What you get paid for jury duty

Most courts pay jurors a small daily fee for showing up and serving. The amount varies widely by state, county, and court level — some pay $15 a day, others pay $50 or more. The first day or two is often unpaid, and longer trials may pay more than short ones. You will not receive a check when ready; payment comes weeks or months after your service ends, usually by mail.

The court sends payment to the address on file with your juror questionnaire. If you move before receiving it, the check may be returned to the court. You can contact the court clerk's office to update your address or ask about the status of your payment if you have not received it within two months of your last day of service.

Some employers are required by law to pay you your regular salary while you serve on jury duty, but this is not universal and depends on your state and employer size. Federal employers must pay, and many states require private employers with 50 or more workers to do so. If your employer does not pay, the court's daily fee is your only compensation.

Key Takeaways

  • Court-paid jury duty fees range from $15 to $50 or more per day depending on your location and court type, with payment arriving weeks or months after service ends.
  • The first one or two days of jury duty are often unpaid, and longer trials typically pay more than single-day trials.
  • Federal employers and many state employers with 50 or more workers must pay your regular salary during jury duty, but smaller employers may not be required to do so.
  • Payment is mailed to the address on your juror questionnaire, so you should update your address with the court if you move before receiving your check.

How the court calculates your payment

The court clerk's office sets the daily rate for your jurisdiction. You can find this amount by calling the court where you served or checking the court's website. Most courts list jury duty pay on their public information pages or in the juror handbook you receive with your summons.

Payment is calculated by the number of days you actually served, not the number of days you were called in. If you were dismissed during jury selection, you may receive only a partial day's pay or nothing at all. If you served a full trial that lasted two weeks, you would be paid for each of those days at the daily rate.

Some courts pay a higher rate for trials that last longer than a certain number of days — for example, $25 per day for days one through five, then $50 per day for days six and beyond. The court will explain this structure in your juror materials or when you call to ask.

When you will receive your payment

Courts typically mail jury duty checks 30 to 90 days after your service ends. The exact timing depends on the court's processing schedule and whether the trial was criminal or civil. Some courts batch payments monthly, while others process them as cases close.

If you have not received your check within three months, contact the court clerk's office with your juror number (found on your summons or check-in paperwork). They can verify whether the check was mailed and to which address. If the check was lost or returned, the court can reissue it or arrange payment by another method.

You will receive a 1099-MISC form if your jury duty pay exceeds $600 in a calendar year, which is rare but possible in longer trials or if you served multiple times. This form is used for tax reporting purposes. Keep records of your jury duty service dates in case you need them for tax filing.

Tax treatment of jury duty pay

Jury duty pay is taxable income and must be reported on your federal tax return. You cannot deduct it as a business expense or claim it as a loss. If you received a 1099-MISC, you will report the amount on your return; if you did not receive one, you still report the income based on your court records.

Some states do not tax jury duty pay, while others do. Check your state's tax rules or ask your tax preparer whether your state considers it taxable. The court does not withhold taxes from jury duty payments, so you may owe taxes on this income when you file.

What to do if your employer penalizes you for jury duty

Federal law and most state laws protect you from being fired, demoted, or punished for serving on jury duty. However, the strength of this protection varies by state. Some states protect you for any jury service; others protect you only for state court jury duty, not federal. A few states have weaker protections that explore only to criminal trials.

If your employer threatens to fire you, cuts your pay, or otherwise punishes you for jury service, document what happened — save emails, write down dates and what was said, and keep any written warnings. Then contact your state's labor department or attorney general's office to report the violation. You may also have grounds to file a complaint with the court that summoned you.

Some states allow you to sue your employer for damages if they retaliate against you for jury duty. Before taking that step, contact a local legal aid organization or employment attorney to understand your state's specific protections and what evidence you will need.

Jury duty pay for federal court

Federal courts pay jurors a set rate established by Congress. As of recent years, federal jurors receive $50 for the first three days of service, $75 per day for days four through ten, and $100 per day for days eleven and beyond. This rate applies to all federal district courts across the country.

Federal courts mail checks within 30 days of your service ending. If you served in a federal case, your check will come from the U.S. District Court where you served, not from a state or local court. The address on your juror questionnaire is where the check will be sent.

Federal employers must pay your regular salary while you serve federal jury duty. Private employers have no federal requirement to do so, though some states require it. If your private employer does not pay, the federal court's daily fee is your only compensation.

Reimbursement for jury duty expenses

Most courts do not reimburse parking, mileage, meals, or childcare costs related to jury duty. The daily fee is meant to cover these expenses, though it rarely does. Some courts offer free or discounted parking for jurors, and a few provide meal vouchers or reimburse mileage at a set rate — check your court's juror handbook or website to see what is available in your location.

If you incurred unusual expenses because of jury duty — for example, you had to hire a caregiver for a family member — you cannot deduct these from your jury duty pay or claim them as a tax deduction. The court's daily fee is your total compensation.

If you were hardship-dismissed from jury duty because serving would cause financial strain, you should have mentioned this during jury selection. Courts sometimes excuse jurors in advance to avoid this situation, but once you have served, the court considers the case closed and will not reimburse expenses retroactively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on jury duty pay?

Yes, jury duty pay is taxable income on your federal return. Some states do not tax it, so check your state's rules. The court does not withhold taxes, so you may owe when you file your return. If you earned more than $600 in jury duty pay in one year, you will receive a 1099-MISC form.

What if I never received my jury duty check?

Contact the court clerk's office with your juror number and the dates you served. They can confirm whether the check was mailed and to which address. If it was lost or returned, they will reissue it or arrange payment by another method. This usually takes two to four weeks.

Can my employer fire me for serving on jury duty?

No — federal law and most state laws protect you from being fired, demoted, or punished for jury service. If your employer retaliates, document what happened and report it to your state's labor department or attorney general's office. Some states allow you to sue for damages.

How much do federal jurors get paid?

Federal jurors receive $50 per day for days one through three, $75 per day for days four through ten, and $100 per day for day eleven and beyond. This rate is the same across all federal district courts. Payment is mailed within 30 days of service ending.

Will I get reimbursed for parking or meals during jury duty?

Most courts do not reimburse these expenses. The daily fee is meant to cover them, though it rarely does. Some courts offer free parking or meal vouchers — check your court's website or juror handbook to see what is available in your location.