Colorado Labor Laws 2025: Minimum Wage, Overtime, Breaks & Worker Rights

Statewide (effective Jan 1, 2025): $14.81 per hour for most employees.

Local minimum wages (effective Jan 1, 2025):

• Denver: $18.81/hour
• Edgewater: $16.52/hour
• Boulder County (unincorporated areas): $16.57/hour

Local ordinances may have additional rules on notices, records, and enforcement.

Statewide tipped minimum (Jan 1, 2025): $11.79/hour for most employees.

Local tipped minimums (Jan 1, 2025):

• Denver: $15.79/hour
• Edgewater: $13.50/hour
• Boulder County (unincorporated): $13.55/hour
• City of Boulder: $12.55/hour

Employers must maintain accurate tip records and follow any local posting/notice requirements.

Weekly: Overtime after more than 40 hours in a workweek.

Daily / consecutive hours: Overtime after more than 12 hours in a day or 12 consecutive hours of work, whichever yields more pay.

• Overtime must be paid even if not preapproved.
• The “regular rate” includes nondiscretionary bonuses and differentials.
• Some roles may be exempt; misclassification risks penalties.

Meal breaks: 30-minute meal break after working 5 hours. Unpaid if duty-free and uninterrupted; paid if the employee must remain on duty.

Rest breaks: A paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked (or major fraction thereof), ideally near the middle of each work period.

Covered industries include: Retail and service; food and beverage; commercial support service; dry cleaning and housekeeping; health and medical.

• Employers may require employees to remain on premises during rest breaks.
• Missed/short breaks may require premium pay or corrective action.
• Industry-specific rules can apply in addition to these requirements.

Vacation leave: Not required by law, but if provided, employers must follow their policy/contract. Earned vacation is typically treated as wages:

• Employers must pay out earned vacation upon termination or resignation.
• Employers cannot force employees to forfeit already-earned vacation before leaving.
• Policies must be communicated in writing.

Paid sick leave: Employers must provide at least 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours per year. Unused paid sick leave generally does not need to be paid out at separation.

Holidays: Private employers are not required to provide paid or unpaid holiday leave. Holiday hours do not count toward overtime unless the employee actually works those hours.

State rules: No employer may have a minor work more than 40 hours per week or 8 hours in any 24-hour period (except in a business emergency). Minors under 16 may not work between 9:30 PM and 5:00 AM if the next day is a school day.

Minors under 16 during school periods:

• Max 3 hours on a school day
• Max 18 hours in a school week
• Up to 8 hours on a non-school day
• No work during school hours without a school release permit

Federal rules (for reference): Ages 14–15 may only work outside school hours; generally no earlier than 7 AM or later than 7 PM (to 9 PM from June 1 to Labor Day), with daily/weekly hour caps.

Ages 16–17: Fewer hour limits but still prohibited from hazardous occupations.

Hiring: Job postings must accurately represent the role. Background checks must comply with federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), including obtaining written consent.

Drug policies: Although recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, employers may maintain drug-free workplace policies and conduct testing consistent with law and policy.

Anti-discrimination: The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics, including:

• Race, color, religion, national origin
• Sex, sexual orientation
• Disability
• Age

Firing: At-will employment allows termination for any lawful reason, but not for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons.