Colorado Hourly Paycheck Calculator

Colorado payroll taxes

Colorado paychecks typically include federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Colorado state income tax. Some municipalities impose small occupational privilege (head) taxes that may require employee withholding (for example, Denver, Glendale, and Aurora). Employers fund Colorado unemployment insurance (SUTA), federal FUTA, workers’ compensation, and maintain required records and notices. Pretax benefits—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and eligible insurance premiums—can reduce taxable wages when plan-eligible.

• Employee (federal): Income tax (W-4 based), Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare for high earners.
• Employee (state/local): Colorado state withholding (DR 0004 elections) and any applicable municipal occupational privilege tax.
• Employer: Colorado SUTA; FUTA; workers’ compensation; local employer-side head taxes where applicable.
• Pretax deductions: May lower federal/state taxable wages and, when eligible, FICA.

How Your Colorado Paycheck Works

Your net pay equals gross hourly wages (regular, overtime, differentials, tips, bonuses) minus pretax deductions; then minus FICA, federal income tax, Colorado state withholding, and any local occupational privilege tax. The calculator presents hours, rates, taxable wages, withholdings, deductions, and take-home.

• Inputs: Hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, municipality, deductions.
• Outputs: Line-by-line FICA, federal, state, local (if any), deductions, and estimated net pay.
• Supplemental pay: Model flat vs. aggregate federal methods for bonuses/commissions to compare outcomes.

Colorado Income unemployment tax rate — 10 Years (Employer SUTA)

Replace placeholders with official Colorado Department of Labor & Employment figures (taxable wage base, experience-rated range, new-employer rate) before publishing.

Colorado salary threshold

Colorado follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS). Exempt status depends on duties tests and meeting the applicable salary-basis threshold; job titles alone don’t confer exemption. Confirm Colorado minimum wage (state-set), tip-credit, and industry-specific rules when classifying roles and calculating overtime.

Median Household Income: Colorado — 10 Years

Insert the latest U.S. Census/ACS one-year (or five-year) estimates before publishing.

Colorado Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

FICA is federal and applies in Colorado: employees pay Social Security and Medicare; employers match both. Above a federal threshold, Additional Medicare is withheld from employees (no employer match). Eligible pretax benefits (e.g., Section 125 health premiums) can reduce FICA-taxable wages depending on plan rules.

Number of cities that have local income taxes

50-word description: Some Colorado municipalities assess occupational privilege (head) taxes rather than percentage-based local income taxes. These flat amounts may be withheld from employees and matched by employers when earnings exceed local thresholds. Rates and applicability vary by city. Always verify the correct municipality, thresholds, and employer obligations before payroll or paycheck estimates.

Illustrative Colorado municipal occupational tax table (verify current rules before use)

Colorado Wage and Hour Laws: Overtime, Pay Frequency

• Overtime: Most non-exempt workers earn 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours/week, after 12 hours/day, or after 12 consecutive hours—whichever yields more.
• Pay frequency: Employers must pay on a regular schedule (often biweekly or semimonthly) with itemized wage statements.
• Recordkeeping: Accurate timekeeping and payroll record retention are required under COMPS and federal law.

Additional Colorado forms

• IRS Form W-4 (federal withholding elections).
• Colorado Form DR 0004 (Employee Withholding Certificate) for state elections.
• Form I-9 employment eligibility verification; new-hire reporting.
• Direct deposit authorization; benefits enrollment (401(k), HSA, FSA, insurance).
• Colorado unemployment (employer) account registration; required workplace posters.

FAQs about the Colorado Hourly Paycheck Calculator

How do I use the Colorado Hourly Paycheck Calculator?

Enter hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, municipality, and pretax/post-tax deductions. The calculator applies FICA, federal, Colorado state, and any local occupational tax to estimate take-home with a clear breakdown.

Does Colorado have city income taxes deducted from paychecks?

Colorado generally does not use percentage-based city income taxes. However, some cities (e.g., Denver, Aurora, Glendale) assess flat occupational privilege taxes that may appear on paychecks. Verify your worksite city and thresholds.

Which form controls my Colorado state withholding?

Use Colorado Form DR 0004 with your IRS W-4. Update after life events (marriage, dependents, multiple jobs, moving) and mirror the settings in the calculator.

How should I enter overtime, shift differentials, tips, and bonuses?

Input overtime using the correct multipliers. Enter differentials, tips, and supplemental wages separately so the calculator recomputes federal, state, and local withholdings accurately.

Why did my Colorado paycheck change this period?

Common reasons: variable hours/tips, overtime, bonuses (supplemental withholding method), updated W-4/DR 0004 elections, changes in benefits, or crossing a city occupational tax threshold.

Can pretax benefits increase my take-home pay?

Yes. Eligible pretax deductions—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and certain insurance—reduce taxable wages and may lower income tax and, when eligible, FICA.

How are tips treated in Colorado paycheck calculations?

Reported tips are taxable for federal, FICA, and Colorado state income tax. Include cash and charged tips to ensure correct withholding and compliance with state tip-credit rules.

How do multiple jobs affect my withholding?

Use the IRS multiple-jobs guidance on your W-4 and ensure DR 0004 reflects your situation. Model each job separately, especially if different cities have occupational taxes.

What is Additional Medicare tax and when does it apply?

After you exceed the federal threshold, employers must withhold Additional Medicare on the excess. There’s no employer match; it appears alongside regular Medicare on your stub.

Are bonuses and commissions taxed differently?

They are supplemental wages. Employers may use a flat federal supplemental rate or aggregate with regular wages; Colorado state withholding and any applicable municipal head tax still apply.

Can the calculator project annual take-home from my hourly rate?

Yes. Multiply weekly hours by 52, add expected overtime/tips/bonuses, then run the estimate with your pay frequency, municipality, and deductions to view an approximate annual net total.

What do people ask on Google about the Colorado Hourly Paycheck Calculator?

“How much is my Colorado paycheck after taxes?” “Do Denver or Aurora head taxes reduce my net?” “How to fill DR 0004?” “How do 401(k)/HSA/FSA change net?” “How to model bonuses/overtime?”

What do Reddit users commonly discuss about Colorado paycheck estimates?

“My CO take-home seems low—did a city head tax kick in?” “Overtime vs. second job—which nets more?” “Best pretax mix to raise net?” “Flat supplemental vs. aggregate for bonuses?” “Semimonthly vs. biweekly differences?”

What do people ask on Quora regarding Colorado hourly pay calculators?

“How to estimate take-home before accepting a Denver job?” “Gross vs. taxable vs. net pay?” “How do W-4 and DR 0004 interact?” “How do tips and commissions affect Colorado taxes and city head taxes?”