Colorado has stricter overtime rules than federal FLSA. Under the COMPS Order, overtime applies after 40 hours/week AND after 12 hours in a single workday — whichever comes first. The OT rate is always 1.5× (no double time required). 2026 minimum wage is $14.81/hr statewide. Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax on all earnings including overtime.
⚠️ Key Difference from Most States: Colorado has daily overtime after 12 hours in a workday — not just weekly OT after 40 hours. If you work a 13-hour shift, the last hour is overtime regardless of your weekly total. This is unique to Colorado (and California, which triggers daily OT even earlier, after 8 hours).
Colorado Overtime Formula (COMPS Order)
Daily OT: (Daily Hours − 12) × Hourly Rate × 1.5 [if single-day hours exceed 12]
Note: Hours already counted as daily OT are NOT double-counted for weekly OT.
Step-by-Step Colorado Overtime Examples
Hourly rate: $20.00/hr
Hours per day: Mon–Fri, 9 hrs each = 45 hours total
Daily max: 9 hours — no daily OT triggered (under 12 hrs/day)
Weekly OT hours: 45 − 40 = 5 hours
Regular pay: 40 × $20 = $800.00
Overtime pay: 5 × $20 × 1.5 = $150.00
Hourly rate: $18.00/hr
Tuesday shift: 14 hours worked
Daily OT hours: 14 − 12 = 2 hours at 1.5×
Daily regular pay: 12 × $18 = $216.00
Daily OT pay: 2 × $18 × 1.5 = $54.00
Hourly rate: $22.00/hr | Schedule: Mon 13 hrs, Tue–Fri 8 hrs each = 45 hrs total
Monday daily OT: 13 − 12 = 1 hour OT → $22 × 1.5 = $33
Monday regular: 12 × $22 = $264
Tue–Fri regular: 32 × $22 = $704
Weekly hours for OT calc: 45 total − 1 daily OT hr already paid at 1.5× = 44 "effective" hrs → 4 weekly OT hrs
Weekly OT pay: 4 × $22 × 1.5 = $132
🕐 Colorado Overtime Calculator — Free & Instant
Enter your daily clock-in/out times and hourly rate. ClockCalc calculates both weekly and daily Colorado overtime automatically.
Calculate My CO Overtime →The COMPS Order: What Colorado Workers Need to Know
The Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order is Colorado's wage regulation that goes beyond federal FLSA. Key provisions:
- Daily OT: 1.5× after 12 hours in a single workday
- Weekly OT: 1.5× after 40 hours in a workweek
- No double time: Colorado does not require 2× pay (unlike California)
- Rest periods: Paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked
- Meal periods: 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts over 5 hours
Who Is Covered by COMPS?
COMPS covers most employees in Colorado, including those in industries exempted from FLSA (like some small businesses). Key exemptions: bona fide executive, administrative, and professional employees earning above the Colorado exempt salary threshold ($961.54/week in 2026).
Colorado Minimum Wage 2026
| Location | Minimum Wage 2026 | OT Rate (1.5×) |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado (statewide) | $14.81/hr | $22.22/hr |
| Denver | $18.29/hr | $27.44/hr |
| Edgewater | $15.02/hr | $22.53/hr |
Is Overtime Taxed in Colorado?
| Tax | Rate | Applies to OT in CO? |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State Income Tax | 4.4% (flat) | ⚠️ Yes — flat rate on all income |
| Federal Income Tax | 10%–37% | ⚠️ Yes (may change with Big Beautiful Bill) |
| Social Security (FICA) | 6.2% | ⚠️ Yes |
| Medicare (FICA) | 1.45% | ⚠️ Yes |
Colorado's flat 4.4% income tax is more predictable than progressive states like New York or California, but unlike Texas, Florida, and Washington, overtime earnings are still subject to state tax.
Colorado vs. Other States: Overtime Comparison
| Rule | Colorado | California | Texas / WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly OT Threshold | 40 hrs/week | 40 hrs/week | 40 hrs/week |
| Daily OT Threshold | ✅ After 12 hrs/day | ✅ After 8 hrs/day | ❌ None |
| Double Time? | ❌ No | ✅ After 12 hrs/day | ❌ No |
| State Income Tax | ⚠️ 4.4% flat | ⚠️ Up to 13.3% | ✅ None |
| 2026 Min Wage | $14.81/hr | $16.50/hr | $7.25–$16.66/hr |
| Exempt Salary Threshold | $961/week | $1,320/week | $684/week (federal) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Colorado have daily overtime?
Yes. Colorado requires overtime pay at 1.5× after 12 hours in a single workday under the COMPS Order. This is in addition to — not instead of — the 40-hour weekly threshold. You can trigger overtime by exceeding either limit.
What is the COMPS Order?
COMPS stands for Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards. It is Colorado's state wage order that sets overtime rules, minimum wage, meal/rest break requirements, and other worker protections — going beyond federal FLSA requirements in several areas.
Does Colorado require double time?
No. Colorado does not require double-time (2×) pay. The maximum overtime rate under COMPS is 1.5× (time and a half), regardless of how many hours you work in a day or week. This differs from California, which requires double time after 12 hours per day.
What is Colorado's overtime exempt salary threshold?
In 2026, Colorado salaried employees must earn at least $961.54/week ($49,999.08/year) to potentially qualify for the overtime exemption under COMPS — higher than the federal FLSA threshold of $684/week.
How do I calculate overtime in Colorado?
Check both triggers: (1) Weekly — hours beyond 40 earn 1.5×; (2) Daily — hours beyond 12 in any single day earn 1.5×. Hours already paid as daily OT count toward your weekly total but aren't double-counted for weekly OT. Use ClockCalc free for automatic calculation.
Related: Time and a Half Calculator · California Overtime Calculator · New York Overtime Calculator · Washington Overtime Calculator · Double Time vs Overtime