Calculate your overtime pay in Fort Collins based on your hourly rate and hours worked, using the federal FLSA 40-hour rule for 2026.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Applicable minimum wage in Fort Collins: $14.81/hour
Colorado requires overtime under its state COMPS Order in addition to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, beyond 12 in a workday, or beyond 12 consecutive hours, whichever results in the most overtime.
| Rule | Fort Collins (CO) Requirement |
|---|---|
| Weekly overtime threshold | 40 hours/week (1.5x) |
| Daily overtime | 1.5x after 12 hours/day (COMPS Order) |
| Double time | Not required under state or federal law |
| Seventh consecutive day | No special rule (12 consecutive hours triggers 1.5x) |
| Applicable minimum wage | $14.81/hour |
| Federal overtime rate | 1.5x regular rate (FLSA) |
Your overtime rate is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes hourly wages and most non-discretionary bonuses. For example, at $14.81/hour a standard 1.5x overtime hour pays $22.21.
Fort Collins is a Front Range college town anchored by Colorado State University, with an economy built on research and higher education, semiconductors and hardware, craft brewing, and outdoor recreation at the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.
| Local Metric | Fort Collins (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 170,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Larimer County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 103 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $21.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $42.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $14.81/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,500/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,850/month |
| Median home price | $540,000 |
| Median household income | $78,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7.55% |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.49% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
In Fort Collins, Colorado requires overtime under its state COMPS Order in addition to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: non-exempt employees earn 1.5x their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, beyond 12 in a workday, or beyond 12 consecutive hours, whichever results in the most overtime. Overtime is based on your regular rate of pay, which includes most non-discretionary bonuses, not just your base hourly wage.
The applicable minimum wage in Fort Collins is $14.81/hour. Fort Collins does not set a separate city minimum wage, so the Colorado statewide rate (about $14.81 entering 2026 and adjusted each January for inflation) applies. Overtime must be at least 1.5x your regular rate, and if your rate is higher than the minimum, overtime is figured on your actual rate.
Yes. Under Colorado's COMPS Order, workers in Fort Collins earn 1.5x overtime after 12 hours in a single workday or after 12 consecutive hours, in addition to weekly overtime after 40 hours, whichever yields the most pay.
Salaried executive, administrative, and professional employees who earn above the FLSA salary threshold ($684/week) and meet the duties tests are generally exempt, as are most independent contractors. Colorado applies its own COMPS Order exemptions and a state salary threshold higher than the federal level, so some workers who are exempt under federal law still earn overtime in Fort Collins. Check with an employment attorney for your situation.
Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages. New for 2026, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act lets eligible non-exempt workers deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) of overtime pay from federal taxable income. Colorado taxes overtime as ordinary income at its flat 4.4% rate and has not adopted a matching state deduction. Consult a tax professional to confirm eligibility.