Illinois has some of the strongest worker protection laws in the country, but their jury duty compensation system is a patchwork of local county rules. Let's look at the mileage.

State Law vs. County Discretion

Unlike flat-rate states, Illinois law actually does mention travel expenses. The state allows counties to provide a mileage reimbursement to jurors. However, the exact rate is set by the county board, meaning the rate in Cook County is different from the rate in DuPage or Sangamon County.

Average Illinois Mileage Rates

In 2026, most Illinois counties offer a mileage reimbursement ranging from 10 cents to 30 cents per mile. This is calculated round-trip from your registered home address to the courthouse.

  • Cook County: Offers a small travel reimbursement, but heavily encourages using the CTA.
  • Suburban/Rural Counties: Often pay closer to the higher end (20-30 cents) because public transit isn't a viable option for jurors.

How to Claim It

You don't need to log your odometer. When you check in with the jury commission on your first morning, their computer system will automatically calculate your distance based on your zip code and add the mileage allowance to your final check.