How Much Do You Get Paid for Jury Duty? (2026 Full Guide)

You have just pulled a thin, official envelope out of your mailbox. Inside is a summons ordering you to report to your local county or federal courthouse on a specific date. As you start rearranging your calendar, your immediate thought is likely: How much will I get paid for this? Will I lose money?

The truth is that jury duty compensation in the United States is complex and depends entirely on the specific court that summoned you, the state you live in, and your employer's HR policies. In this cornerstone guide, we will answer every major question you have about juror pay, travel reimbursements, and employment protections.

1. Court-Provided Pay vs. Employer-Provided Pay

The most important concept to understand is that your daily income during jury service comes from two completely separate pools of money:

• Daily Court Stipends: Paid directly to you by the county, state, or federal government. These fees are generally meant to offset minor expenses (like parking and lunch) rather than replace your wages.
• Employer Wage Continuation: Paid to you by your employer. While federal law does not force private companies to pay you during service, several states have mandated it, and many progressive companies choose to pay voluntarily.

2. State Court Juror Pay Scales

State-level juror compensation varies drastically. The court system where your trial takes place determines your stipend:

• The High-Paying States: New York leads the country, paying jurors $72.00 per day. Other high-paying states include Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and North Dakota, which pay a standard $50.00 per day.
• The Low-Paying States: Unfortunately, many jurisdictions have not updated their compensation rates in decades. Missouri pays just $6.00 per day, while states like Pennsylvania ($9.00/day), Alabama ($10.00/day), and Ohio ($10.00/day) offer barely enough to cover a morning coffee and parking.
• The Day 2 Rule: Some states, such as California and Texas, pay $0.00 for your very first day of service (assuming jury selection is a brief civic contribution) but bump your compensation significantly starting on Day 2.

3. Federal Court Juror Rates

If your summons is from a United States District Court, your rate is consistent nationwide under federal law (28 U.S.C. § 1871):

• Days 1–10: $50.00 per day.
• Days 11 and Beyond: $60.00 per day (to offset the financial strain of long-running federal trials).
• Grand Jurors: $50.00/day standard, increasing to $60.00/day starting on the 46th day of active service.

4. State Laws Mandating Employer Salary Continuation

Currently, nine jurisdictions in the United States legally protect your wages by forcing employers to continue paying your regular salary during jury service:

State	Mandated Employer Coverage
Massachusetts	100% of regular wages for the first 3 days of service.
New York	$40.00 per day for the first 3 days (applies to employers with 11+ staff).
Colorado	100% of regular wages (up to $50/day) for the first 3 days.
Connecticut	100% of regular wages for the first 5 days.
Alabama, Nebraska, Tennessee, Louisiana	Full wages paid throughout the entirety of the service (minus court pay).

5. Travel, Mileage, and Expense Allowances

In addition to your daily attendance stipend, courts usually pay you a travel allowance. For federal courts and most state courts, this is calculated at a flat rate per mile for your daily round-trip commute. Some dense metropolitan courts will validate your public transit ticket or parking garage receipt instead.

Frequently Asked Questions