2026 PUBLICATION AND YEARLY CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED LABOR COMPENSATION (2026 PAY CALC) ORDER

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

2026 PUBLICATION AND YEARLY CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED LABOR

COMPENSATION (2026 PAY CALC) ORDER

7 CCR 1103-14

[Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.]

Adopted December 8, 2025; effective February 1, 2026.

Rule 1.

Statement of Purpose, Requirements, and Calculations

1.1

This Publication And Yearly Calculation of Adjusted Labor Compensation Order

(PAY CALC Order), 7 CCR 1103-14, publishes values that adjust periodically

under the Colorado Wage Act, C.R.S. § 8-4-101 et seq., Colorado Overtime and

Minimum Pay Standards Order (COMPS Order), 7 CCR 1103-1, Wage

Protection Rules, 7 CCR 1103 7, or other laws.

1.2

Coverage and Application.

1.2.1 Following are the 2026 minimum pay and income levels and future

adjustments in each cited COMPS Order rule, and/or mandated by

constitutional, statutory, or rule provisions the COMPS Order implements,

or from which it derives.

Minimum Pay Level in

COMPS Order Rule

2026 Level

(Yearly Calculation)

Future Annual

Adjustments

(A) Full Colorado minimum

wage (R. 3.1)

$15.16 per hour

Last year’s minimum

adjusted by CPI

(Consumer Price Index)

for Colorado

(B) Amount of Colorado

minimum wage that employers

must pay to tipped employees

(R. 1.10, 6.2.3)

$12.14 per hour to the extent

that adding tips raises total

pay to full minimum wage

$3.02 per hour below

full Colorado minimum

wage to the extent that

adding tips raises total

pay to full Colorado

minimum wage

(C) Minimum wage for non-

emancipated minors (R. 3.3)

$12.89 per hour

15% below full minimum

wage

Code of Colorado Regulations

Secretary of State

State of Colorado

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS

7 CCR 1103-14

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

ay to full minimum wage

$3.02 per hour below

full Colorado minimum

wage to the extent that

adding tips raises total

pay to full Colorado

minimum wage

(C) Minimum wage for non-

emancipated minors (R. 3.3)

$12.89 per hour

15% below full minimum

wage

Code of Colorado Regulations

Secretary of State

State of Colorado

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS

7 CCR 1103-14

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

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Minimum Pay Level in

COMPS Order Rule

2026 Level

(Yearly Calculation)

Future Annual

Adjustments

(D) Minimum pay for

agricultural range workers (R.

2.4.9)

$620.52 per week

Prior year’s level

adjusted by inflation

(E) Executive/supervisor,

administrative, or professional

employees (EAP) (R. 2.5.1);

certain owners or proprietors

of non-profit employers (R.

2.2.5); decision-making

managers at livestock

employers (R. 2.4.8)

$1,111.23 per week ($57,784

rounded annual equivalent);

and sufficient for the

minimum wage for all hours

worked in a workweek

Prior year’s level

adjusted by inflation

(F) Highly technical computer

employees (R. 2.5.2, 2.2.10)

$34.85 per hour or the EAP

salary above (row E)

Prior year’s hourly wage

adjusted by inflation, or

the EAP salary above

(G) Highly compensated

employees (R. 2.2.11)

$130,014 annually, and the

EAP salary (row E) weekly

The annual EAP salary

(row E) multiplied by

2.25

(H) Certain drivers and driver’s

helpers (R. 2.4.6)

$833.80 per week

Based on Colorado

minimum wage each

year

(I) Certain seasonal camp or

outdoor education field staff

(R. 2.2.7(E))

Full minimum wage or, per

week: $436.72 (adults) or

$341.38 (minors); except at

non-profits with up to $25

million in revenue, $330.60

(adults) or $251.15 (minors)

Based on Colorado

minimum wage each

year

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS

7 CCR 1103-14

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

on Colorado

minimum wage each

year

(I) Certain seasonal camp or

outdoor education field staff

(R. 2.2.7(E))

Full minimum wage or, per

week: $436.72 (adults) or

$341.38 (minors); except at

non-profits with up to $25

million in revenue, $330.60

(adults) or $251.15 (minors)

Based on Colorado

minimum wage each

year

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS

7 CCR 1103-14

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

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1.2.2 The following amounts in the Colorado Wage Act, C.R.S. § 8-4-101 et

seq., must also be periodically adjusted. The table below describes these

amounts, any related rules, the dates that each amount applies during,

and the future adjustments to these amounts.

Inflation or Otherwise

Adjusted Wage Act Amounts

Amounts and Dates

Future Adjustments

(A) The Division shall accept

wage claims for the following

per-employee amounts,

pursuant to C.R.S. § 8-4-

111(2)(a)(I) and as stated in

Wage Protection Rule 3.1.5

Through June 30, 2026:

$7,500 per employee

From July 1, 2026

through December 31,

2027: $13,000.00 per

employee

On January 1, 2028, and

then every other year

thereafter, the rate will

increase by either $1,000

or a higher amount if

necessary to adjust for

inflation, as based on the

CPI-U for Denver-Aurora-

Lakewood

1.3

Additional Requirements. Many of the referenced COMPS Order rules have other

requirements aside from a minimum pay level, including but not limited to: an

employee having duties that qualify for exemption; an employee receiving

sufficient tips to allow for a tip credit to be taken; and an employer paying any

higher applicable federal, local, or minimum wage.

Rule 2.

Authority, Construction, and Definitions

2.1

Authority and Application. This PAY CALC Order is issued under the authority

and as enforcement of Section 15 of Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution

and Articles 1, 4, 6, 12, and 13.3 of C.R.S. Title 8, and is intended to be

consistent with these provisions as well as the State Administrative Procedure

Act, C.R.S. § 24-4-101, et seq

wage.

Rule 2.

Authority, Construction, and Definitions

2.1

Authority and Application. This PAY CALC Order is issued under the authority

and as enforcement of Section 15 of Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution

and Articles 1, 4, 6, 12, and 13.3 of C.R.S. Title 8, and is intended to be

consistent with these provisions as well as the State Administrative Procedure

Act, C.R.S. § 24-4-101, et seq. Where these Rules reference another rule, the

reference shall be deemed to include all subparts of the referenced rule. Where

these Rules have provisions different from or contrary to any referenced material,

the provisions of these Rules govern, so long as they are consistent with

Colorado statutory and constitutional provisions. Unless otherwise noted, in

these Rules: all statutes cited apply the most recent versions of the Colorado

Revised Statutes; all rules cited apply the most recent versions adopted as of the

adoption of these Rules. Earlier versions of such laws and rules may apply to

events that occurred in prior years.

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Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

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2.2

Administration and Dual Jurisdiction. The Division shall have jurisdiction over all

questions arising with respect to the administration and interpretation of this PAY

CALC Order. Whenever employers are subjected to Colorado law as well as

federal and/or local law, the law providing greater protection or setting the higher

standard shall apply. For information on federal law, contact the U.S. Department

of Labor, Wage and Hour Division; find local minimum wages, industry-specific

base wages, and other wage requirements in Colorado at

www.coloradolaborlaw.gov, or contact the relevant local government for more

details.

2.3

Separability. These Rules are intended to remain in effect to the maximum extent

possible

higher

standard shall apply. For information on federal law, contact the U.S. Department

of Labor, Wage and Hour Division; find local minimum wages, industry-specific

base wages, and other wage requirements in Colorado at

www.coloradolaborlaw.gov, or contact the relevant local government for more

details.

2.3

Separability. These Rules are intended to remain in effect to the maximum extent

possible. If any part (including any section, sentence, clause, phrase, word, or

number) is held invalid, (A) the remainder of the Rules remain valid, and (B) if

the provision is held not wholly invalid, but merely in need of narrowing, the

provision should be retained in narrowed form.

2.4

“Division” means the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics in the Colorado

Department of Labor and Employment.

CODE OF COLORADO REGULATIONS

7 CCR 1103-14

Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

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