Minimum Wage in Aurora
Aurora follows the Colorado floor — $15.16 in 2026. Across the city line Denver pays $19.29. The wage map your paycheck runs on.
Aurora wage now
$15.16
Aurora wage Jan 1, 2027
$15.71
Denver wage now
$19.29
Wage map of the metro
| Jurisdiction | 2026 | 2026 tipped | Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora (state floor)AURORA | $15.16 | $12.14 | $15.71 |
| Denver | $19.29 | $16.27 | $19.84 |
| Edgewater | $18.17 | $13.50 | $19.84 |
| Boulder (city) | $16.82 | $13.80 | $18.17 |
| Boulder County (uninc.) | $16.82 | $13.80 | $17.43 |
Rates from CDLE’s annual minimum-wage table. Tipped figures are cash wages — employers may take up to a $3.02/hr tip credit only if tips bring the worker to full minimum. Aurora has no local ordinance, so the state floor applies.
What workers ask
I work in Aurora — is Denver’s wage relevant?+
Only if you physically work inside Denver city limits. Aurora pays the Colorado state floor — $15.16/hr in 2026, which is $4.13/hr less than Denver. Your employer’s address does not matter; where the work happens does.
Does the wage change automatically?+
Yes — every January 1, adjusted by the regional consumer price index (a formula voters approved in 2016). Aurora goes to $15.71 on Jan 1, 2027; Denver to $19.84.
What about overtime and breaks?+
Colorado requires 1.5× pay after 40 hours/week or 12 hours/day, plus paid 10-minute rest breaks every 4 hours worked and meal breaks past 5 hours.
What if I am underpaid?+
Colorado’s Division of Labor Standards investigates wage complaints regardless of immigration status — file at cdle.colorado.gov or call 303-318-8441. Denver Labor covers work inside Denver.