Colorado
Colorado Minimum Wage 2026: $15.16, $15.71 in 2027
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited September 30, 2026). · 19 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Colorado's statewide minimum wage is $15.16 per hour in 2026, and it rises to $15.71 per hour on January 1, 2027, a rate the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced on August 13, 2026. Colorado adjusts its minimum wage for inflation every year, so the number changes each January. Four local governments pay more than the state: Denver ($19.29 in 2026), Edgewater ($18.17), the City of Boulder ($16.82) and unincorporated Boulder County ($16.82), and the highest applicable wage governs.
Information last verified on September 29, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This page covers Colorado's minimum wage under the state constitution, CDLE's PAY CALC Order and the local ordinances CDLE lists, plus the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overlay. It does not cover overtime rules in detail, Colorado's paid leave laws, or any other state.
What is the Colorado minimum wage in 2026?
The Colorado minimum wage is $15.16 per hour in 2026. CDLE's 2026 INFO #1 notice states it as "$15.16 per hour in 2026," and the 2026 PAY CALC Order, 7 CCR 1103-14, lists "Full Colorado minimum wage $15.16 per hour" as its first row. The order took effect February 1, 2026, and the wage applies from January 1, 2026.
Colorado's rate is well above the federal $7.25 per hour. The FLSA does not excuse compliance with a state or local law that sets a higher minimum wage (29 U.S.C. 218(a)), so Colorado workers covered by the state rule are owed the higher figure. See the federal minimum wage page for the FLSA floor and its coverage rules.
Will Colorado's minimum wage go up on January 1, 2027?
Yes. On August 13, 2026, CDLE announced that "Colorado's minimum wage will increase to $15.71 per hour in 2027, and $12.69 for tipped workers." The increase is announced by the agency and takes effect January 1, 2027.
CDLE says Colorado's constitution requires the minimum wage to be adjusted for inflation every year using the Consumer Price Index from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The PAY CALC Order describes the method as the prior year's minimum adjusted by the CPI for Colorado. CDLE has not stated a fixed date for announcing the 2028 rate, so this page does not give one.
| Effective date | Statewide rate | Tipped cash wage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | $15.16 | $12.14 | In force (CDLE PAY CALC Order) |
| January 1, 2027 | $15.71 | $12.69 | Announced by CDLE on August 13, 2026 |
Denver, Boulder and other local minimum wages in Colorado
Colorado law lets cities and counties set their own minimum wages. C.R.S. 8-6-101(3)(a)(I)(A) provides that "notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may enact" a law establishing minimum wages for people working four or more hours in a week in the jurisdiction. Colorado therefore does not preempt local minimum wages, and where a local rate is higher, the higher rate applies.
CDLE's annual minimum wage table lists four localities. This page covers those four and does not check other Colorado cities or counties.
| Locality | 2026 rate | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Denver (city and county) | $19.29; tipped $16.27 (food and beverage only) | $19.84 on January 1, 2027 (announced) |
| City of Boulder | $16.82; tipped $13.80 (food and beverage) | $18.17 on January 1, 2027 (tipped $15.15 per CDLE's table), then CPI adjustments from 2028 |
| Unincorporated Boulder County | $16.82; tipped $13.80 (food and beverage) | 2027 rate not announced when verified; CPI-based |
| Edgewater | $18.17; CDLE lists $13.50 tipped with a footnote | $19.84 in 2027 per CDLE's table; 2027 tipped figure not listed |
Denver. The Denver Labor page lists $19.29 per hour for 2026, with a tipped rate of $16.27 for food and beverage workers who receive at least $3.02 in documented tips, and $19.84 for 2027. Denver allows the tip credit only in the food and beverage industry. CDLE's table shows a Denver tipped rate of $16.82 for 2027. Denver's page tells employers to comply with the highest applicable wage.
City of Boulder. The city's schedule lists $16.82 for 2026 and $18.17 for 2027. Boulder's page limits the tip offset to no more than $3.02. Its headline text still shows 2025 language, but the schedule itself covers 2026 and 2027.
Unincorporated Boulder County. The county pays $16.82 in 2026, with a $13.80 tipped rate. The county changed its future increase schedule on November 20, 2025, and its 2027 rate is CPI-based; the county had not published it when this page was verified. Check the county's local minimum wage page before relying on a 2027 figure.
Edgewater. CDLE's table lists $18.17 for 2026 and $19.84 for 2027. The town's own page could not be opened during verification, so the table is the source here.
For the rest of the state, CDLE points employers and workers to ColoradoLaborLaw.gov.
Tipped workers and the tip credit
Colorado allows a tip credit against the statewide rate. Under CDLE's INFO #1 notice, up to $3.02 per hour may offset the wages of employees who regularly receive at least $1.64 per hour in tips, when the employees directly receive tips or share them among customer-service employees, and the wage plus tips still reaches the full minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer pays the difference. That produces a 2026 cash wage of $12.14, and CDLE announced a $12.69 cash wage for 2027.
HB25-1208 changed the rule for localities. Under the bill, signed June 3, 2025 and effective July 1, 2025, a locality that has a minimum wage above the state rate may raise its tip offset on and after January 1, 2026, but the offset cannot bring the cash wage below the state minimum wage minus $3.02. Denver's 2026 tipped rate of $16.27 and Boulder County's $13.80 come from local pages, not from the statewide $12.14 figure. Local tip offsets apply to employees of food and beverage businesses (C.R.S. 8-6-101(3)(a)(I)(A)).
Federal law is looser: the FLSA allows a $2.13 cash wage and up to a $5.12 tip credit (DOL tipped table), and an employer may not keep employees' tips (29 U.S.C. 203(m)(2)(B)). The higher Colorado and local figures apply instead.
Lower rates for minors, agricultural range workers and others
Colorado permits a lower rate for non-emancipated minors, set at 15 percent below the full minimum wage, which is $12.89 per hour in 2026 under the PAY CALC Order. This reduction applies to the state rate. The City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County apply their full local minimum to minors, and Denver allows 15 percent less only for minors in a city-certified youth employment program. Minors are also subject to Colorado's Youth Employment Standards.
Agricultural range workers have a separate weekly rate of $620.52 in 2026. Other farm workers are covered: CDLE says the Colorado and local minimum wages cover all agricultural employees except range workers, who have different requirements.
Under Rule 2.2.8, bona fide non-profit volunteers and work-study students receiving school credit are excluded from the minimum wage. Federal youth and training rates, such as the $4.25 opportunity wage for new hires under 20 (29 U.S.C. 206(g)), sit far below Colorado's rate and do not lower what a Colorado employer owes a worker covered by the state rule.
What if you are paid less than the minimum wage in Colorado?
An employee can file a wage and hour complaint with CDLE's Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, go to court, or file with another agency such as Denver Labor for Denver jobs. The Division accepts wage claims of up to $13,000 per employee from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 (PAY CALC Order Rule 1.2.2). CDLE's INFO #1 notice and ColoradoLaborLaw.gov explain the process.
C.R.S. 8-4-122 sets a two-year limit for wage claims and three years when the violation is willful. Colorado's retaliation protections appear in C.R.S. 8-4-120 and COMPS Rule 8.5. This page does not state Colorado's penalty amounts because it did not verify them.
Federal remedies run alongside these. The FLSA allows unpaid minimum wages plus an equal amount as liquidated damages and attorney's fees (29 U.S.C. 216(b)), with a two-year limit or three for a willful violation (29 U.S.C. 255(a)). The Wage and Hour Division takes complaints at 1-866-487-9243. For more on recovering pay, see unpaid wages.
Common misunderstandings about Colorado's minimum wage
Colorado has one minimum wage. It does not. Denver, the City of Boulder, unincorporated Boulder County and Edgewater pay more, and the higher applicable wage controls.
The tip credit is always $3.02. The statewide credit is up to $3.02, but since January 1, 2026 a locality with a higher minimum may raise its own offset within the floor described above.
Pending changes and ballot measures
The Colorado Secretary of State's list of measures for the November 3, 2026 ballot names 14 measures, and none concerns minimum wage or the tip credit. The General Assembly's 2026 labor and employment summary lists no minimum wage rate change. Neither is a guarantee against a later change, so check CDLE before each January 1.
Commuters and border-town workers can compare neighboring-state rates on the Utah, Wyoming and Kansas minimum wage pages.
Disclaimer: This page gives general legal information, not legal advice. It covers Colorado's minimum wage rules and the federal FLSA as of September 29, 2026. For a specific situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Colorado or contact CDLE's Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.
Related
- Minimum wage by state
- Colorado final paycheck laws
- Colorado at-will employment laws
- Federal minimum wage
- Overtime calculator
- Unpaid wages and how to recover them
Last updated: September 29, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum wage in Colorado right now?
$15.16 per hour for 2026 under CDLE's PAY CALC Order, 7 CCR 1103-14. Denver, Edgewater, the City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County have higher local rates.
What will the Colorado minimum wage be in 2027?
CDLE announced on August 13, 2026 that it will be $15.71 per hour statewide on January 1, 2027, with a $12.69 cash wage for tipped workers.
What is the Denver minimum wage?
$19.29 per hour in 2026 and $19.84 announced for January 1, 2027, according to the Denver Labor page. The 2026 tipped rate for food and beverage workers is $16.27.
What is the Boulder minimum wage?
The City of Boulder pays $16.82 in 2026 and is scheduled for $18.17 on January 1, 2027. Unincorporated Boulder County also pays $16.82 in 2026, and its 2027 rate had not been announced when this page was verified.
What is the Colorado tipped minimum wage?
The statewide tipped cash wage is $12.14 in 2026, a tip credit of up to $3.02 per hour, and $12.69 is announced for 2027. Employers must make up any shortfall if wages plus tips fall below the full minimum wage.
Can Colorado employers pay teenagers less than the minimum wage?
Non-emancipated minors may be paid 15 percent below the full wage, which is $12.89 per hour in 2026 under the PAY CALC Order, subject to Colorado's Youth Employment Standards. This reduction applies to the state rate. The City of Boulder and unincorporated Boulder County apply their full local minimum to minors, and Denver allows 15 percent less only for minors in a city-certified youth employment program.
Do cities in Colorado have to follow the state minimum wage?
Yes, as a floor. C.R.S. 8-6-101(3)(a)(I)(A) lets a local government enact its own minimum wage, and where the local rate is higher, the higher rate applies.
How long do I have to file a Colorado wage claim?
C.R.S. 8-4-122 sets two years, or three years for a willful violation. You can file with CDLE, in court or with another agency such as Denver Labor.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 8: Labor and Industry
§ 8-6-101Legislative declaration - minimum wage of workers - authority of a local government to enact minimum wage laws - tip offsets - enforcement - report - severability - definitionIn force
(1) The welfare of the state of Colorado demands that workers be protected from conditions of labor that have a pernicious effect on their health and morals, and it is therefore declared, in the exercise of the police and sovereign power of the state of Colorado, that inadequate wages and unsanitary conditions of labor exert such pernicious effect. (2) Repealed. (3) (a) (I) (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may enact through its governing body or, when available, through its initiative or referendum powers, a law establishing minimum wages for individuals performing, or expected to perform, four or more hours of work for an employer in a given week within the geographic boundaries of the local government's jurisdiction.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at olls.info
§ 8-4-122Limitation of actionsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
All actions brought pursuant to this article shall be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues and not after that time; except that all actions brought for a willful violation of this article shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues and not after that time.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at olls.info
Cited in 10 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2024
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Hernandez v. Ray Domenico Farms, Inc. (District Court, D. Colorado 2017, 250 F. Supp. 3d 789)“…ployee’s employment, even when the statute of limitations ( Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-122 ) has run on the cause of action the em…”
- Wendelberger v. Linked.Exchange, LLC. (District Court, D. Colorado 2024)“…if the alleged violations were willful. 29 U.S.C. § 255(a); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-122. As for Plaintiff’s claims for breach o…”
- Valdez v. Universal Logistics of Virginia, LLC (District Court, D. Colorado 2024)“…which is extended to three years for willful violations. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-122. The filing of the class action in Fa…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Colorado Final Paycheck Laws: Deadlines, Penalties, and PTO Payout
§ 8-4-120Discrimination and retaliation prohibited - employee protections - criminal penalties - civil remediesIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) An employer, or any other person that is regularly engaged in business or commercial activity that has contracted with an employer or worker, directly or indirectly, for labor from which such person is the beneficiary, shall not intimidate, threaten, restrain, coerce, blacklist, discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee or worker who has: (a) Filed a complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted a proceeding under this article 4 or any other law or rule related to wages, hours, or employment of minors; (b) Testified or provided other evidence, or may testify or provide other evidence, in a proceeding on behalf of the employee or another person regarding afforded protections under this article 4 or under any other law or rule related to wages, hours, or the employment of minors; or (c) Raised concerns in good faith about compliance with or otherwise provided information as to legal rights and remedies available under this article 4 or any other law or rule related to wages or hours to any person. (2) A person that violates this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at olls.info
Cited in 7 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Hernandez v. Ray Domenico Farms, Inc. (District Court, D. Colorado 2017, 250 F. Supp. 3d 789)“…at, despite the CWCA’s anti-retaliation protections, see Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-120 , the Legislature intended to permit an…”
- RMSM LTD., f/k/a ROTATING MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS CORP., RYAN MCGUIRE, SCOTT MCGUIRE v. INDUSTRIAL SERVICE SOLUTIONS, LLC (District Court, D. Colorado 2026)“…n of the Colorado Wage Claim Act for Wrongful Termination, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-120;…”
- Grisson (District Court, D. Colorado 2026)“…is about to serve on an industry committee[.]” Similarly, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-120(1) prohibits an employer from discrimi…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Colorado Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report, Employer Threatening to Call Immigration? Your Rights in the U.S.
§ 8-4-111Enforcement - duty of director - duties of district or city attorneys - local government authority to enact and enforce laws - rulesIn force
(1) (a) (I) It is the duty of the director to: (A) Inquire diligently for any violation of this article 4; (B) Institute the actions for penalties or fines provided for in this article 4 in such cases as the director deems proper; and (C) Enforce generally the provisions of this article 4. (II) The director may establish an administrative procedure to receive complaints and adjudicate claims for nonpayment of wages or compensation of: (A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars or less for claims filed through June 30, 2026; (B) Thirteen thousand dollars or less for claims filed from July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027; and (C) An amount that the director specifies in rule by January 1, 2028, and by rule for every other year thereafter. Such amount must be equal to the amount in the previous calendar year increased by one thousand dollars or a higher amount if such higher amount is necessary to adjust for inflation. Inflation is measured by the annual percentage change in the United States department of labor's bureau of labor statistics consumer price index, or a successor index, for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood for all items paid for by urban consumers.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at olls.info
§ 8-4-109Termination of employment - payments required - civil penalties - payments to surviving spouse or heirIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(1) (a) When an interruption in the employer-employee relationship by volition of the employer occurs, the wages or compensation for labor or service earned, vested, determinable, and unpaid at the time of such discharge is due and payable immediately. If at such time the employer's accounting unit, responsible for the drawing of payroll checks, is not regularly scheduled to be operational, then the wages due the separated employee shall be made available to the employee no later than six hours after the start of such employer's accounting unit's next regular workday; except that, if the accounting unit is located off the work site, the employer shall deliver the check for wages due the separated employee no later than twenty-four hours after the start of such employer's accounting unit's next regular workday to one of the following locations selected by the employer: (I) The work site; (II) The employer's local office; or (III) The employee's last-known mailing address. (b) When an employee quits or resigns such employee's employment, the wages or compensation shall become due and payable upon the next regular payday.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at olls.info
Cited in 30 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Hernandez v. Ray Domenico Farms (2018) held that section 8-4-109 lets a terminated employee seek wages earned in earlier pay periods, not only the final paycheck, but limited each claim to two years (three if willful) from when those wages came due. Hallmon v. Advance Auto Parts (2013) applied it to bonuses vested at discharge.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Hernandez v. Ray Domenico Farms, Inc. (Supreme Court of Colorado 2018, 414 P.3d 700)✓Migrant farmworkers fired in 2016 sought years of unpaid overtime. Answering a certified question, the court held Section 8-4-109 lets a terminated employee claim any wages unpaid at termination, but the Act's limitations period caps recovery at two years, three if willful.
- Johnson v. Hewlett-Packard Co. (District Court, N.D. California 2011, 809 F. Supp. 2d 1114)✓Former HP sales representatives sued for unpaid commissions and bonuses. The court granted HP summary judgment on the Section 8-4-109 claims because the plaintiffs never made the written demand for payment within 60 days of separation that the statute then required.
- Brownlee v. Lithia Motors, Inc. (District Court, D. Colorado 2014, 49 F. Supp. 3d 875)“…wages earned by their employees in a timely manner. See Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-4-109 (l)(a)(“[w]hen an interruption in the e…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 29
§ 203DefinitionsIn forcecited in 32 of our articles
As used in this chapter— “Person” means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, legal representative, or any organized group of persons. “Commerce” means trade, commerce, transportation, transmission, or communication among the several States or between any State and any place outside thereof. “State” means any State of the United States or the District of Columbia or any Territory or possession of the United States. “Employer” includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee and includes a public agency, but does not include any labor organization (other than when acting as an employer) or anyone acting in the capacity of officer or agent of such labor organization. Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the term “employee” means any individual employed by an employer.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 4,743 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Wisconsin v. Yoder (Supreme Court of the United States 1972, 406 U.S. 205)“…hteen years or detrimental to their health or well-being." 29 U. S. C. § 203 (l). [20] Cf. e. g., Jacobson v…”
- College Savings Bank v. Florida Prepaid Postsecondary Education Expense Board (Supreme Court of the United States 1999, 527 U.S. 666)“…specifically covered the state hospitals in question, see 29 U. S. C. § 203 (d) (1964 ed.), and such coverage was u…”
- Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority (Supreme Court of the United States 1985, 469 U.S. 528)“…vernment employees. §§ 6(a)(1) and (6), 88 Stat. 58 , 60, 29 U. S. C. §§ 203 (d) and (x). SATS complied with the FLS…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Federal Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 an Hour Since 2009, Minimum Wage by State 2026: All 50 States and DC, Alabama Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 Federal, No State Rate
§ 206Minimum wageIn forcecited in 49 of our articles
Every employer shall pay to each of his employees who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, wages at the following rates: except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than— $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after May 25, 2007; $6.55 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day; if such employee is a home worker in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, not less than the minimum piece rate prescribed by regulation or order; or, if no such minimum piece rate is in effect, any piece rate adopted by such employer which shall yield, to the proportion or class of employees prescribed by regulation or order, not less than the applicable minimum hourly wage rate. Such minimum piece rates or employer piece rates shall be commensurate with, and shall be paid in lieu of, the minimum hourly wage rate applicable under the provisions of this section.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 6,250 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Mark D. Tourscher v. Martin Horn, Secretary of the Pa. Dept. Of Corrections John McCullough Superintendent ,(d.c. Civil No. 98-Cv-00176j) (Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 1999, 184 F.3d 236)“…wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 206 (a), for the work he was compelled to d…”
- Christensen v. Harris County (Supreme Court of the United States 2000, 529 U.S. 576)“…in the private sector of the economy or the public sector. 29 U. S. C. §§ 206 , 207 (1994 ed. and Supp. III). In 1985…”
- Barrentine v. Arkansas-Best Freight System, Inc. (Supreme Court of the United States 1981, 450 U.S. 728)“…a minimum wage under § 6 of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U. S. C. § 206 , may not be waived through a collectiv…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Ohio Debt Collection Laws: Garnishment Formula, the 6-Year Consumer Debt Rule, and Repossession, South Dakota Debt Collection Laws: The 20% Garnishment Cap and 120-Day Lien, Wage Theft in the U.S.: Your Rights Regardless of Immigration Status
§ 216PenaltiesIn forcecited in 46 of our articles
Any person who willfully violates any of the provisions of section 215 of this title shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000, or to imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. No person shall be imprisoned under this subsection except for an offense committed after the conviction of such person for a prior offense under this subsection. Any employer who violates the provisions of section 206 or section 207 of this title shall be liable to the employee or employees affected in the amount of their unpaid minimum wages, or their unpaid overtime compensation, as the case may be, and in an additional equal amount as liquidated damages. Any employer who violates the provisions of section 215(a)(3) or 218d of this title shall be liable for such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to effectuate the purposes of section 215(a)(3) or 218d of this title, including without limitation employment, reinstatement, promotion, and the payment of wages lost and an additional equal amount as liquidated damages.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 9,526 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):The Supreme Court treats Section 216(b) as the FLSA's private-suit clause. Alden v. Maine (1999) held Article I gives Congress no power to subject nonconsenting states to such private damages suits in their own courts. Christensen v. Harris County (2000) applied Section 216(b)'s requirement that plaintiffs prove a Section 207 violation.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Society (Supreme Court of the United States 1975, 421 U.S. 240)“…abor Standards Act, § 16 (b), 52 Stat. 1069 , as amended, 29 U. S. C. § 216 (b); Longshoremen's and Harbor Workers…”
- Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper (Supreme Court of the United States 1980, 447 U.S. 752)“…ther taxable costs. Compare 42 U. S. C. § 2000a-3 (b) with 29 U. S. C. § 216 (b) (1970 ed., Supp. V).” Id., at 6…”
- Hutto v. Finney (Supreme Court of the United States 1979, 437 U.S. 678)“…ther taxable costs. Compare 42 U. S. C. § 2000a-3 (b) with 29 U. S. C. § 216 (b) (1970 ed., Supp. V). [29] See…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Federal Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report, Unpaid Wages: How to File a Claim and Recover What You're Owed, Independent Contractor vs. Employee: The IRS, DOL and ABC Tests
§ 218Relation to other lawsIn forcecited in 52 of our articles
No provision of this chapter or of any order thereunder shall excuse noncompliance with any Federal or State law or municipal ordinance establishing a minimum wage higher than the minimum wage established under this chapter or a maximum work week lower than the maximum workweek established under this chapter, and no provision of this chapter relating to the employment of child labor shall justify noncompliance with any Federal or State law or municipal ordinance establishing a higher standard than the standard established under this chapter. No provision of this chapter shall justify any employer in reducing a wage paid by him which is in excess of the applicable minimum wage under this chapter, or justify any employer in increasing hours of employment maintained by him which are shorter than the maximum hours applicable under this chapter.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 312 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Philip Williamson Itzik Riefronda Kirlin Thomas Painter,plaintiffs-Appellants v. General Dynamics Corporation,opinion (Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2000, 208 F.3d 1144)“…wage, hour, and child labor legislation. See 29 U.S.C. § 218 (a). 1 *1151…”
- United States v. Klinghoffer Bros. Realty Corp., Irving Jacobson and Albert Klinghoffer (Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit 1961, 285 F.2d 487)“…agreement to accept reduced pay is valid, notwithstanding 29 U.S.C. § 218 . White v. Witwer Grocer Co., 8 Cir.,…”
- Pacific Merchant Shipping Ass'n v. Aubry (Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 1990, 918 F.2d 1409)“…han the maximum workweek established under this chapter. 29 U.S.C. Section 218 (a). The employees and the United State…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Alaska Minimum Wage 2026: $14.00 an Hour, $15.00 in July 2027, Arizona Minimum Wage 2026: $15.15 Per Hour, $15.65 in 2027, Arkansas Minimum Wage 2026: $11.00 an Hour, Tip Credit Rules
§ 255Statute of limitationsIn forcecited in 39 of our articles
Any action commenced on or after May 14, 1947, to enforce any cause of action for unpaid minimum wages, unpaid overtime compensation, or liquidated damages, under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended [29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], the Walsh-Healey Act, or the Bacon-Davis Act 1 See References in Text note below. — if the cause of action accrues on or after May 14, 1947 —may be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, and every such action shall be forever barred unless commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, except that a cause of action arising out of a willful violation may be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrued; if the cause of action accrued prior to May 14, 1947 —may be commenced within whichever of the following periods is the shorter: (1) two years after the cause of action accrued, or (2) the period prescribed by the applicable State statute of limitations; and, except as provided in paragraph (c), every such action shall be forever barred unless commenced within the shorter of such two periods; if the cause of action accrued prior to May 14, 1947, the action shall not be barred by paragraph (b)…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 2,924 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents (Supreme Court of the United States 2000, 528 U.S. 62)“…added to the statute of limitations provision of the FLSA, 29 U. S. C. § 255 , a new subsection (d), which suspended…”
- Oscar Mayer & Co. v. Evans (Supreme Court of the United States 1979, 441 U.S. 750)“…title shall apply to actions under this chapter." Title 29 U. S. C. § 255 provides in relevant part: "Any acti…”
- Phyllis Miller v. Maxwell's International Inc., Dba Maxwell's Plum, Debtor in Possession Carlo Galazzo, Gen. Mgt., Dino La Rosa Don Bohn Don Schupak (Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 1993, 991 F.2d 583)“…o a more generous three-year statute of limitations. See 29 U.S.C. § 255 (a) (1988) (three-year statute of limit…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Connecticut Minimum Wage 2026: $16.94 an Hour ($17.48 in 2027), Georgia Minimum Wage 2026: $7.25 Federal, $5.15 State Rate, Hawaii Minimum Wage 2026: $16.00 an Hour, Next Step $18.00 in 2028
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →
Sources and References
- CDLE INFO #1 (2026 COMPS and PAY CALC Orders)(cdle.colorado.gov).gov
- CDLE 2026 PAY CALC Order, 7 CCR 1103-14(cdle.colorado.gov).gov
- CDLE press release: Colorado minimum wage increases to $15.71 in 2027(cdle.colorado.gov).gov
- U.S. Code, 29 U.S.C. 218 (FLSA savings clause)(www.law.cornell.edu).gov
- U.S. Department of Labor, Minimum Wage FAQ(www.dol.gov).gov
- Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 8 (8-6-101, 8-4-122, 8-4-120)(olls.info)
- Denver Labor, Citywide Minimum Wage(denvergov.org).gov
- City of Boulder, Local Minimum Wage(bouldercolorado.gov).gov
- Boulder County, Local Minimum Wage(bouldercounty.gov).gov
- ColoradoLaborLaw.gov (CDLE annual minimum wage table)(www.coloradolaborlaw.gov).gov
- HB25-1208 (enrolled), Colorado General Assembly(content.leg.colorado.gov).gov
- U.S. DOL, tipped minimum wage by state(www.dol.gov).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 203 (definitions, tip retention)(www.law.cornell.edu).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 206 (minimum wage, youth opportunity wage)(www.law.cornell.edu).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 216 (FLSA enforcement)(www.law.cornell.edu).gov
- 29 U.S.C. 255 (FLSA limitations)(www.law.cornell.edu).gov
- U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division, file a complaint(www.dol.gov).gov
- Colorado Secretary of State, 2026 ballot measures(www.coloradosos.gov).gov
- Colorado General Assembly, 2026 labor and employment legislation summary(content.leg.colorado.gov).gov
- Colorado General Assembly, HB25-1208 bill history (signed June 3, 2025)(leg.colorado.gov).gov