Colorado · updated 2026-10
Colorado Overtime & Break Laws
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek and after 12 hours a day.
Overtime
12h / day · 40h / week
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek and after 12 hours a day.
COMPS Rule 4: 1.5x after 40 hours/week, 12 hours/workday, or 12 consecutive hours regardless of the workday boundary. Agriculture uses 48 hours/week (56 at some highly seasonal sites). Some health, ski and heavy-vehicle jobs are partly exempt.
Meal break
30 min
Yes: 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hours, usually unpaid. COMPS Rule 5.1: 30 minutes uninterrupted and duty-free for shifts over 5 hours. If the employee can't be fully relieved, they must be allowed to eat on duty, on paid time. Where practical, the meal should start at least 1 hour after the shift begins and end at least 1 hour before it ends.
Rest breaks
10 min paid
Yes: a paid 10-minute rest break per 4 hours worked. COMPS Rule 5.2 schedule: 0 breaks up to 2 hours; 1 for >2-6 hours; 2 for >6-10; 3 for >10-14; and so on. Rest time counts as time worked, and extra pay is owed for a missed break.
Minimum wage
$15.16
$15.16 an hour (since 2026-01-01). Updated yearly. Tip credit up to $3.02 ($12.14 cash wage). Denver's local rate is $19.29 in 2026 ($16.27 tipped). Some other localities also have higher rates, which are listed at ColoradoLaborLaw.gov.
Colorado time card
| Day | Clock in | Break min | Clock out | Hours |
|---|
Colorado pay and break questions
When does overtime start in Colorado?
Time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek and after 12 hours a day. COMPS Rule 4: 1.5x after 40 hours/week, 12 hours/workday, or 12 consecutive hours regardless of the workday boundary. Agriculture uses 48 hours/week (56 at some highly seasonal sites). Some health, ski and heavy-vehicle jobs are partly exempt.
Are lunch breaks required in Colorado?
Yes: 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hours, usually unpaid. COMPS Rule 5.1: 30 minutes uninterrupted and duty-free for shifts over 5 hours. If the employee can't be fully relieved, they must be allowed to eat on duty, on paid time. Where practical, the meal should start at least 1 hour after the shift begins and end at least 1 hour before it ends.
Are rest breaks required in Colorado?
Yes: a paid 10-minute rest break per 4 hours worked. COMPS Rule 5.2 schedule: 0 breaks up to 2 hours; 1 for >2-6 hours; 2 for >6-10; 3 for >10-14; and so on. Rest time counts as time worked, and extra pay is owed for a missed break.
What is the minimum wage in Colorado?
$15.16 an hour (since 2026-01-01). Updated yearly. Tip credit up to $3.02 ($12.14 cash wage). Denver's local rate is $19.29 in 2026 ($16.27 tipped). Some other localities also have higher rates, which are listed at ColoradoLaborLaw.gov.
Workers under 18 in Colorado
Teens have extra limits on hours and times of day, and may need a work permit. See Colorado teen work rules and which employers hire at 14 and 15.
Questions or a complaint? Contact the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.