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, which may require employee withholding (e.g., Denver, Glendale, Aurora). Employers fund Colorado unemployment insurance (SUTA), federal FUTA, workers’ compensation, and maintain required records. 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, 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, and local employer-side head taxes where applicable.
• Pretax deductions: Reduce federal and state taxable wages and, when eligible, FICA-taxable wages.

How Your Colorado Paycheck Works

Net pay equals gross 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 provides a detailed breakdown of hours, rates, taxable wages, withholdings, deductions, and take-home pay.

• 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: Compare flat vs. aggregate federal methods for bonuses/commissions.

Colorado Income Unemployment Tax Rates — 10-Year Employer SUTA

Replace placeholders with official Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) figures before publishing.

Colorado Salary Threshold

Colorado follows the federal FLSA and Colorado Overtime & Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS). Exempt status requires passing duties tests and meeting the salary-basis threshold. Job titles alone do not confer exemption. Confirm state minimum wage, tip-credit rules, and industry-specific regulations.

Median Household Income in Colorado — 10-Year Trend

Insert latest U.S. Census/ACS estimates before publishing.

Colorado Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)

FICA applies in Colorado: employees pay Social Security and Medicare; employers match both. Additional Medicare tax applies for employees exceeding the federal threshold; employers do not match. Pretax benefits may reduce FICA-taxable wages depending on plan rules.

Colorado Local Taxes

Overview: Some Colorado cities assess flat occupational privilege (head) taxes instead of percentage-based income taxes. Rates and thresholds vary. Employers may match employee portions. Always verify municipality rules before payroll or paycheck estimates.

Illustrative Colorado Municipal Occupational Tax Table

Colorado Wage and Hour Laws: Overtime & Pay Frequency

• Overtime: Non-exempt employees earn 1.5× after 40 hours/week, 12 hours/day, or 12 consecutive hours—whichever is higher.
• Pay frequency: Employers must pay on a regular schedule (biweekly/semimonthly) with itemized wage statements.
• Recordkeeping: COMPS and federal law require accurate timekeeping and payroll records.

Additional Colorado Payroll Forms

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

FAQs: 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 local occupational taxes to estimate take-home pay.

Does Colorado have city income taxes deducted?

Colorado generally does not have percentage-based city taxes, but some cities (Denver, Aurora, Glendale) impose flat occupational privilege taxes. Verify your worksite city and thresholds.

Which form controls Colorado state withholding?

Use DR 0004 with your IRS W-4. Update after life events and mirror the calculator settings.

How should I enter overtime, tips, and bonuses?

Input overtime, differentials, tips, and supplemental wages separately for accurate federal, state, and local calculations.

Why did my Colorado paycheck change?

Possible reasons: variable hours/tips, overtime, bonuses, updated W-4/DR 0004 elections, benefits changes, or crossing a city occupational tax threshold.

Can pretax benefits increase take-home pay?

Yes. Eligible pretax deductions—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, insurance—reduce taxable wages and may lower federal/state taxes and FICA.

How are tips treated?

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

How do multiple jobs affect withholding?

Follow IRS multiple-job guidance and ensure DR 0004 reflects your situation. Model each job separately, especially if different cities have occupational taxes.

What is Additional Medicare tax?

After exceeding the federal threshold, Additional Medicare tax is withheld from employees only. No employer match; appears alongside regular Medicare.

Are bonuses and commissions taxed differently?

They are supplemental wages. Employers may use flat federal rates or aggregate with regular wages; Colorado state and municipal taxes apply.

Can the calculator project annual take-home?

Yes. Multiply weekly hours by 52, add expected overtime/tips/bonuses, then apply pay frequency, municipality, and deductions for an estimated annual net total.

Popular Google queries

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

Reddit discussions

“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?”

Quora questions

“How to estimate take-home for 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?”