Denver Workers to Get $1.42 Raise as Minimum Wage Increases in 2026
- Author: Ralph Feil
- Posted: 2025-08-11
Starting January 1, 2026, workers in Denver, Colorado, will see one of the highest minimum wages in the country.
The city confirmed the new rate will be $19.29 per hour, up from $17.87 in 2025.
This $1.42 raise aims to help workers keep up with the rising cost of living and inflation.
Why the Increase?
Denver’s minimum wage law, passed in 2019, ties annual increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation.
The higher the inflation, the bigger the wage adjustment.
City officials say the goal is to protect workers’ purchasing power so they can continue to afford housing, food, health care, and transportation.
Who Gets the Raise?
The new minimum wage applies to all workers within Denver city limits, whether full-time or part-time.
Tipped workers (like servers and bartenders) can be paid a lower base wage, but their tips must bring them to at least $19.29 per hour.
If tips fall short, employers must make up the difference.
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One of the Highest in the U.S.
Denver’s new rate is far above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which has not changed since 2009.
Labor advocates say it will help narrow the income gap and improve living standards for thousands of workers.
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