How much do you get paid for jury duty? Your complete 2026 guide to juror compensation across all 50 states. Discover how much you'll be paid, whether your employer is required to pay you, IRS mileage reimbursement rates, and how to maximize your total compensation.
Federal court jurors get paid $50 per day for the first 10 days of service, then $60/day thereafter, plus IRS mileage reimbursement at $0.725/mile (2026 rate). State court jurors get paid between $6/day (Missouri) and $72/day (New York), depending on the state. Additionally, 9 states legally require your employer to continue paying your regular wages during jury service.
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Understanding juror compensation involves two separate payment systems — court-provided pay and employer-provided pay. Most Americans are unaware of their full rights.
Every state and federal court provides a daily stipend for jury service. Federal courts pay $50/day, while state courts range widely from $5 to $50+ per day.
Federal law does not require employers to pay during jury duty, but 8+ states do. Your employer's internal HR policy may also provide full pay regardless.
Serving in federal court earns jurors a standardized rate regardless of the state. After 10 days, the daily rate increases automatically.
All US states provide anti-retaliation protections. Your employer cannot fire, threaten, or penalize you for answering a jury summons.
Estimate total compensation, tax impact, hardship eligibility, and mileage reimbursement — all in one tool.
Compare current jury duty daily pay rates, employer pay requirements, and mileage reimbursement rates across all 50 US states.
| State ↕ | Daily Court Pay ↕ | Starts From | Mileage Rate | Employer Pay Required | Max Employer Days | Notes |
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⚠️ Data represents general state-level statutes. Rates may vary by county or court district. Always verify with your jury summons or official state court website. | Last reviewed: April 2026
Color-coded visual showing juror daily court pay across the United States. Darker = higher pay.
* Tile map approximates geographic position. Values show state court daily rate.
Only a minority of US states mandate that private employers continue paying employees during jury duty. Here's the full breakdown.
Even if your state doesn't require employer pay, many large companies voluntarily provide full pay during jury duty as a standard benefit. Always check your HR policy or employee handbook before assuming you won't be paid.
Jury duty is a legal obligation, and your job is protected by law. If you're experiencing retaliation or unpaid wages, we can help.
Whether your state requires employer pay or not, you are 100% protected from being fired, demoted, or penalized for serving jury duty. If your employer is refusing to comply with the law, you may be entitled to legal compensation.
Many courts reimburse travel costs. Federal courts use the IRS rate. State rates vary widely — from $0.07 to $2.00 per mile.
Track your round-trip mileage to the courthouse each day. Submit a mileage log with your attendance record to the jury clerk at the end of your service. Keep all parking receipts — many courts reimburse these separately.
See which states compensate jurors the best and which states offer minimal daily pay.
Daily court pay of $40 or more
States with minimal daily court pay
Everything you need to know about jury duty pay, compensation, and your legal rights.
Jury duty pay in the US varies by court type and state. Federal courts pay $50 per day (increasing to $60/day after 10 days of service). State courts pay much less on average, ranging from as low as $6/day in Missouri to $50/day in states like Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and North Dakota. Most states also provide mileage reimbursement for travel to and from court.
Yes, you get paid for jury duty. Every state and federal court provides a daily stipend for jury service. The amount you get paid depends on your location, ranging from $5 to $72 per day.
Federal law does not require private employers to pay employees during jury duty. However, a number of states do require it, including Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Tennessee, and Washington DC. Many large employers also voluntarily provide full or partial pay as a company benefit. Check your employee handbook for your specific employer policy.
No. All 50 US states have anti-retaliation laws that prohibit employers from firing, threatening, demoting, or otherwise penalizing employees for fulfilling their jury duty obligations. If your employer retaliates against you for serving jury duty, you have the right to file a legal complaint. Federal employees are also protected under the Jury Systems Improvement Act.
Yes, jury duty pay is generally taxable as ordinary income by the IRS. You should report it on your federal income tax return. However, if you are required to turn over your jury duty pay to your employer (common in states that require full employer pay), you may be able to deduct the amount you gave to your employer. Keep your payment receipts from the court.
The length of jury duty varies significantly by case type:
Most courts give jurors a one-day reporting requirement and dismiss those not selected.
You can request to be excused from jury duty or seek a postponement by filing a hardship exemption with the court. Common valid reasons include:
The judge has final say on whether to grant an exemption. Many courts allow you to reschedule service to a more convenient date.
Self-employed individuals receive the same court-provided daily jury duty stipend as everyone else. However, since there is no employer to supplement the pay, self-employed jurors are often among those most financially impacted. Some courts acknowledge this and may be more receptive to hardship exemption requests from self-employed individuals with documented income loss.
Many courts provide a mileage reimbursement to offset the cost of traveling to and from court. Federal courts reimburse at the standard IRS mileage rate (currently $0.725 per mile for 2026). State court mileage rates vary, with most states reimbursing between $0.15 and $0.725 per mile. Some courts also offer parking passes or validate parking fees. Check your specific summons or the court's website for current mileage rates in your jurisdiction.
In most jurisdictions, yes — you still get paid for the first day even if you are not selected to serve on a jury. Federal courts pay $50 for the day you appear for selection, even if you are dismissed. Most state courts also pay their daily stipend for reporting to the courthouse regardless of selection. You will receive the court pay for your time spent waiting during jury selection (voir dire).
Grand jury duty pay follows the same rates as regular jury duty in most jurisdictions. Federal grand jurors receive $50 per day (increasing to $60/day after 10 days of service). Grand jury service can last significantly longer than regular trials — federal grand juries can serve up to 18 months, appearing a few days per month. State grand jury pay matches the state's standard daily juror rate.
Federal jury duty pay remains at $50/day in 2025 and 2026. However, some states have updated their rates. A major update: New York increased its juror pay (and employer-mandated payment for 10+ employees) to $72/day (effective June 8, 2025). Always check your state's official court website for the most current rates.
Failing to appear for jury duty without a valid excuse can result in serious legal consequences. Courts may issue a show cause order requiring you to explain your absence. Penalties can include: contempt of court charges, fines ranging from $100 to $1,000+, and in rare cases, jail time. If you cannot attend, always contact the court in advance to request a postponement or hardship exemption. Most courts are accommodating if contacted early.
Jury duty pay is generally considered income and may affect unemployment benefits. If you receive jury duty pay while collecting unemployment, you are typically required to report it. The rules vary by state — some states reduce your weekly unemployment benefit by the amount of jury pay received, while others have a minimum threshold below which jury pay doesn't affect benefits. Contact your state's unemployment office for specific guidance regarding your situation.
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Need help preparing hardship documentation or understanding employment laws? LegalZoom provides affordable access to legal forms and advice.
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Smart strategies to ensure you receive every dollar you're entitled to during jury service.
Save your jury summons, all attendance records, mileage logs, parking receipts, and meal expenses. Courts often require documentation to process reimbursements.
Log your round-trip distance to the courthouse every single day. Even small daily distances add up significantly over a multi-week trial.
Many employers voluntarily pay full salary during jury duty even when not legally required. Review your HR policy before assuming you won't receive pay.
Inform your employer as early as possible. Ask what documentation they need and whether they'll cover any portion of your lost income during service.
If the pay gap between your jury stipend and regular income creates a genuine hardship, formally request a financial hardship exemption or deferral from the court.
Report jury pay on your taxes, but if you remit it to your employer, claim the deduction. Consult a tax advisor for jury duty pay that spanned multiple months.
Jury duty is a civic responsibility — but you deserve to be fairly compensated. Bookmark this page and use our calculator to estimate your pay before reporting to court.