Yes, you do get paid for jury duty in California, but the amount is small and depends on which court summoned you. California Superior Courts pay $15 per day starting on your second day of service. Federal district courts in California pay $50 per day starting on day one. Private employers are not required to pay your wages while you serve, though some do voluntarily and salaried exempt employees have limited extra protection.
What California State Courts Pay
A Superior Court summons pays $15 for each day you attend after the first. Day one is unpaid. The fee is the same for civil and criminal cases and covers the whole day no matter how many hours you actually spend at the courthouse.1California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 215
Mileage reimbursement also kicks in on day two, at 34 cents per mile for the round trip between your home and the courthouse. If you take public transit instead, you can claim up to $12 per day, and that reimbursement starts on day one rather than day two.2Judicial Branch of California. Jury Service
Government employees who keep receiving their regular salary during jury service don’t get the $15 fee on top. That covers federal, state, and local government workers as well as employees of other public entities such as school districts.1California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 215
What Federal Courts in California Pay
A U.S. District Court summons pays much better. Federal jurors receive $50 per day from the first day of service. If a trial runs longer than ten days, the presiding judge can raise the daily fee to $60.3United States Courts. Juror Pay
Federal mileage reimbursement is also higher. For 2026, the General Services Administration set the standard privately owned vehicle rate at 72.5 cents per mile, and federal courts in California follow that rate.4U.S. General Services Administration. Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage Reimbursement Rates Federal employees called to serve continue drawing their regular government salary instead of the juror attendance fee.3United States Courts. Juror Pay
Does Your Employer Have to Pay You
California law does not require private employers to pay wages during jury service. Whether you get paid depends entirely on your company’s policies, so check your employee handbook or ask HR before your service date.5Judicial Branch of California. Employer Information
There’s one meaningful exception. Under federal wage regulations, an employer cannot dock a salaried exempt employee’s pay for a partial-week absence caused by jury duty. The employer can, however, offset any jury fees you received against your salary for that week. If you serve Monday through Wednesday and return to work Thursday, your employer must pay you for the full week but can subtract the $30 in jury fees the court paid you.6eCFR. 29 CFR 541.602 – Salary Basis
Many larger employers and most public agencies do voluntarily pay employees their normal wages while they serve. Some pay full wages for a fixed number of days and then switch to unpaid leave. Policies vary widely. The only reliable way to know what you’ll get is to ask before your service begins.
Do You Owe Taxes on Jury Duty Pay
Yes. Jury pay counts as taxable income whether it came from a state court at $15 a day or a federal court at $50 a day. The IRS treats it as “other income” that you report on your federal return. If your total jury fees for the year reach $600 or more, the court will mail you a 1099-MISC. Below that, the income is still taxable; you just won’t receive a form for it.
If your employer paid your full salary during jury service and required you to hand the jury fees over to the company, you can deduct what you turned in. Report the full jury pay as income, then enter the amount you repaid to your employer on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 24a as an adjustment. The two entries cancel out, so you won’t owe tax on money you never kept.7Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 – Taxable and Nontaxable Income
Your Job Is Protected While You Serve
California makes it illegal for any employer to fire, threaten, or discriminate against you for taking time off to serve on a jury. The protection applies regardless of the company’s size or how long you’ve worked there.8California Legislative Information. California Government Code 12945.8
To qualify, you need to give your employer reasonable notice, which generally means sharing a copy of the summons as soon as you receive it. The law doesn’t set a hard deadline, but waiting until the night before invites problems.9Labor Commissioner’s Office. Laws That Prohibit Retaliation and Discrimination
If your employer retaliates anyway, you can file a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office within one year of the retaliatory act. Available remedies include reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and benefits.9Labor Commissioner’s Office. Laws That Prohibit Retaliation and Discrimination