Exploring the City’s New Authority to Modify the Tip Offset
The city is seeking community feedback as City Council considers whether to adjust the city’s tip offset. The online questionnaire can be completed anonymously. Additional background information and a Tip Offset and Base Wage Calculator is available online at Exploring the City’s New Authority to Modify the Tip Offset. The online questionnaire closed on June 2, 2026. We're currently analyzing the responses and will present findings at the June 25 Council meeting.
El Gobierno de la Municipalidad de Boulder quiere conocer la opinión de la comunidad porque el Concejo Municipal está considerando si debe o no ajustar la compensación por propinas. El cuestionario en línea puede completarse de forma anónima. Información adicional de contexto y una Calculadora de Compensación por Propinas y Salario Base están disponibles en línea en Análisis de la nueva autoridad del gobierno municipal para ajustar la compensación por propinas | Ciudad de Boulder
What is the Tip Offset and How Does it Work?
The tip offset is the amount an employer can subtract from a tipped worker’s hourly wage because that worker also earns tips. This means the employer pays a lower base wage, and tips make up the rest. In Boulder, the tip offset only applies to food and beverage establishments.
This system assumes that part of a tipped worker’s income comes from their employer, and part comes from customers’ tips.
In Colorado, the tip offset is $3.02 unless an eligible local jurisdiction raises that amount.
By law, tipped workers must still earn at least the full minimum wage. If their tips don’t add enough to reach minimum wage, the employer has to make up the difference.
¿Qué es la compensación por propinas y cómo funciona?
La compensación por propinas es el dinero que un empleador puede descontar del salario por hora de un trabajador porque recibe propinas. Esto significa que el empleador paga un salario base más bajo y las propinas compensan la diferencia. En Boulder, este tipo de compensación por propinas solo aplica a los negocios que se dedican a la venta de comida y bebidas.
Este sistema asume que parte del salario de estos trabajadores es pagado por el empleador y la otra parte viene de las propinas del cliente.
En Colorado, la compensación por propinas es de $3.02, a menos que una jurisdicción local autorizada decida aumentarla.
Según la ley, los trabajadores que ganan propinas deberían aún así ganar el salario mínimo completo. Si las propinas no suman lo suficiente para ganar el salario mínimo, el empleador tiene que pagar la diferencia.
A web page
Una página web
that has more
que tiene más
than one language
de un idioma
is really annoying.
es realmente molesta.
There are much better ways to provide a multi-lingual web site.
Economic vitality doesn't come from a few millionaires keeping a 2nd home in town and going out to eat a few times per year, but rather from the backbone of the community workforce. When they are pushed out because the cost of running a business in Boulder and simply living in Boulder is too great, we all lose.
The cost of living in Boulder is already astronomical for people working unsalaried jobs, many including myself are working very hard just to be able to stay in this town. Reducing base wages and going backwards is both cruel in a deeply trying economic moment in our country, and cuts out an entire workforce \from being able to afford to stay in our community.
This tip issue starts with IRS law and is reflected in state law. The whole picture needs to be considered in order to truly understand the implications of any changes.
Sounds like the city of boulder better get their act together or are you gonna lose a lot of great restaurants like Alex Schulers Tangerine
This is a snowball effect of course because rents are ridiculously high and people will just move out like I did. I’m in Leadville now. I can’t afford Boulder.