Minimum Wage Increases for 2018 in Colorado and Beyond

    In 2018, the federal minimum wage will remain at $7.25 per hour, which has been the rate since 2009. FN1 Numerous states, cities, and municipalities have minimum wage requirements that exceed the federal rate. In 2018, the minimum wage rates in 19 states, including Colorado, and the District of Columbia, will increase.FN2

Colorado Minimum Wage

    On January 1, 2018, Colorado’s minimum wage will increase from $9.30 to $10.20 per hour for all adult employees and emancipated minors. FN3 For employees who regularly receive tips, the minimum wage rate will increase from $6.28 to $7.18 per hour. 

    Colorado’s minimum wage law calls for increases of $0.90 every January 1, until the wage rate reaches $12.00 in 2020. FN4 Because state law mandates tipped workers may make only $3.02 less than the state minimum wage, by 2020, tipped worker minimum wage will rise to $8.98 per hour.FN5  Thereafter, annual adjustments will be based on the cost of living.

Other Increases in the Region

    The following are selected minimum wage increases in the Western States as of January 1, 2018: FN5

                                                                           Rate                                                            Increase

• Arizona (statewide)                       $10.50                                                           $0.50

               Flagstaff                                            $11.00                                                             $0.50

• California (statewide)                   $11.00 (26+ employees)                             $0.50

                                                          $10.50 (≤25 employees)                             $0.50

Cupertino                                        $13.50                                                            $1.50

El Cerrito                                          $13.60                                                           $1.35

               Los Altos                                          $13.50                                                            $1.50

Milpitas                                            $12.00                                                             $1.00

Mountain View                               $15.00                                                            $2.00

Palo Alto                                          $13.50                                                            $1.50

Richmond                                        $13.41                                                            $1.11

San Jose                                            $13.50                                                             $1.50

San Mateo                                       $13.50                                                            $1.50

San Mateo (501c(3))                      $12.00                                                            $1.50

Santa Clara                                      $13.00                                                            $1.90

Sunnyvale                                        $15.00                                                            $2.00

• Montana (statewide)                     $8.30                                                            $0.15

• New Mexico                      

Albuquerque                                   $8.95                                                               $0.15

$7.95 (if employer pays at least $2,500 annually toward healthcare or childcare)           

Bernalillo County                            $8.85                                                               $0.15

Las Cruces                                        $9.45                                                               $0.25

Companies should review pay rates to ensure payments in 2018 will comply with minimum wage increases. 

FN1: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage

FN2: See http://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-tracker. Minimum wages will increase in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington. Id.

FN3: See https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/minimumwage

FN4: See https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/minimumwage

FN4: See https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/minimumwage

FN5: See https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm/; http://www.latimes.com/visuals/graphics/la-me-g-timeline-minimum-wage-increases-20160328-htmlstory.html; http://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-tracker.