Jury Duty by State
Pay, excuses, job protection and penalties · from each state's statutes
A jury summons can bring up the same questions everywhere: how much it pays, whether your job is safe, whether you can be excused, and what happens if you don't go. The answers are set state by state. This page compares them, and each state's own page quotes the law and explains the process.
Jury duty rules compared
| State | Juror pay | Employer must pay? | Age to opt out | Penalty for not showing up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $25 a day plus $0.625 a mile | Yes; full-time workers keep their usual pay | 80 | Contempt: fine up to $300 and up to 10 days in jail |
| Arizona | $12 a day; up to $300 a day for lost wages (superior court) | No; job and leave protected | 75 | Fine up to $500 |
| Arkansas | $50 a day if seated; at least $15 if not | No; job, sick leave and vacation protected | 80 | Fine of $5 to $500 |
| California | $15 a day from the second day; first day unpaid | No; job protected (Gov. Code § 12945.8) | None | Contempt, or sanctions up to $1,500 |
| Colorado | Employer pays first 3 days (up to $50); then $50 a day | Yes: regular wages up to $50 a day, first 3 days | None | Petty offense: up to $300 fine and 10 days in jail |
| Connecticut | Employer wages for 5 days (full time); then $50 a day | Yes; regular wages for the first 5 days (full time) | 75 | Civil penalty set by the Chief Court Administrator |
| Florida | $15 a day for the first 3 days if unpaid; $30 from day 4 | No under state law; Miami-Dade County requires it | 70 | Fine up to $100, plus possible contempt |
| Hawaii | $50 a day plus 33 cents a mile or bus fare | No; firing a juror is a petty misdemeanor | 80 | Arrest and contempt of court |
| Idaho | $10-$50 a day by county; $50 after day five of a trial | No; job protected, triple lost wages if fired | 70 | Contempt: fine up to $500, jail up to five days |
| Illinois | Set by county; $35 a day in Cook County | No; from Jan. 1, 2027, yes if over 25 employees | None | Contempt; fine of $5 to $100 |
| Indiana | $30 to report; $80 a day on trial ($90 from day six) | No; firing a juror is a crime | 75 | Contempt of court |
| Iowa | $30 a day; $50 a day after 7 days | No; job protected, 60 days to sue if fired | None | Contempt: fine up to $500, jail, or both |
| Kansas | $10 to $50 a day, set by each county | No; can't be fired or threatened for serving | None | Fine up to $100 for each day missed |
| Kentucky | $12.50 a day ($5 pay plus $7.50 expenses) | No; job protected, suit within 90 days if fired | 70 | Contempt of court: fine, jail, or both |
| Louisiana | $25 a day criminal, $50 civil; parishes vary | Yes, 1 day of paid leave; job protected | 70 | Fine up to $50, up to 3 days in jail, or both |
| Maine | $15 a day plus mileage | No; job and health insurance protected | 80 | Contempt: fine up to $100, up to 3 days in jail |
| Maryland | $30 a day; $50 after 5 days of one trial | No; job and leave protected | 70 | Fine up to $1,000, up to 60 days in jail, or both |
| Massachusetts | Employer pays first 3 days; then $50 a day from the state | Yes: regular wages for the first 3 days | 70 | Crime; fine up to $2,000 |
| Michigan | At least $30 first day; $45 each later day | No; firing or discipline is a misdemeanor | 70 | Contempt: fine up to $7,500, 93 days in jail, or both |
| Minnesota | $20 a day plus $0.54 a mile | No; job and shift protected | 70 | Misdemeanor: up to 90 days and a $1,000 fine |
| Mississippi | $25 to $40 a day, set by each county | No; job protected, no forced vacation or sick leave | 65 | Civil contempt: fine up to $500, jail, or both |
| Missouri | At least $6 a day plus mileage; often $18 on a trial | No; job and paid leave protected | 75 | Fine up to $500 and/or community service |
| Nebraska | $35 a day plus mileage | Yes; no loss of pay (employer may deduct the juror fee) | 70 | Contempt of court without good cause |
| Nevada | $65 a day once sworn; first two selection days unpaid | No; job protected, no forced sick or vacation leave | 70 | Contempt fine of up to $500 |
| New Hampshire | $10 per half day ($20 a full day) | No; job protected | 70 | Contempt of court; possible misdemeanor charge |
| New Jersey | $5 a day, plus $35 a day from the 4th consecutive day | No for private employers; public employers must pay | 75 | Fine up to $500 or contempt of court |
| New Mexico | $12 an hour (state minimum wage) | No; job protected, no forced vacation or sick leave | 75 | Petty misdemeanor: fine up to $500, jail up to 6 months |
| New York | $72 a day (since June 8, 2025) | Yes if over 10 employees: first $72 a day, first three days | None | Civil penalty up to $250 |
| North Carolina | $12 first day; $20 a day after; $40 after five days | No; no discharge or demotion | 72 | Fine of up to $50; contempt possible |
| Ohio | Set by county; $30 a day in Franklin, $35 in Cuyahoga | No; job and leave protected | 75 | Contempt; first offense up to $250 fine and jail |
| Oklahoma | $50 a day | No; job protected, employer fine up to $5,000 | 70 | Contempt fine up to $500 or community service |
| Oregon | $10 a day for days 1 and 2; $25 a day after | No; job protected, no forced vacation or sick leave | 70 | Contempt: fine up to $500 or 1% of income |
| Pennsylvania | $9 a day for the first three days; $25 a day after | No; job protected (small employers excepted) | 75 | Contempt: fine up to $500, up to 10 days in jail, or both |
| South Carolina | Set by county; $20 a day in Greenville County | No; firing or demotion can be sued over | 65 | Civil penalty of up to $100 |
| Texas | At least $20 first day; $58 each later day | No; job protected | 75 | Contempt fine of $100 to $1,000 |
| Utah | $18.50 first day; $49 each later day | No; job protected, no forced vacation or sick leave | None | Contempt: fine up to $1,000, jail up to 30 days |
| Virginia | $50 a day | No; job protected, no forced sick or vacation leave | 73 | Fine of $50 to $200 |
| Washington | $10 to $25 a day, set by county (most pay $10) | No; leave and job protected | 80 | Misdemeanor: up to 90 days in jail, $1,000 fine |
| West Virginia | $40 a day plus mileage (law allows $15 to $40) | No; job protected, employer fine $100 to $500 | 70 | Civil contempt; fine up to $1,000 |
| Wisconsin | At least $16 a day plus mileage; set by each county | No; job protected | None | Contempt sanction up to $500 |
40 states so far; more are being added. Pay is the state rate set by law; some counties pay more. Each state page has the details and the statutes.
Where jury duty pays the most
- Indiana: $30 to report; $80 a day on trial ($90 from day six)
- New York: $72 a day (since June 8, 2025)
- Nevada: $65 a day once sworn; first two selection days unpaid
- Texas: At least $20 first day; $58 each later day
- Arkansas: $50 a day if seated; at least $15 if not
States where your employer must keep paying you
- Alabama: Yes; full-time workers keep their usual pay
- Colorado: Yes: regular wages up to $50 a day, first 3 days
- Connecticut: Yes; regular wages for the first 5 days (full time)
- Louisiana: Yes, 1 day of paid leave; job protected
- Massachusetts: Yes: regular wages for the first 3 days
- Nebraska: Yes; no loss of pay (employer may deduct the juror fee)
- New York: Yes if over 10 employees: first $72 a day, first three days
Frequently asked questions
How much does jury duty pay?
It depends on the state, and often on the county. Most states pay a small daily fee set by statute, sometimes with a lower rate for the first day and a higher one for later days or long trials, plus mileage in some states. The table above gives each state's rate and the law that sets it.
Does my employer have to pay me while I serve?
Only in some states, and usually for a limited number of days. Nearly every state forbids firing or punishing an employee for jury service, but far fewer require the employer to keep paying wages. The table shows which.
Can I get out of jury duty?
You can ask to be excused or to postpone service for reasons the law recognizes, such as undue hardship, a medical condition, caring for a young child or an ill person, or, in many states, age. You cannot simply ignore the summons. Each state page lists the grounds and how to ask.
What happens if I ignore a jury summons?
Courts usually send a second notice first, but ignoring a summons can lead to an order to appear and explain, and to a fine or even jail for contempt. Each state page gives the penalty its law sets.
Is a call saying I missed jury duty real?
Almost never. Courts do not call or text demanding payment of a fine over the phone, by gift card or by payment app. Hang up and call your court's jury office at a number you find yourself.