Jury duty pay varies by state and court, but most jurors receive little or nothing for the first few days
Most states pay jurors a small daily fee — often $15 to $50 per day — but only after you have served for a set number of days, usually three to five. Some states pay nothing at all for the first week. Federal courts typically pay $50 per day starting on day one, but the amount does not increase with length of service. A few states, including Massachusetts and Vermont, pay nothing to jurors at any point.
The payment comes from the court system, not from your employer. Your employer is legally prohibited from firing you for serving jury duty, but they are not required to pay you during that time — that is between you and your employer's policy. If you lose income because of jury duty, the court payment will not cover it.
Payment is usually mailed to your home address weeks after your service ends, though some courts now offer direct deposit if you request it when you check in on your first day.
Key Takeaways
- Daily jury pay ranges from nothing to $50 depending on your state and the type of court, and often does not start until after your third to fifth day of service.
- Your employer cannot fire you for jury duty, but they are not required to pay you — check your employee handbook or ask your HR department about your company's policy.
- The court pays you directly, not through your employer, and payment typically arrives by mail several weeks after your service ends.
- If your case lasts longer than a week or two, ask the judge or court clerk about hardship — some courts will excuse you or reduce your service if jury duty creates genuine financial strain.
How much you receive depends on your state and court level
State courts set their own jury pay rates. California pays $15 per day for the first five days, then $50 per day after that. New York pays $15 per day for the first three days, then $35 per day. Texas pays $6 per day for the first three days, then $40 per day. Federal courts pay $50 per day regardless of how long you serve, with no increase over time.
Some states have no minimum pay requirement at all. If your state does not mandate payment, the individual court may still choose to pay jurors a small amount, but you cannot count on it. Check your state court's website or call the courthouse where you received your summons to find out the exact rate.
The payment is the same whether you serve on a civil case (a dispute between two parties) or a criminal case (the state versus a defendant). It does not change based on the length or complexity of the trial.
When the court sends your payment
Most courts mail jury pay 4 to 8 weeks after your service ends. Some courts are slower — payment can take 12 weeks or longer if the court is understaffed or backlogged. A few courts now offer direct deposit, which is faster, but you have to request it and provide your banking information when you arrive for jury duty.
If you do not receive payment within 12 weeks, contact the court clerk's office. Bring your juror number (on your summons) and the dates you served. The clerk can check whether the payment was processed and reissue it if it was lost in the mail.
You will receive a 1099 form or similar tax document if your jury pay exceeds a certain threshold — usually $600 in a calendar year. Jury duty pay is taxable income, so you will owe tax on it when you file your return.
What your employer can and cannot do
Federal law and the laws of all 50 states prohibit employers from firing, threatening, or punishing an employee for serving on jury duty. This protection applies whether you serve for one day or several weeks. Your employer cannot dock your pay, demote you, or give you a negative performance review because you took time off for court.
However, your employer is not required to pay you during jury duty unless your company policy says otherwise. Many large employers continue to pay employees during short jury service (a few days), but this is a benefit, not a legal requirement. Small employers often do not. Check your employee handbook or ask your HR department what your company's policy is before you go to court.
If you are self-employed or a contractor, you lose income directly when you serve. The court payment will not replace what you would have earned. If jury duty will create genuine hardship, you can request to be excused when you arrive at the courthouse or when you receive your summons.
Requesting to be excused if jury duty creates hardship
If serving would cause serious financial hardship — you are the sole income earner for your family, you will lose a job if you miss work, or you have no paid time off — you can ask to be excused. Do this before your trial date if possible by contacting the court clerk and explaining your situation in writing. Some courts will excuse you outright; others will ask you to return a questionnaire.
If you are not excused before trial, you can raise the issue when you arrive at the courthouse. Tell the judge during jury selection (called voir dire) that jury duty would create hardship. The judge has the power to excuse you, reduce your service to a few days, or in some cases postpone your service to a time when you can manage it.
Be specific about why you cannot serve. "I cannot afford to miss work" is more likely to be taken seriously than "I do not want to." Judges hear hardship requests regularly and understand that jury duty can be a real burden for people without paid time off.
Reimbursement for parking and mileage
Most courts reimburse jurors for parking fees if you park in a paid lot or garage. Bring your parking receipt and turn it in to the court clerk before you leave on your last day of service. The reimbursement is usually included with your jury pay check or mailed separately.
Mileage reimbursement is less common. Some courts pay a flat amount per day for travel; others pay nothing. A few states reimburse mileage at the federal rate (currently around 67 cents per mile, though this changes yearly). Ask the court clerk on your first day whether mileage is covered and what you need to do to claim it.
Keep receipts for any expenses you incur — parking, tolls, public transportation — and ask the clerk how to submit them. Courts vary widely in what they will reimburse, so do not assume anything is covered until you ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay taxes on jury duty pay?
Yes. Jury duty pay is taxable income. If you receive more than $600 in a calendar year, the court will send you a 1099 form. You report it on your tax return like any other income. If you receive less than $600, you still owe tax on it, but the court does not issue a form.
Can my employer make me use vacation days for jury duty?
No. Your employer cannot require you to use paid time off for jury duty. However, if your company policy is to pay employees during jury service, that payment may come from your PTO balance — check your handbook. If your employer does not pay you during jury duty, you do not have to use vacation time; you simply do not get paid for those days.
What if I do not show up for jury duty?
Ignoring a jury summons can result in a fine, usually $100 to $1,000 depending on your state, or in rare cases jail time. If you have a legitimate reason you cannot serve, contact the court before your date and request to be excused or rescheduled. Courts are usually willing to work with you if you communicate.
Does jury pay count toward my income for benefits like unemployment or food assistance?
This depends on the program and your state. Some programs count jury pay as income in the month you receive it; others do not. If you receive means-tested benefits, contact the agency that administers them before you serve and ask how jury pay will affect your case. You may be able to report it after you receive the payment rather than before.
Can I deduct jury duty expenses on my taxes?
No. The IRS does not allow you to deduct expenses related to jury duty, even if you lose money by serving. Parking, mileage, and lost wages are not deductible. The only offset is the jury pay itself, which you must report as income.