Juror pay calculator
How much does jury duty pay, and how does it compare with a day’s work? Federal rates are built in. For state court, enter the rate on your summons.
Your service
Federal courts reimburse mileage at the rate for federal employees’ privately owned vehicles; your summons or the court will state it. Leave at 0 if unsure.
Estimate
Juror fees for 3 days
$150.00
Federal rate: $50 per day (28 U.S.C. § 1871). A petit juror hearing one case for more than 10 days may get up to $10 more per day at the trial judge’s discretion. Federal government employees receive their regular salary instead of the fee.
Federal juror pay
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1871, federal jurors are paid an attendance fee of $50 per day. The U.S. Courts summarize it this way. Trial (petit) jurors get $50 a day and may receive up to $60 a day after serving 10 days if the presiding judge orders it. Grand jurors get $50 a day and may receive up to $60 a day after 45 days of service. Jurors may also be reimbursed for reasonable transportation, and in some courts parking. Jurors who must stay overnight may receive a subsistence allowance for meals and lodging. Federal government employees get their regular salary instead of the fee.
State juror pay
State courts set their own fees by state law. Rates differ widely, and some states pay a lower amount for the first day or for days when you’re not selected for a trial. We don’t list state rates unless we’ve verified them against an official source, so the calculator asks you to enter the figure from your summons or your state’s jury page.
Will my employer pay me?
The U.S. Courts note that your employer may continue your salary during all or part of federal jury service, but federal law doesn’t require it. What federal law does require, under 28 U.S.C. § 1875, is that employers not fire, intimidate, or coerce permanent employees because of federal jury service. Some states go further and require certain employers to pay for a limited number of days. Ask your employer about its policy. Our employer letter includes a polite way to ask.
If the numbers don’t work
If you’re paid hourly and your employer doesn’t pay during jury service, a multi-day trial can mean a real loss of income. Courts generally recognize financial hardship as a reason to postpone, and sometimes to excuse. Explain your situation in writing and ask for a date that works better, using the postponement letter builder. Many jurors serve only one day or are never called to a courtroom, so check the reporting instructions before assuming the worst.
Taxes
Juror fees are generally taxable income. If you had to hand your juror fees over to an employer that kept paying your salary, ask a tax professional how to report it. We don’t give tax advice.