Colorado Overtime Calculator 2026

For covered nonexempt employees in Colorado, overtime is generally 1.5× the regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. At the Colorado minimum wage of $15.16/hour that is $22.74/hour. Enter your own hours above for a full breakdown.

Colorado generally requires daily and weekly overtime protections for covered nonexempt employees. Employers must pay overtime at 1.5× the regular rate for hours worked past 12 in a single workday, or past 12 consecutive hours of work, regardless of when the workday starts or ends. Overtime also applies for hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. Daily and weekly overtime do not double up; employers calculate both daily and weekly overtime obligations and pay the larger amount. Use the calculator above to model Colorado daily and weekly shifts.

Colorado does not have a general state law mandating double-time pay for private-sector employees. Employers are only federally and state-required to pay the 1.5× overtime rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Double-time pay (2.0×) is generally a voluntary policy established by employers, union contracts, or collective bargaining agreements for working on holidays, weekends, or emergency shifts. Unless a specific contract or employer agreement applies, you should assume standard overtime rules apply. Check official guidance or your employee handbook for company policies.

At the Colorado minimum wage of $15.16/hour the overtime rate is $22.74/hour. A 45-hour week at that wage comes to $606.40 regular plus $113.70 overtime — $720.10 gross.

In Colorado, tipped employees may receive a direct cash wage of $12.14/hour, with the remaining $3.02/hour covered by tips (the tip credit). However, overtime must generally be calculated using the full minimum wage of $15.16/hour, not the lower cash rate. For example, if a tipped employee works 45 hours, their base overtime rate is 1.5× the full minimum wage ($22.74/hour), minus the tip credit ($3.02), resulting in a direct cash overtime rate of $19.72/hour for each of the 5 overtime hours worked that week.

Unpaid overtime claims in Colorado go to Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), and a lawyer is generally not required. Bring timesheets and pay stubs. Federal claims can instead go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.