Colorado Overtime Calculator 2026

Does Colorado Have Daily Overtime? (The 12-Hour Rule)

Yes. While most states only follow the federal 40-hour workweek rule, Colorado labor law provides strict protections for workers pulling long shifts. Under the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order, employers must pay time-and-a-half (1.5x) for any work that exceeds:

12 hours per workday (a 24-hour period defined by the employer), OR
12 consecutive hours (even if the shift spans across two different calendar days).

"If you work a 14-hour shift in Colorado, you are guaranteed at least 2 hours of overtime pay, regardless of whether you hit 40 hours by the end of the week."

A visual flowchart explaining Colorado's COMPS Order 12-hour overtime rule. It shows a worker clocking a 14-hour shift. The first 12 hours are shaded in blue as 'Regular Pay', and the final 2 hours are highlighted in red as '1.5x Overtime Pay', even though their total weekly hours are only 38. — Under the COMPS Order, the 12-hour rule ensures long shifts are compensated fairly, regardless of your total weekly hours.

FLSA Weekly vs. Colorado Daily Overtime (Which Pays More?)

In Colorado, you evaluate both your daily overtime (hours over 12 in a day) and your weekly overtime (hours over 40 in a week). However, state law prohibits "pyramiding" or duplicating overtime. Your employer must calculate both and pay you whichever amount is greater.

**Scenario: Working three 14-hour shifts (42 total hours)**
Calculation Method	Regular Hours	Overtime Hours (1.5x)
Standard Federal FLSA (Weekly > 40)	40 Hours	2 Hours
Colorado COMPS Rule (Daily > 12)	36 Hours	6 Hours (3 shifts x 2 OT hrs)

In the scenario above, our calculator will automatically apply the Colorado state rule because it grants you 6 hours of overtime instead of just 2. If you are calculating complex payroll shifts involving minutes, use a decimal hours converter to ensure your timesheet submissions are highly accurate before checking for the 12-hour threshold.

Colorado Minimum Wage & Missed Break Penalties

Colorado consistently maintains one of the higher minimum wages in the country, adjusted annually for inflation. For 2024, the statewide minimum wage was $14.42, with cities like Denver establishing even higher local minimums. Tipped employees can be paid up to $3.02 less per hour, provided their tips make up the difference.

The Rest Break Penalty: Colorado is incredibly strict about rest periods. The COMPS Order requires a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked. If an employer fails to authorize this break, it counts as time worked, and the employer owes you an additional 10 minutes of compensation for each missed break.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the daily overtime rule in Colorado?

Under the Colorado COMPS Order, employees must be paid time-and-a-half (1.5x) for any work in excess of 12 hours per workday, or 12 consecutive hours (even if the shift spans across two different calendar days).

2. Do I get both daily and weekly overtime in Colorado?

No. Colorado law prohibits "pyramiding" or duplicating overtime. You calculate your daily overtime (over 12 hours) and your weekly overtime (over 40 hours), and your employer must pay you whichever amount is greater.

3. Can my employer force me to work overtime in Colorado?

Yes. Generally, employers can require mandatory overtime. However, they must properly compensate you at the 1.5x rate for hours exceeding 40 in a workweek or 12 in a single day.

4. What happens if my employer skips my rest break in Colorado?

If a Colorado employer fails to authorize and permit a required 10-minute paid rest period, the COMPS Order states that the failure to provide the break counts as time worked, and the employer owes the employee an additional 10 minutes of compensation for each missed break.

Colorado Overtime Calculator (12-Hour Rule)