Colorado · 2026 take-home pay

$27 an hour after taxes in Colorado

At $27 an hour in Colorado you keep about $21.78 of every hour — $871 a week, $3,775 a month or $45,295 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Colorado income tax and state payroll programs. Colorado has a flat 4.4% income tax plus FAMLI, and its minimum wage is $15.16 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $27 an hour goes

$27 an hour full time in Colorado, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$56,160$1,080$27.00
Federal income tax−$4,559−$88−$2.19
Social Security (6.2%)−$3,482−$67−$1.67
Medicare (1.45%+)−$814−$16−$0.39
Colorado income tax−$1,763−$34−$0.85
FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance)−$247−$5−$0.12
Take-home pay$45,295$871$21.78

Effective tax rate 19.3% · federal bracket 12% · Colorado bracket 4.4%.

FAMLI (Family and Medical Leave Insurance): 0.44% of wages.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$1,080.00$871.05
Every two weeks (26)$2,160.00$1,742.11
Twice a month (24)$2,340.00$1,887.28
Monthly (12)$4,680.00$3,774.57

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$27 an hour at different hours

Take-home in Colorado for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $27 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$27 an hour in Colorado: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$540$463$24,083
30 hours a week$810$667$34,693
40 hours a week$1,080$871$45,295
40 hours + 5 overtime$1,283$1,024$53,227
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,485$1,156$60,125

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $27 an hour good pay in Colorado?

  • Minimum wage: $27 an hour is 1.8 times Colorado's minimum wage of $15.16 an hour. Denver and some other cities set higher local minimums.
  • Among Colorado workers: It's about the 44th percentile of hourly pay in Colorado (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 44 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $28.75 an hour.
  • Local prices: Colorado's price level is 103.1% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $45,295 a year buys about what $43,953 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,404 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,887 a month for needs, $1,132 for wants and $755 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in Colorado that pay about $27 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in Colorado is within 4% of $27 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How Colorado compares on $27 an hour

Colorado ranks 32nd of 51 for take-home pay on $27 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $27 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs Colorado
Colorado$21.78$45,295$15.16—
Arizona$22.26$46,294$15.15+$999 a year
Kansas$21.62$44,971$7.25−$324 a year
Nebraska$21.94$45,629$15.00+$334 a year
New Mexico$22.03$45,831$12.00+$536 a year
Oklahoma$21.79$45,323$7.25+$28 a year
Utah$21.77$45,278$7.25−$17 a year
Wyoming$22.74$47,305$7.25+$2,010 a year

How the federal tax on $56,160 ($27 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $56,160 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $40,060. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$27,660$3,319
Total$40,060$4,559

How the Colorado income tax on $56,160 ($27 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $56,160 of Colorado wages minus $16,100 standard deduction = $40,060.

Colorado income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
4.4%$40,060$1,763
Total$40,060$1,763

Common questions

How much is $27 an hour after taxes in Colorado?

About $21.78 for every hour you work, or $45,295 a year at 40 hours a week ($56,160 gross). Taxes take about 19.3% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $27 an hour a week after taxes in Colorado?

About $871 a week at 40 hours, from $1,080 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,742.

How much is $27 an hour a month after taxes in Colorado?

About $3,775 a month at 40 hours a week, from $4,680 gross.

Is $27 an hour good pay in Colorado?

$27 an hour is 1.8 times Colorado's minimum wage of $15.16 an hour. It's about the 44th percentile of hourly pay in Colorado (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 44 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in Colorado is $28.75. After taxes and local prices, $45,295 a year buys about what $43,953 would at national-average prices.

Is Colorado a high-tax state for $27 an hour?

It ranks 32nd of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $27 an hour. The most you'd keep is $47,305 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $43,233 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, Colorado's income tax rules and Colorado's employee payroll programs (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.