Colorado Labor Laws: Every Rule With Its 2026 Figure — Best Proven Guide (2026)

Colorado labor laws in one place: the minimum wage is $15.16, after 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate, 30 minutes unpaid if the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours; an on-duty paid meal where the work prevents…, paid sick leave is required, and the final paycheck is due immediately; if the payroll office is not operating,

within 6 hours of the start of its next regular workday… if you are fired.

This guide gives the exact colorado labor laws rule with the date we verified it, the statute, and what to do next. Rules verified against Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics or an attorney before you rely on it.

Colorado Labor Laws: Minimum Wage and Overtime

The minimum wage is $15.16. After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. After 12 in a day (or 12 consecutive hours). The COMPS Order’s overtime rules apply to all private employers unless an exemption applies.

Colorado Labor Laws: Breaks and Lunch

30 minutes unpaid if the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours; an on-duty paid meal where the work prevents relief. A paid 10-minute rest break for each 4 hours of work or major fraction (COMPS Order).

Colorado Labor Laws at a Glance

Rules verified against Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics on 2026-10-08; confirm the current rule with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics or an attorney before you rely on it. The statute row is where to check it yourself.

Colorado Labor Laws: Hours Worked, 12-Hour Shifts and Days of Rest

Colorado generally does not ban long shifts or limit mandatory overtime for adult workers, including nurses. The state’s COMPS Order does require overtime pay once you pass the daily, consecutive-hour or weekly limits, whichever gives you more pay.

Colorado Labor Laws for 16 and 17 Year Olds

Under the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act, 16- and 17-year-olds generally have daily and weekly hour caps, but not the school-day and late-night limits that apply to younger teens. They are also barred from hazardous jobs listed in the statute, and where federal and state child labor rules differ, the stricter one applies; confirm with the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.

Colorado Labor Laws: Sick Leave and PTO

1 hour for every 30 hours worked; 48 hours a year, with carryover; plus up to 80 hours of public-health-emergency leave. Earned vacation cannot be forfeited and must be paid at separation (C.R.S. 8-4-101(14)(a)(III)); the CDLE enforces this.

Colorado Labor Laws: Final Paycheck

Immediately; if the payroll office is not operating, within 6 hours of the start of its next regular workday, or within 24 hours if payroll is off-site (delivered to the work site, the local office or your last known address) if the employer ends the job; next regular payday if you quit.

Penalty: after a written demand, the greater of 2x the unpaid wages or $1,000 (3x / $3,000 if willful).

Colorado Labor Laws: Non Compete, Right to Work and At-Will

Colorado voids most non competes; one is allowed only for a highly compensated worker, only to protect trade secrets, no broader than necessary, and only with separate signed notice — and the worker must be above the threshold both when signing and when the employer tries to enforce it.

No — Colorado is not a right-to-work state: a union contract with a union-security clause may require you to pay dues or an agency fee as a condition of employment (federal law already bars forcing you to formally join). Colorado is an at-will state: either side may end the job at any time for any lawful reason.

Colorado Labor Laws: Required Posters

Most Colorado employers must display the current COMPS Order poster, which is updated every year, and the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act paid sick leave poster where workers can easily read them. Employers must also post the FAMLI paid leave program notice and the Employment Security Act (unemployment insurance) notice, and give remote workers these notices directly.

Other Colorado Labor Laws to Know

Under the COMPS Order, most Colorado workers get paid 10-minute rest breaks during each shift and a meal period on longer shifts. The Healthy Families and Workplaces Act lets most workers earn paid sick leave, and the state FAMLI program provides paid family and medical leave. Confirm how these apply to your job with the state agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum wage under Colorado labor laws?

$15.16.

When is overtime owed under Colorado labor laws?

After 40 hours in a workweek at 1.5 times the regular rate. After 12 in a day (or 12 consecutive hours).

Are breaks required under Colorado labor laws?

30 minutes unpaid if the shift exceeds 5 consecutive hours; an on-duty paid meal where the work prevents relief.

Is paid sick leave required under Colorado labor laws?

Yes — 1 hour for every 30 hours worked

When is my final paycheck due under Colorado labor laws?

Immediately; if the payroll office is not operating, within 6 hours of the start of its next regular workday, or within 24 hours if payroll is off-site (delivered to the work site, the local office…

Official Colorado Sources & Resources

• Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics: https://cdle.colorado.gov/wage-and-hour-law
• Colorado statute (Colo. Rev. Stat. 8-4-109): https://leg.colorado.gov/colorado-revised-statutes
• Verified source: https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/info_%233a_timing_of_wage_payments%2C_%26_required_record-keeping_07.11.23.pdf
• Verified source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_8-4-109
• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division — state payday requirements: dol.gov

This colorado labor laws guide was last verified against official Colorado sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.

More Colorado Workplace Rights Guides

• Colorado Overtime Laws: Threshold, Rate and Exemptions
• Colorado Break Laws: Meal and Rest Breaks
• Colorado Sick Leave Law: Accrual and Caps
• Colorado Final Paycheck Law: Deadlines and Penalties
• Colorado PTO Laws: Is Unused Vacation Paid Out?
• Colorado Non Compete Law: Is Yours Enforceable?
• Colorado At Will Employment Law: The Exceptions
• Colorado Right to Work: What It Means for You
• Colorado Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
• Unemployment and Workplace Rights Guides for All 50 States

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Final-paycheck deadlines, penalties and non compete rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current rule with your state labor department or a licensed attorney before you act.