CO minimum wage: $14.42/hr (2026)
📊 Colorado Income Tax Overview 2026
Colorado uses a flat 4.4% income tax rate — same rate for all income levels. Colorado also requires a Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) employee contribution of 0.9% on wages up to $176,100. No SDI beyond PFML.
| Taxable Income (Single) | CA Tax Rate | Tax on Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $10,412 | 1.0% | up to $104 |
| $10,413 – $24,684 | 2.0% | up to $285 |
| $24,685 – $38,959 | 4.0% | up to $571 |
| $38,960 – $54,081 | 6.0% | up to $907 |
| $54,082 – $68,350 | 8.0% | up to $1,141 |
| $68,351 – $349,137 | 9.3% | up to $26,139 |
| $349,138 – $418,961 | 10.3% | up to $7,192 |
| $418,962 – $698,274 | 11.3% | up to $31,560 |
| $698,275+ | 13.3% | highest bracket |
Source: Colorado Dept of Revenue · 2026. CO flat rate: 4.4%. PFML: 0.9% up to $176,100.
💵 Common Wages — Colorado After-Tax
Here's what various hourly wages look like after federal tax + Colorado 4.4% flat tax + PFML (0.9%) + FICA:
| Hourly Rate | Annual Gross | CA State Tax | Take-Home/yr | Take-Home/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17/hr | $35,360 | ~$618 | ~$27,900 | ~$2,325 |
| $20/hr | $41,600 | ~$935 | ~$32,400 | ~$2,700 |
| $22/hr | $45,760 | ~$1,155 | ~$35,200 | ~$2,933 |
| $25/hr | $52,000 | ~$1,614 | ~$39,200 | ~$3,267 |
| $30/hr | $62,400 | ~$2,450 | ~$46,600 | ~$3,883 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | ~$3,350 | ~$53,500 | ~$4,458 |
| $40/hr | $83,200 | ~$4,260 | ~$60,400 | ~$5,033 |
| $50/hr | $104,000 | ~$6,450 | ~$74,000 | ~$6,167 |
🏙️ Colorado Major Cities — Wages & Cost of Living 2026
Here's a cost of living overview for major Colorado cities:
📖 Colorado Tax Guide for Workers 2026
Colorado Flat 4.4% Income Tax
Colorado uses a flat income tax rate of 4.4% on all federal taxable income (Colorado starts with federal adjusted gross income). This is a simple, predictable tax — no brackets, same rate for all earners. Colorado also offers a state earned income tax credit (EITC) for lower-income workers.
Colorado Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML)
Colorado's PFML program requires employees to contribute 0.9% of wages up to the Social Security wage base ($176,100 in 2026). Workers receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave (up to 16 weeks for pregnancy complications) at 90% of wages for low earners, scaling down to 50% for high earners.
Colorado vs. Wyoming & New Mexico
Colorado (4.4% flat) sits between neighbor Wyoming (no income tax) and New Mexico (up to 5.9%). At $52,000/year, Colorado workers take home approximately $39,200/year vs Wyoming workers at ~$42,000/year — about $2,800 less due to CO income tax and PFML.
Colorado Overtime Law
California has stricter overtime rules than federal law: overtime (1.5× rate) applies after 8 hours in a single day (not just 40 hours/week). Double time (2× rate) applies after 12 hours in a day or after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day worked. This can significantly increase take-home for hourly workers who work long days.
California COLA & Living Wage
California has the highest cost of living of any U.S. state. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Los Angeles needs ~$30–35/hr to meet basic needs without government assistance. In San Francisco, the equivalent is closer to $38–42/hr. A $17/hr minimum wage, while the highest state minimum in the U.S., still falls short of a true living wage in California's major cities.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Colorado state minimum wage is $14.42/hour in 2026. Denver has its own higher minimum of $18.81/hr. Colorado adjusts its minimum wage annually based on CPI inflation. Tipped employees have a lower tipped wage with tip credit.
Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.4% on all taxable income (same rate for all earners). Colorado uses federal adjusted gross income as the starting point, so pre-tax deductions like 401(k) reduce both federal and Colorado taxes.
Colorado's Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) requires an employee contribution of 0.9% of wages up to $176,100 in 2026. Workers receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 90% of wages for low earners. Employers with 10+ employees share the cost.
$25/hr (~$3,267/month after CO taxes) is comfortable in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, or Pueblo where 1-bedrooms average $1,100–$1,500/month. It is tight in Denver where 1-bedrooms average $1,800–$2,400+/month. Boulder is very challenging at $25/hr.
Yes — Colorado requires 1.5× overtime pay after 12 hours in a single workday, in addition to the standard federal 40 hours/week threshold. This is stricter than most states. Colorado also requires 1.5× for the first 12 hours worked on the 7th consecutive workday.