How Colorado taxes your paycheck
Flat 4.4% on taxable income
Colorado taxes federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction is used. A TABOR revenue surplus can temporarily lower the rate (it was 4.25% for 2024).
Other Colorado payroll deductions
Besides income tax, Colorado requires these employee-paid deductions. They show up on your pay stub under the abbreviation in the first column.
| On your stub | Program | 2026 employee rate | Wage cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO FAMLI | Paid Family and Medical Leave InsuranceThe 2026 premium is 0.88% of wages; employers may deduct up to half (0.44%) from employee pay. | 0.44% | $184,500 |
Not sure what these are? Our guide to SDI and paid leave deductions explains each one.
Local income taxes
Denver ($5.75 a month), Aurora ($2), Greenwood Village ($2), Glendale, and Sheridan charge a flat Occupational Privilege Tax on employees who work there. Not included in this estimate.
The calculator above does not include local taxes.
Example: $60,000 salary in Colorado
A single filer paid every two weeks (26 paychecks) on a $60,000 salary, with no 401(k) or health premiums, takes home about $1,853.63 per paycheck, or $48,194 a year.
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 |
| Colorado income tax | -$74.29 |
| CO FAMLI | -$10.15 |
| Net pay | $1,853.63 |
Colorado pay stub and payday rules
Colorado employers must provide an itemized pay statement each payday, on paper or electronically. Colorado wage rules also require tracking paid sick leave balances, which many employers show on the stub.
- Gross wages earned
- All withholdings and deductions
- Net wages earned
- Pay period dates
- Employee name or SSN
- Employer name and address
- Paid sick leave balance
Source: C.R.S. § 8-4-103(4). Every state compared in our pay stub requirements by state guide.
Pay frequency: At least monthly, or every 30 days, with payday no more than 10 days after the period ends (C.R.S. § 8-4-103).
Minimum wage: $15.16 per hour. Adjusted each January for inflation. Denver has a higher local minimum.
Colorado Paycheck FAQs
Yes. Flat 4.4% on taxable income
For a single filer paid every two weeks on a $60,000 salary with no pre-tax deductions, our 2026 estimate is $2,307.69 gross and $1,853.63 take-home per paycheck. About 19.7% of gross goes to taxes: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare, $74.29 Colorado income tax, plus $10.15 CO FAMLI.
$15.16 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. Adjusted each January for inflation. Denver has a higher local minimum.
Colorado employers must provide an itemized pay statement each payday, on paper or electronically. Colorado wage rules also require tracking paid sick leave balances, which many employers show on the stub. (C.R.S. § 8-4-103(4))
At least monthly, or every 30 days, with payday no more than 10 days after the period ends (C.R.S. § 8-4-103).
Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (CO FAMLI): 0.44% of wages up to $184,500 a year.
Denver ($5.75 a month), Aurora ($2), Greenwood Village ($2), Glendale, and Sheridan charge a flat Occupational Privilege Tax on employees who work there. Not included in this estimate.