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Guide · 5 min read · Updated 2026

Colorado pay stub requirements

Governed by Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards (COMPS) Order and C.R.S. § 8-4-103(4). This guide covers the mandatory items on every wage statement, penalties for non-compliance, and a checklist for CO employers.

The rule in one paragraph

Colorado employers must furnish an itemized pay statement at least monthly (or each pay period), containing the items below. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) enforces the rule under the COMPS Order.

Mandatory wage-statement items

  1. 1
    Gross wages

    Total wages earned before deductions.

  2. 2
    All withholdings and deductions

    Each withholding and deduction itemized.

  3. 3
    Net wages

    Take-home pay after deductions.

  4. 4
    Inclusive dates of the pay period

    Start and end dates of the pay period.

  5. 5
    Employee name or Social Security number

    Full name or SSN (last four is standard practice).

  6. 6
    Employer name and address

    Legal business name plus a physical address.

Penalties and retention

Penalties

CDLE may assess penalties of $50 per employee per day for willful violations, plus back wages and interest. Employees can bring private actions with attorney's fees under C.R.S. § 8-4-110.

Record retention

Three years after the wages were due under the COMPS Order; includes time cards, itemized statements, and wage-rate tables.

Electronic wage statements

Allowed, provided employees can access and print records at no cost.

Compliance checklist

  • All six required items appear on every stub
  • Sick leave accrued/used/available shown each pay period
  • Records retained for at least three years
  • Overtime hours and rate itemized for non-exempt employees
  • Portal or paper access at no cost

Frequently asked questions

Does Colorado require pay stubs at every pay period?

Yes, or at least monthly — whichever is more frequent. Most Colorado employers issue them each pay period.

Are electronic pay stubs allowed in Colorado?

Yes, provided employees can access and print them at no cost.

Do Colorado stubs need to show sick leave?

Yes — the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act requires disclosing accrued and available paid sick leave each pay period.

How long to file a CO wage claim?

Two years generally, or three years for willful violations, under C.R.S. § 8-4-122.

Generate a CO-compliant pay stub

StubGenPro's US pay stub template covers hours-at-each-rate, itemized deductions, YTD totals, and pay-period dates — the fields most state laws require.

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