Minimum wage in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder sets its own minimum wage under its City of Boulder local minimum wage ordinance. The general rate is $16.82 an hour, in effect since ; that is $1.66 above the Colorado rate of $15.16. The next scheduled change the city states is $18.17 on January 1, 2027.
Read from City of Boulder: Local Minimum Wage on (page SHA-256 4e236c07af8e…). Every figure on this page was found on that page at that time.
Current rates
| Rate per hour | Applies to | In effect since |
|---|---|---|
| $16.82 | All covered employers |
Scheduled changes
| Effective | New rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| $18.17 | All covered employers |
How the rate is adjusted: Scheduled steps through 2027, then adjusted each January 1 by the CPI under the city ordinance.
Tipped employees
The city's page states no separate tipped rate. Colorado's state tipped rule (DOL): cash wage $12.14.
Against the state and federal rates
| Law | Rate |
|---|---|
| Boulder (city ordinance) | $16.82 |
| Colorado (state law) | $15.16 |
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 |
Where federal, state and local laws all cover an employer, the highest applicable rate must be paid. Whether a particular job is covered by this ordinance (most apply to hours worked inside the city limits, with a minimum number of hours a week) depends on facts this site does not assess. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; see FastGuide for how to raise an underpayment.
Related
- Other local rates in Colorado: Denver, Unincorporated Boulder County.
- All city and county minimum wages and the Colorado minimum wage.
- Colorado wage profile: what occupations actually pay, from BLS data.
- Take-home pay calculator on FastCalc for what $16.82 an hour leaves after withholding; this site computes nothing.