Your pay rights in Colorado

Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (C.R.S. § 8-5-101 et seq. (job postings: § 8-5-201; pay history ban: § 8-5-102(2)))

Job posting rules in effect since January 1, 2021

Colorado job postings must show the pay or pay range, a general description of benefits and other pay such as bonuses, and the date applications are expected to close. Employers may not ask about your past pay.

Who is covered

Almost every employer, public or private, that has at least one employee in Colorado. There is no minimum company size. It covers both public job ads and internal notices. Remote jobs that could be done from Colorado are covered, even if the ad says Colorado applicants won't be considered. Jobs that can only be done entirely outside Colorado are not covered, and neither are printed ads handed out only outside Colorado. A site that just posts another employer's jobs, on its own or when hired by that employer, is not responsible for those ads.

What a job posting must show

The hourly or salary pay, or a pay range, that the employer honestly expects to offer. The range needs both a bottom and a top, so 'up to $60,000' or '$30,000 and up' is not allowed.
If pay differs by state, the pay or range for Colorado hires
A general description of other pay, such as bonuses, commissions, or tips
A general description of the benefits, such as health insurance, retirement, and paid time off. A vague phrase like 'and more' doesn't count.
The date the application window is expected to close. 'Open until filled' is not allowed. Jobs that always take applications may say so instead.
How to apply (required by the state's job posting rules)
Online posts may link to this information if the link clearly says what it leads to and keeps working

Pay history

Employers may not ask about your past pay, look it up themselves, or use it to set your pay. They may not punish you or refuse to consider you because you won't share it.

What you can do

Anyone who saw or was hurt by a posting that breaks the law can file a pay transparency complaint with the Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics. The deadline is one year from when you learned about the problem.
Pay transparency complaints can be filed anonymously, online, by mail, or in person
For pay history and unequal pay problems, you can file a complaint with the Division within two years, or sue in district court within two years of the violation
Employers must post each job opening internally so every Colorado employee can see it. Within 30 days after someone starts the job, the employer must tell the people the new hire will work with who got it and how to show interest in similar jobs later.
It is illegal for an employer to punish you for discussing your pay or for using your rights under this law

Where to report a posting without pay

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics

For job posting violations, the Division can fine an employer $500 to $10,000 per violation. Each job opening counts as one violation, however many times it was posted. The Division can also order the employer to fix the problem. For unequal pay, workers can get back pay for up to six years, plus the same amount again as extra damages if the employer did not act in good faith. For pay history violations, a court can order legal and equitable relief, such as being hired or lost pay. Workers can also recover their costs, including attorney fees.

Sources

A 2023 amendment (SB 23-105), effective Jan. 1, 2024, added the rule about telling coworkers who was hired and changed how internal promotions are handled. The 'how to apply' requirement comes from the state's job posting rules (CDLE POST Rules 11.1.1 and 11.1.3, as INFO #9A explains), not the statute itself. Posting violations are handled through the Division; the law gives no private lawsuit for them. Until July 1, 2029, out-of-state employers with fewer than 15 remote-only Colorado employees only have to tell those employees about remote job openings. No 2025 or 2026 changes to the posting rules were found as of the last check.