$15/hr (below NV daily cap)
$735
OT premium ~$45
All states
2026Rank #3
2026Rank #3Colorado Overtime Pay 2026
Daily after 12h — $980 vignette gross on Mon 14h + Tue–Fri 8h (46h week) at $20/hr.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Daily after 12h
Rule
$980
Vignette gross
$60
OT premium
#3
National rank
Colorado overtime rule breakdown
OT rule
Daily after 12h
Vignette gross
$980
OT premium
$60
Salary floor
$57,784
Colorado: 12-hour workday rule (1.5x after 12h), weekly OT (1.5x after 40h) Rank #3 on Mon 14h + Tue–Fri 8h (46h week) at $20/hr.
Key takeaways — Colorado overtime pay
- Colorado uses Daily after 12h in our model: Colorado: 12-hour workday rule (1.5x after 12h), weekly OT (1.5x after 40h)
- On Mon 14h + Tue–Fri 8h (46h week) at $20/hr, modeled gross is $980 (rank #3; matches typical FLSA-only gross on the vignette).
- Premium over straight time for all 46 hours at $20/hr: about $60 (6 OT hrs).
- Colorado daily OT kicks in after 12 hours in a day.
- Salary exemption floor in our calculator: about $57,784/year (duties tests still apply).
- Neighboring states on the vignette range from $980 to $980 gross.
Colorado vs neighboring states
Vignette gross for jurisdictions bordering Colorado. Colorado: $980 (Daily after 12h).
| State | Rule | Vignette gross | vs CO | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Daily after 12h | $980 | — | This page |
 Arizona | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 Kansas | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 Nebraska | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 New Mexico | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 Oklahoma | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 Utah | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
 Wyoming | Weekly only (FLSA) | $980 | $0 | vs CO |
Colorado vignette at different hourly rates
Same Mon 14h + Tue–Fri 8h pattern. Salary exempt threshold: $57,784/yr.
$20/hr (vignette default)
$980
OT premium ~$60
$25/hr
$1,225
OT premium ~$75
How to read this page
Colorado overtime rules (2026)
Colorado is ranked #3 on our vignette week (#1 = highest gross). Rule badge: Daily after 12h. Colorado: 12-hour workday rule (1.5x after 12h), weekly OT (1.5x after 40h)
Federal FLSA still sets the baseline: nonexempt employees generally earn 1.5× for hours over 40 in a workweek everywhere. Colorado adds state daily rules that can increase pay before the weekly threshold is reached.
Use /us-overtime-calculator to test your schedule; gross OT here is pre-tax.
Sample 46-hour week in Colorado
We model Monday 14 hours and Tuesday–Friday 8 hours at $20/hr. Colorado gross: $980.
That is $60 above paying every hour at straight time—driven by daily OT, and/or weekly OT depending on the state.
Compare with California ($1,000) or Texas ($980) on the compare hub.
Planning schedules and offers in Colorado
Long shifts in Colorado affect gross differently—model day-by-day hours, not just weekly totals.
Check /minimum-wage for the applicable hourly minimum; overtime multipliers apply to the regular rate.
Union, public-sector, and industry-specific wage orders may override general summaries—verify with the state labor agency.
Who this Colorado overtime page helps
Useful if…
- •Workers in Colorado with variable or extended shifts.
- •Employers drafting Colorado schedules across state lines.
- •Anyone comparing Colorado OT gross with a neighbor before relocating.
- •HR benchmarking salary exemption thresholds in Colorado.
Use official tools if…
- •You need a compliance opinion or litigation strategy.
- •Your employees are exempt under duties tests not shown here.
- •You use comp time or alternative workweek elections.
- •You need agency-specific guidance for tipped or piece-rate workers.
Colorado overtime checklist
Quick steps before relying on this vignette for payroll decisions.
- 1Confirm Colorado rule: Daily after 12h.
- 2Run the vignette gross $980 against your actual hours.
- 3Verify salary threshold $57,784/yr and duties test.
- 4Check whether daily OT applies to your shift length.
- 5Compare a border state using the neighbor table or pair picker.
- 6Use /us-overtime-calculator for custom rates.
Compare Colorado with another state
Compare any two states
Overtime rules and vignette gross pay on a 46-hour sample week.
Colorado overtime pay FAQs
Yes. Colorado: 12-hour workday rule (1.5x after 12h), weekly OT (1.5x after 40h)
Colorado uses about $57,784/year as the salary floor in our calculator (duties tests still apply). Federal floor is $35,568/year where the state does not set a higher amount.
At $20/hr with Mon 14h + Tue–Fri 8h (46h week), modeled gross is $980 (6 OT hours; premium ~$60 over straight time).
Yes — Colorado: 12-hour workday rule (1.5x after 12h), weekly OT (1.5x after 40h)
Arizona $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); Kansas $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); Nebraska $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); New Mexico $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); Oklahoma $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); Utah $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO); Wyoming $980 (Weekly only (FLSA); $0 vs CO).
About $57,784/year in our 2026 calculator; federal floor $35,568/year where lower. Duties tests still apply.
Open /us-overtime-calculator, select Colorado, and enter day-by-day hours and rates.