Yes, jury members do get paid, though usually not much. Federal courts pay $50 for each day you attend, plus mileage and certain expenses. State courts set their own rates, which run from nothing in a few places to roughly $50 a day in the most generous ones. Your job is protected by law while you serve, but federal law does not require your employer to keep your paycheck coming during that time.
Federal Juror Pay
Every federal juror receives an attendance fee of $50 per day for each day of physical attendance, including travel days at the start and end of service.1United States Courts. Juror Pay You still get the daily fee if you report to the courthouse and the case settles that morning, or if the court sends you home without seating you. The fee is for showing up, not for being picked.
The rate can rise on long cases. A trial juror who serves more than ten days on a single case can receive up to $60 per day for each day past the tenth, if the judge approves. A grand juror who serves more than forty-five days can get the same increase under the same conditions.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees
These figures haven’t been updated in years and rarely replace a full day’s wages. That shortfall is what drives most financial hardship requests.
Mileage and Other Expenses
On top of the daily fee, federal jurors receive a mileage allowance for driving to and from court. The rate is set by the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and currently sits at about 72.5 cents per mile, calculated round trip along the shortest practical route from your home.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1871 – Fees You get the mileage rate no matter how you actually travel, so carpoolers and passengers are paid the same per-mile amount.
Federal courts also cover several other costs:
- Bridge, tunnel, and ferry tolls are reimbursed in full.
- Reasonable parking fees may be reimbursed at the judge’s discretion if you keep your receipt, separate from mileage.
- If your actual public transit fare exceeds what the mileage allowance covers, the court can reimburse the full reasonable cost.
- When commuting isn’t practical, the court provides a subsistence allowance for meals and lodging, set at the same rate court employees get for travel in the area.
State Court Pay
Most jury service happens in state courts, and the rates vary dramatically. Daily fees range from zero in a few states to around $50 in the most generous jurisdictions, with many states paying somewhere between $10 and $30. Some states raise the daily rate after the first few days to partially compensate jurors on longer trials. Mileage and expense policies differ widely as well. Your jury summons or the court’s website will list the exact rate for your jurisdiction.
Will Your Employer Keep Paying You
Federal law protects your job during federal jury service. An employer cannot fire, threaten, intimidate, or pressure a permanent employee because of that service, and when you return the law treats your absence as a leave of absence: you keep your seniority and remain eligible for insurance and other benefits on the same terms as other employees on leave.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment Most states offer similar protections for state jury service.
What the law does not do is require your employer to pay your regular salary while you serve. The Fair Labor Standards Act has no provision requiring pay for time not worked, including jury duty.4U.S. Department of Labor. Jury Duty Whether your paycheck continues depends on your employer’s policy, your contract, or your state’s law.
A small number of states do require private employers to pay employees during at least part of jury service. The specifics vary. Some cap paid days at three to five, some cap the daily amount, and some require full regular wages minus whatever the court pays. Check your state labor department or the summoning court for the rules where you live. Even in states with no mandate, plenty of employers voluntarily pay full or partial wages, so look at your handbook or ask HR before assuming you’ll go without.
If an employer retaliates against you for federal jury service, a court can order reinstatement, damages for lost wages and benefits, community service by the employer, and a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation involving each affected employee.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1875 – Protection of Jurors Employment
Federal Employees
Federal workers get a better arrangement. Under federal law, a federal employee summoned for jury duty receives paid leave with no reduction in pay, leave balance, time-in-service credit, or performance rating.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6322 – Leave for Jury or Witness Service In exchange, federal employees must turn over their jury attendance fees to their agency. They keep expense reimbursements like mileage and parking, because those cover actual costs rather than compensating for time.6U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Fact Sheet: Court Leave
Taxes on Jury Pay
Jury duty pay is taxable income. Report it on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 8h, regardless of the amount.7Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 (2025), Taxable and Nontaxable Income If a court pays you $600 or more in jury fees during the year, it will send a Form 1099-MISC. Even below $600 and without a 1099, the income is still reportable.8United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri. Jury Frequently Asked Questions
If your employer keeps paying your salary during jury service and requires you to hand over your attendance fees, you still report the full jury pay as income, but you can deduct the amount surrendered on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 24a.7Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 (2025), Taxable and Nontaxable Income That cancels out the tax impact so the same money isn’t taxed twice. Plenty of filers miss this and overpay.
Out-of-pocket parking, meals, or other costs the court doesn’t reimburse are not deductible on your federal return; the miscellaneous itemized deduction category that used to cover them has been eliminated. State tax rules vary.
If Jury Pay Isn’t Enough to Live On
If serving would create real financial strain, you can ask the court to defer or excuse you. Federal courts can grant excusals for “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience,” entirely at the judge’s discretion.9United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses There’s no automatic income cutoff. Courts weigh household income, monthly expenses, whether your employer pays during service, and how many people depend on your earnings.
Be specific. Courts that publish their requirements typically ask for your employer’s name, your occupation, how many days your employer will pay, household size and ages, total monthly income, and total monthly expenses. A vague inconvenience claim won’t get far. A deferral to a later date is easier to obtain than a full excusal, and judges are more willing to grant one when you propose a specific alternative period.
What Happens If You Skip
Ignoring a federal jury summons is a federal offense. A no-show can be ordered to appear and explain the absence. If the judge finds no good cause, penalties include a fine of up to $1,000, up to three days in jail, community service, or some combination.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 USC 1866 – Selection and Summoning of Jury Panels State courts have their own penalty structures, from modest fines to contempt charges. If you can’t serve, call the court before your report date and ask for a deferral or excusal.