7 CCR 1103-14
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT 2026 TEMPORARY PUBLICATION AND YEARLY CALCULATION OF ADJUSTED LABOR COMPENSATION (2026 Temporary PAY CALC) ORDER 7 CCR 1103-14 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________ Adopted as temporary rules on December 12, 2025; effective January 1, 2026, and shall have effect until the 2026 PAY CALC Order, 7 CCR 1103-14, takes effect as early as February 1, 2026, or 120 days after the adoption of these temporary rules, whichever event occurs first. Rule 1. Statement of Purpose, Requirements, and Calculations.
1.1 This temporary 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.
Minimum Pay Level in 2026 Level Future Annual COMPS Order Rule (Yearly Calculation) Adjustments $15.16 per hour Last year’s minimum (A) Full Colorado minimum wage adjusted by CPI (Consumer (R. 3.1)
(B) Amount of Colorado minimum adding tips raises total pay to full Colorado minimum wage to wage that employers must pay to minimum wage the extent that adding tips tipped employees (R. 1.10, 6.2.3) raises total pay to full Colorado minimum wage (C) Minimum wage for non- $12.89 per hour 15% below full minimum emancipated minors (R. 3.3) wage (D) Minimum pay for agricultural $620.52 per week Prior year’s level adjusted by range workers (R. 2.4.9) inflation (E) Executive/supervisor, $1,111.23 per week ($57,784 rounded Prior year’s level adjusted by administrative, or professional annual equivalent); and sufficient for inflation employees (EAP) (R. 2.5.1); the minimum wage for all hours certain owners or proprietors of worked in a workweek non-profit employers (R. 2.2.5);
decision-making managers at livestock employers (R. 2.4.8)
(F) Highly technical computer $34.85 per hour or the EAP salary Prior year’s hourly wage employees (R. 2.5.2, 2.2.10) above (row E) adjusted by inflation, or the EAP salary above (G) Highly compensated $130,014 annually, and the EAP The annual EAP salary employees (R. 2.2.11) salary (row E) weekly (row E) multiplied by 2.25 (H) Certain drivers and driver’s $833.80 per week Based on Colorado minimum helpers (R. 2.4.6) wage each year (I) Certain seasonal camp or Full minimum wage or, per week: Based on Colorado minimum outdoor education field staff $436.72 (adults) or $341.38 (minors); wage each year (R. 2.2.7(E)) except at non-profits with up to $25 million in revenue, $330.60 (adults) or $251.15 (minors)
(A) The Division shall accept wage Through June 30, 2026: On January 1, 2028, and then claims for the following per-employee $7,500 per employee every other year thereafter, the amounts, pursuant to C.R.S. § 8-4- rate will increase by either 111(2)(a)(I) and as stated in Wage From July 1, 2026 through $1,000 or a higher amount if Protection Rule 3.1.5 December 31, 2027: necessary to adjust for $13,000.00 per employee 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 temporary 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., and in particular, § 24-4-103(6). 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.
2.2 Administration and Dual Jurisdiction. The Division shall have jurisdiction over all questions arising with respect to the administration and interpretation of this temporary 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. 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.
_________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Notes History New rule eff. 01/01/2022.
Entire rule eff. 01/01/2023.
Entire rule eff. 01/01/2024.
Entire rule eff. 01/01/2025.
Entire rule eff. 01/01/2026.