Colorado Employee Cost Calculator
Colorado employee cost calculator with $14.42 minimum wage and FAMLI paid family leave tax. SUI rates from 0.75% to 10.43%. Calculate total employment costs for CO businesses.
$14.42/hr
3.05%
0.75% -10.43%
$30,600
Enter salary and state, then click Calculate
Ready to run payroll in Colorado?
Once you know the true employee cost, the next job is paying people correctly. Full-service payroll software can help with pay runs, tax filings, W-2s, new-hire reporting, and state unemployment details.
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Key Facts About Hiring in Colorado
Minimum wage: $14.42/hour (2026)
SUI rates: 0.75% to 10.43%
Annual cost-of-living adjustments
FAMLI paid family leave: 0.9% (split employer/employee)
2026 Colorado Employer Cost Snapshot
Colorado employers should model more than unemployment premiums. The state has a higher wage base than many states, industry-based introductory UI rates, paid family and medical leave, and local wage pressure around Denver and Boulder.
Benefits are modeled at 18% for this example. Use the calculator above to replace this with your actual health insurance, retirement, and PTO assumptions.
The 2026 Colorado chargeable wage base is $30,600.
New employers receive an introductory rate based on their industry.
Colorado FAMLI premiums affect payroll setup and should be configured separately from UI.
Denver-area compensation and local wage rules can push total costs above the state baseline.
- Register with Colorado's unemployment insurance premium system before wages are due.
- Confirm the industry introductory rate instead of assuming a single statewide rate.
- Configure FAMLI contributions separately in payroll.
- Check local wage and paid leave rules for Denver, Boulder, and other city-specific requirements.
- Colorado's wage base makes SUI visible for more of the salary range than low-base states.
- Professional services and technology employers should use stronger benefits assumptions than the calculator defaults.
- This page should link toward technology, contractor comparison, and payroll software pages.
Ready to run payroll in Colorado?
Once you know the true employee cost, the next job is paying people correctly. Full-service payroll software can help with pay runs, tax filings, W-2s, new-hire reporting, and state unemployment details.
Disclosure: some payroll links may be affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.
Official Colorado payroll sources
Frequently Asked Questions - Colorado
Calculate Colorado Costs by Industry
Workers' compensation rates, turnover, and compliance requirements vary significantly by industry. See industry-specific costs for Colorado.
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Automate payroll taxes, direct deposits, and compliance.
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