Minimum wage rises to $19.29, keeping pace with cost of living

Minimum wage rises to $19.29, keeping pace with cost of living

Published on December 29, 2025

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DENVER - The City and County of Denver's local minimum wage will increase from $18.81 to $19.29 on Jan. 1, 2026, marking an important milestone for tens of thousands of workers and businesses.

Denver's Department of Finance adjusts the city's minimum wage each year based on the Consumer Price Index. The 2026 increase of 2.56% is lower than the 2025 increase of 2.84% and the 2024 increase of 5.8%. This annual adjustment helps ensure wages keep pace with the cost of living and protects the city's lowest-wage workers from being left behind due to inflation.

"My office plays a critical role in helping create a fair economy for workers and ethical employers in Denver," said Denver Auditor Timothy M. O'Brien, CPA. "Our goal is to ensure all employers are prepared to adjust their payrolls and ensure workers receive the pay they are legally owed."

Denver's minimum wage applies to all workers performing work within the geographical boundaries of the City and County of Denver, regardless of immigration status. If the work is performed within Denver, workers must be paid at least $19.29 in 2026, with only a few exceptions.

The primary Denver minimum wage exception involves the food and beverage industry: employers may claim a tip credit of up to $3.02 for eligible tipped workers, but only if those workers receive that amount in documented tips. Minimum wage for tipped workers in this industry is increasing in 2026 from $15.79 to $16.27 per hour.

Failure to pay Denver's minimum wage is still one of the most common forms of wage theft. Industries at higher risk of underpayments include hospitality - like restaurants, bars, and strip clubs -cleaning and maintenance, accommodations, personal care and laundry services, retail, and gig app companies.

Denver Labor, a division of the Auditor's Office, enforces wage laws in the city and county of Denver. In the 2025 reporting year, Denver Labor recovered a record $2,310,010 in restitution, enforced the rights of 7,200 workers, and helped ensure a level playing field for employers who follow the law.

We also conduct public-awareness advertising campaigns across the city and meet regularly with community groups and stakeholders to make sure all parties are well informed. Through comprehensive enforcement and education, we work to deter wage theft and promote economic justice.

If workers believe they are not being paid Denver's minimum wage, they are encouraged to contact Denver Labor by filling out an online complaint form, emailing [email protected], or calling 720-913-WAGE (9243). We accept anonymous complaints and do not ask about immigration status.

"Many workers never submit a complaint because they don't know how, fear retaliation, or believe it won't make a difference," said Denver Labor Executive Director Matthew Fritz-Mauer. "We take retaliation seriously and will protect workers' wage rights while proactively investigating high-risk workers to ensure no one is left behind."

Employers seeking support should visit our Small Business Resources page to find the mandatory poster for the work place, the regional address finder to determine whether work was performed within the boundaries of the City and County of Denver, an underpayment calculator, and other helpful wage tools.

"Ensuring everyone earns at least Denver's minimum wage helps reduce the harms of poverty, including eviction and hunger, and strengthens Denver as a place to work, live, and do business," Auditor O'Brien said.

AUDITOR TIMOTHY O'BRIEN, CPA
Denver Auditor

Denver Auditor's Office

201 W. Colfax Ave. #705 Denver, CO 80202
Email: [email protected]
Call: 720-913-5000
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