest period should be in the middle of the work period. | Administratively Issued Colorado Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order. | Applicable to all employees of all private sector employers unless specifically exempted by COMPS Order. |
Scheduling minors in Colorado
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40 non-school day/week 6-40 school day/week | 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. before school day |
| 16 and 17 | 8-40 | Blank on the DOL table |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado?
The US DOL lists Colorado's basic minimum rate as $15.16 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Colorado require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Colorado; see the table on this page.
Does Colorado require paid rest breaks?
Yes, Colorado is listed in the DOL paid rest-period table (revised January 1, 2023); see the table on this page.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)