Your employer is not required by federal law to pay you for jury duty, but many states and some employers do anyway

Federal law does not require employers to pay employees who serve on juries. However, many states have passed their own laws that do require payment, and some employers choose to pay even when not legally required. The answer depends on where you live, what your employer's policy is, and sometimes how long the trial lasts.

If your state has no payment requirement and your employer has no voluntary policy, you will not be paid by either party during jury service. You may receive a small per diem from the court — typically $15 to $50 per day depending on the state — but this rarely covers lost wages.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal law does not require employers to pay you for jury duty, but about half of U.S. states require payment for at least the first few days.
  • Some employers pay voluntarily even in states with no requirement, so check your employee handbook or ask your HR department before assuming you will lose income.
  • State laws vary widely: some require full pay, some require partial pay, and some only require payment after a certain number of days have passed.
  • The court may pay you a small daily fee (usually $15 to $50), but this is separate from employer payment and rarely covers your full lost wages.
  • If you face financial hardship from jury duty, you can request to be excused or ask the judge about postponement before the trial begins.

State laws that require employer payment

Roughly 25 to 30 states have laws requiring employers to pay employees for at least some jury duty time. These laws differ significantly in how much they require and for how long.

Some states require full pay for all jury service. Others require full pay only for the first three to five days, then nothing after that. A few states require employers to pay only a portion of the employee's regular wage. The specifics depend on your state's statute, which you can find through your state court system's website or by searching "[your state] jury duty pay requirement."

Even in states with a payment requirement, there are often exceptions. Some states exempt very small employers (those with fewer than a certain number of employees). Some exempt certain types of work. A few states allow employers to deduct the court's per diem from what they owe you.

Employers who pay voluntarily

Many large employers and government agencies pay employees for jury duty even in states where they are not required to do so. This is often part of a company's benefits policy or civic responsibility stance.

The best way to learn about your employer is one of them is to check your employee handbook, ask your HR or payroll department directly, or look for a jury duty policy on your company's intranet. If you cannot find written policy, call HR and ask: "Does our company pay employees during jury duty?" They can give you a yes or no answer in minutes.

What the court pays you

The court itself pays jurors a small daily fee, separate from any employer payment. This amount varies by state and sometimes by county. Most states pay between $15 and $50 per day, though a few pay more and some pay nothing at all.

This court payment is not meant to replace your wages — it is meant to offset some of the cost of serving. You receive it whether or not your employer also pays you. If your employer does pay you, you typically keep both the employer payment and the court payment.

What to do if you cannot afford to lose income

If jury duty would cause you genuine financial hardship and your employer does not pay, you have options before the trial starts. You can request to be excused from jury duty by writing to the court or speaking to the judge during jury selection. Courts do not always grant these requests, but they do consider them.

You can also ask the court to postpone your jury duty to a time when it would be less disruptive — for example, after a busy season at work or after a planned leave. Courts often grant postponements, especially if you give them advance notice.

If you are already serving and the trial is lasting longer than expected, you can ask the judge about your situation. Some judges will excuse you partway through if the hardship is severe. This is not may provide, but it is worth asking.

How to find your state's jury duty pay law

To learn whether your state requires employer payment, start with your state court system's official website. Search for "jury duty" and look for a page about juror pay or juror information. Most state court systems publish this information clearly.

You can also call the jury office at your local courthouse and ask directly: "Does [state name] law require employers to pay employees for jury duty?" They answer this question regularly and can tell you the rule and any exceptions in seconds.

If your state does require payment, ask the jury office or your employer whether there are exceptions for your type of work or company size. This will tell you whether the law applies to you specifically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer fire me for serving on a jury?

No. Federal law and the laws of all 50 states prohibit employers from firing, threatening, or punishing an employee for jury service. If this happens to you, you may have grounds for a legal claim. Document what happened and contact your state's labor department or an employment attorney.

Do I have to tell my employer I was called for jury duty?

You should tell your employer as soon as you receive the summons. This gives them time to plan for your absence and allows you to check your company's jury duty policy. Hiding it until you do not show up for work creates unnecessary conflict and may violate your company's attendance rules.

What if my employer says I will lose my job if I serve?

This is illegal. Report it to your state's labor department or attorney general's office. You can also mention it to the judge during jury selection — judges take these threats seriously and may excuse you to protect your job, or they may want to know about the threat for other reasons.

Do I get paid if I am dismissed during jury selection?

The court usually pays you a small fee for the day you showed up, even if you were dismissed before the trial began. Whether your employer pays you depends on your state law and company policy. Some employers only pay if you actually serve on a jury; others pay for any day you were required to appear.

If my state requires payment, can my employer make me use vacation days instead?

This varies by state. Some state laws say employers must pay in addition to any vacation or paid time off. Others allow employers to count jury duty as paid time off. Check your state's law or ask your HR department which applies to you.