"When you open a jury summons, the first thing you should check is the seal at the top. Are you going to a local county court, or a United States District Court? That detail changes your paycheck drastically."
Federal Courts operate under a unified national system. No matter what state you live in, federal jurors are paid a flat $50 per day. If a trial is exceptionally long (lasting more than 10 days for a petit jury or 45 days for a grand jury), the judge can increase this to $60 per day.
State Courts are a free-for-all. Pay is determined by state legislatures. You could be paid $50 a day in Colorado, or a dismal $6 a day in Missouri. The national average for state courts is only around $15 to $20 a day.
This is where federal courts shine. Federal jurors receive the standard government mileage rate (around 67 cents per mile) round-trip, plus full reimbursement for tolls and parking. If you live very far from the federal courthouse (usually over 50 miles), the federal court will actually pay for a hotel room and provide a per diem for meals.
State courts rarely offer hotel accommodations, and their mileage rates are often capped at 15 to 30 cents per mile, if they offer it at all.
Federal law (the Protection of Jurors' Employment Act) strictly forbids any employer from firing or intimidating an employee for federal jury service. However, federal law does not require your employer to pay you your regular salary. State laws govern whether an employer must pay you, and those laws apply regardless of whether you are in a state or federal court.
Federal jury duty is far more lucrative, paying $50 a day plus excellent mileage and parking reimbursements, whereas state courts average around $15 a day with minimal travel pay.