How to use the Colorado paycheck calculator
- Enter your pay. Choose Salary or Hourly, type the amount, and pick how often you are paid.
- Copy your Form W-4. Select your filing status and fill in Steps 2, 3 and 4 the way they are on the federal form your employer has.
- Copy your Form DR 0004. If you filled in Form DR 0004, enter its line 2 allowance and line 3 extra amount. If not, leave line 2 empty: the employer then uses $5,500, or $11,000 if your W-4 says married filing jointly.
What is the Colorado paycheck calculator?
The Colorado paycheck calculator is a tool that turns gross pay into take-home pay for someone who works in Colorado. Colorado taxes income at one flat rate of 4.4%, and the FAMLI paid leave program takes 0.44% of wages from employees. Denver and a few other cities also charge a small monthly occupational privilege tax.
The federal lines use the 2026 method in IRS Publication 15-T. The Colorado line follows the 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers (DR 1098), step by step, and the working is shown under the result. To see how Colorado compares with other states, see income tax by state.
Features
- Colorado income tax withholding with the 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers (DR 1098)
- Every line of Form DR 0004, the Colorado withholding form
- Colorado FAMLI (paid leave) at 0.44% of wages up to $184,500
- Salary and hourly pay, with overtime hours at a multiplier you set
- Weekly, biweekly, twice-a-month and monthly pay periods
- Federal income tax from the 2026 IRS percentage method tables and every step of Form W-4
- Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax
- The federal and the state working shown step by step
- A PDF report of your inputs and every result line, to save or share on WhatsApp
Colorado paycheck taxes in 2026
| Tax or deduction | Rate | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 0% to 37% of the adjusted annual wage, by Form W-4 | Internal Revenue Service |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 | Social Security Administration and IRS |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 in the year | Internal Revenue Service |
| Colorado income tax | 4.4% flat | Colorado Department of Revenue |
| Colorado FAMLI (paid leave) | 0.44% of wages up to $184,500 | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, FAMLI Division |
| City or county income tax | Occupational privilege tax in Denver, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Sheridan | City governments |
| State unemployment tax taken from employee pay | None: the employer pays it | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment |
The 2026 tax rate is 4.4%. A temporary cut to 4.25% applied to 2024 only.
How Colorado withholding is worked out
Colorado has no wage-bracket tables for 2026. The Department of Revenue's worksheet DR 1098 is the method:
- Multiply the taxable wages for the pay period by the number of pay periods in the year.
- Subtract the annual withholding allowance: line 2 of Form DR 0004, or, with no DR 0004, $11,000 for married filing jointly and $5,500 for any other filing status on the federal W-4.
- Multiply by 4.4%.
- Divide by the number of pay periods, then add the extra amount from line 3 of Form DR 0004.
Taxable wages follow the federal rules, so a traditional 401(k) contribution and a pre-tax health premium are not taxed. Overtime that is exempt from federal withholding under the 2025 federal law is still wages for Colorado withholding.
A worked example
The worksheet prints no example, so here is one. A single employee paid $2,500 every two weeks with no DR 0004: $2,500 × 26 = $65,000; minus $5,500 is $59,500; × 4.4% is $2,618.00; ÷ 26 is $100.69 a paycheck.
Colorado Form DR 0004
Form DR 0004, the 2026 Colorado Employee Withholding Certificate, is optional. Without it the employer works from the federal W-4. Line 2 is an annual allowance in dollars; line 3 is an extra amount per paycheck.
The form's Table 1 suggests a line 2 amount by filing status and number of jobs. A smaller amount, including zero, means more is withheld.
| Federal W-4 filing status | 1 job | 2 jobs | 3 jobs | 4 or more jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single or married filing separately | $14,000 | $7,000 | $4,500 | $3,500 |
| Head of household | $22,000 | $11,000 | $7,500 | $5,500 |
| Married filing jointly | $30,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 | $7,500 |
Colorado take-home pay by salary
The table shows 2026 take-home pay in Colorado for a single filer paid every two weeks, with no Form DR 0004, and no pre-tax deductions.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | Colorado income tax and Colorado FAMLI (paid leave) | Take-home pay per year | Per paycheck (every two weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $1,210 | $25,075 | $964.42 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $2,178 | $40,177 | $1,545.28 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,388 | $58,204 | $2,238.63 |
| $97,113 | $12,535 | $7,429 | $4,458 | $72,691 | $2,795.80 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,598 | $74,582 | $2,868.54 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,018 | $106,773 | $4,106.66 |
The $97,113 row is Colorado's median household income in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey. A single filer paid that salary takes home $72,691 a year, or $2,795.80 every two weeks, after $4,458 in Colorado taxes.
Colorado take-home pay by hourly wage
The table shows a 40-hour week for a single filer paid weekly, with no Form DR 0004. The first row is the Colorado minimum wage of $15.16 an hour.
| Hourly wage | Gross pay per week (40 hours) | Federal taxes per week | Colorado taxes per week | Take-home pay per week | Take-home pay per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.16 | $606.40 | $77.23 | $24.70 | $504.47 | $26,232 |
| $18.00 | $720.00 | $99.56 | $30.20 | $590.24 | $30,693 |
| $20.00 | $800.00 | $115.28 | $34.07 | $650.65 | $33,834 |
| $25.00 | $1,000.00 | $154.58 | $43.75 | $801.67 | $41,687 |
| $30.00 | $1,200.00 | $193.88 | $53.43 | $952.69 | $49,540 |
| $40.00 | $1,600.00 | $304.59 | $72.79 | $1,222.62 | $63,576 |
At $15.16 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $606.40 before tax and $504.47 after federal and Colorado taxes.
Colorado FAMLI on your paycheck
FAMLI, Colorado's paid family and medical leave insurance, costs 0.88% of wages in 2026. Employees pay 0.44% through payroll and employers pay the other 0.44%, on wages up to $184,500, the Social Security wage cap.
Employers with fewer than 10 employees do not pay the employer share but still deduct the employee's 0.44%. An employer may also choose to pay the employee share.
Denver and other city occupational privilege taxes
Some Colorado cities charge a flat monthly tax on people who work there, called an occupational privilege tax. It is a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage, and the calculator does not add it.
| City | Employee pays per month | Applies when monthly pay in the city is at least |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $5.75 | $500 |
| Glendale | $5.00 | $750 |
| Greenwood Village | $2.00 | $250 |
| Sheridan | $3.00 | Any amount |
Employers pay a matching or separate amount. Aurora repealed its occupational privilege tax on 1 January 2025.
Colorado pay rules that shape your paycheck
These Colorado rules decide how much is on a paycheck and when it arrives.
| Rule | What Colorado law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $15.16 an hour in 2026; Denver $19.29; $15.71 statewide from 1 January 2027 | Colorado Department of Labor and Employment; City and County of Denver |
| Tipped employees | Cash wage of $12.14, with a tip credit of $3.02 | COMPS Order |
| Overtime | One and one-half times the regular rate after 40 hours in a week or 12 hours in a day. No double time. | COMPS Order, Rule 4 |
| Breaks | A 30-minute meal period for a shift over 5 hours; a paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours | COMPS Order, Rule 5 |
| Paydays | At least once a month, no later than 10 days after the pay period ends | Colorado Wage Act Section 8-4-103 |
| Final paycheck | Immediately after a discharge; on the next regular payday after a resignation | Colorado Wage Act Section 8-4-109 |
| Pay stub | Gross wages, every deduction, net wages, the pay period dates, and employee and employer details | Colorado Wage Act Section 8-4-103(4) |
| Paid sick leave | One hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours a year | Healthy Families and Workplaces Act |
Colorado's daily overtime means a 14-hour shift earns 2 overtime hours even in a short week. Enter those as overtime hours in the calculator.
Who pays unemployment tax in Colorado?
Employers pay Colorado unemployment tax; nothing is taken from an employee's paycheck for it. For 2026 the taxable wage base is $30,600 per employee, and a new employer pays 3.05% for most industries.
What changed for Colorado paychecks in 2026, and what is next
- DR 1098 for 2026 raised the default withholding allowance to $5,500 and $11,000, from $5,000 and $10,000 in the 2024 edition.
- FAMLI fell from 0.90% to 0.88% (employee share 0.44%), and the wage cap rose to $184,500.
- The minimum wage rose to $15.16; $15.71 is set for 1 January 2027.
- The unemployment tax wage base rose to $30,600, paid by employers.
- Ballot measures on the income tax rate are on the 3 November 2026 ballot; none is law yet.
What the calculator includes
- Tax year: 2026. Colorado figures were checked against the Colorado Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor and Employment, the FAMLI Division and city governments on 14 October 2026.
- Taxes: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax, Colorado income tax and Colorado FAMLI (paid leave).
- Forms: the 2020-and-later Form W-4 and the current Form DR 0004.
- Pay: gross pay up to $10,000,000, hourly rates up to $10,000, up to 744 hours in a pay period, and an overtime multiplier from 1 to 5.
- Colorado rules: the DR 1098 worksheet with lines 2 and 3 of Form DR 0004, and FAMLI at 0.44% up to $184,500. City occupational privilege taxes are not included.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculation runs in your browser. Your pay, your withholding forms and your result are not sent to a server and are not saved.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Leave DR 0004 line 2 empty unless your form has a number there. Empty and zero give different results.
- Check the filing status on your federal W-4. With no DR 0004, it decides the Colorado allowance.
- If you work in Denver, Glendale, Greenwood Village or Sheridan, take the monthly occupational privilege tax off the result yourself.
- Enter hours over 12 in one day as overtime hours. Colorado counts daily overtime as well as weekly.
- Look for the FAMLI line on your pay stub. If your employer pays your share, your take-home is that much higher.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
- Does Colorado have a state income tax?
- Yes, a flat 4.4% income tax in 2026. Employers subtract an annual allowance ($5,500, or $11,000 for married filing jointly, unless Form DR 0004 says otherwise) and withhold 4.4% of the rest.
- How much is $75,000 after taxes in Colorado?
- A single filer paid $75,000 a year in Colorado takes home $58,204 in 2026, or $2,238.63 every two weeks, with no Form DR 0004. Federal income tax is $7,670, Social Security and Medicare are $5,738, and Colorado taxes are $3,388.
- What taxes come out of a paycheck in Colorado?
- Federal income tax, Social Security tax of 6.2%, Medicare tax of 1.45% and Colorado income tax, plus Colorado FAMLI (paid leave) of 0.44%. In Denver, Glendale, Greenwood Village and Sheridan, a monthly occupational privilege tax is added.
- What is FAMLI on my Colorado paycheck?
- Colorado's paid family and medical leave insurance. In 2026 employees pay 0.44% of wages up to $184,500, and employers pay the same.
- Do I need to fill out Form DR 0004?
- No, it is optional. Without it the employer uses an allowance based on the filing status on your federal W-4. Fill it in to have more or less withheld.
- Does Colorado have daily overtime?
- Yes. Hours over 12 in a workday, or over 12 consecutive hours, are paid at time and a half, as well as hours over 40 in a week.
- How much is the Denver occupational privilege tax?
- $5.75 a month from the employee for a month with at least $500 of pay for work in Denver, plus an employer share.
Sources
Every rate, bracket and limit this calculator uses comes from the official sources below. The method is shown on this page, so any result can be checked by hand.
- Colorado Department of Revenue, 2026 Colorado Withholding Worksheet for Employers (DR 1098); 2026 Employee Withholding Certificate (DR 0004); Wage Withholding Tax Guide (January 2026). The 4.40% rate, the withholding worksheet, default allowances and the DR 0004 table.
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, FAMLI Division, Premium and Benefits Calculator. The 2026 FAMLI premium, employee share and wage cap.
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, INFO #1: 2026 COMPS and PayCalc Orders; Colorado Wage Act; Unemployment Insurance Premiums. Colorado minimum wage, overtime, breaks, paydays, final pay, pay stubs, paid sick leave and unemployment tax.
- City and County of Denver; Cities of Glendale, Greenwood Village, Sheridan and Aurora, Occupational Privilege Tax pages. Monthly occupational privilege tax amounts and thresholds, and the Aurora repeal.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates, table B19013. Median household income by state.
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods. Worksheet 1A and the 2026 Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems: every bracket, rate and the $12,900 and $8,600 amounts on line 1g.
- Internal Revenue Service, Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a calendar year.
- Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base. The 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.