Pay Transparency Laws in Colorado
Colorado has pay transparency requirements
Colorado was one of the first states to require pay transparency. The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires all employers to include compensation (or a range) and a general description of benefits in all job postings for positions that could be performed in Colorado. This applies to remote positions as well if the work could be done from Colorado. Employers must also notify current employees of promotional opportunities. Colorado bans salary history inquiries.
Key details
| Pay transparency law? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Salary range in job postings? | Yes |
| Salary range on request? | Yes |
| Salary history ban? | Yes |
| Employer size threshold | 1+ employees — Applies to all employers with at least one Colorado employee. |
| Effective date | January 1, 2021 |
| Penalties | Fines of $500-$10,000 per violation. |
| Statute | C.R.S. SS 8-5-101 et seq. (Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, amended by SB 23-105) |
Pay Transparency Laws in Colorado: what you need to know
Colorado has enacted a pay transparency law that affects how employers handle salary information. Colorado was one of the first states to require pay transparency. The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act requires all employers to include compensation (or a range) and a general description of benefits in all job postings for positions that could be performed in Colorado. This applies to remote positions as well if the work could be done from Colorado. Employers must also notify current employees of promotional opportunities. Colorado bans salary history inquiries. Pay transparency laws are one of the fastest-growing areas of employment regulation in the country, and Colorado is among the states leading this trend.
Colorado requires employers to include salary ranges in job postings. Applies to all employers with at least one Colorado employee. This means that when you apply for a job in Colorado, you should be able to see the pay range before you invest time in the application process. This requirement applies to employers with 1 or more employees.
In Colorado, employers must provide salary range information upon request,. This means you can ask a prospective employer for the salary range at any point during the hiring process.
Colorado also prohibits employers from asking about your salary history during the hiring process. This is an important protection because relying on salary history can perpetuate wage gaps, particularly for women and people of color who may have been underpaid in previous positions. Employers in Colorado must base compensation on the value of the role and your qualifications, not on what you earned before.
Enforcement of Colorado's pay transparency law includes penalties for non-compliance. Fines of $500-$10,000 per violation. These penalties give the law teeth and create an incentive for employers to comply proactively rather than waiting for a complaint.
For Colorado workers, understanding pay transparency laws (or the lack thereof) is important for salary negotiations. Knowing the salary range for a position gives you concrete information to negotiate from. Knowledge of the market rate for your role and experience level is one of the most powerful tools you have in any salary conversation.
More Colorado workplace laws
Check other workplace law topics for Colorado:
Frequently asked questions about pay transparency laws in Colorado
Yes. Colorado requires employers with 1 or more employees to include salary ranges in job postings.
No. Colorado has a salary history ban that prohibits employers from asking about your previous compensation during the hiring process.
Yes. Colorado requires employers to provide salary range information upon request.
Fines of $500-$10,000 per violation.
This depends on the specific provisions of Colorado law. Some states require transparency for any job that can be performed in the state, while others apply only to positions physically located there. Check the specific statutory language or consult an attorney.