Starting in 2024, Colorado’s minimum wage will rise to 14.42 dollars an hour for non-tipped employees and 11.42 dollars for tipped employees. For most people, this will be a 0.77 dollar raise from the prior minimum wage of 13.65 dollars. 

Colorado minimum wage changes each year based on inflation. With the recent inflation rate causing wages to go up, Colorado will be ranked the seventh highest minimum wage in the country. 

This increase has the potential to impact many Colorado residents, specifically restaurant owners. The average restaurant owner in Colorado should now expect to increase labor to nearly $78,581 just this year. 

With this change, approximately 30% of restaurants will begin to charge a service fee to accommodate labor prices. 

Both teens and adults in the workforce are protected by many labor laws, including Section 15 of Article 18, in the Colorado Constitution. Employers should constantly be following the labor laws as they are changing.