It is 8:40 in the morning and you are in a room with 60 strangers, all of you holding the same summons. By 9:30 a judge has a panel of 30 and you are in it. By 11:00 the plaintiff's lawyer has used a peremptory strike on you, and by 11:15 you are walking out of the courthouse with the rest of the rejected. Here is the question everyone in that hallway asks: did any of that count?
Yes. The court pays for the chair, not the verdict. Every day you are required to report counts as a service day, including voir dire days when the lawyers look at you, ask three questions, and send you home. Selection has nothing to do with it. Showing up is the job, and the showing up is what gets paid.
The numbers, state by state
The daily rate is set by the court, not by how useful you turned out to be. Kentucky pays $12.50 a day in state court whether you are selected for a jury or not. Federal court pays $50 a day for every required attendance day, including the selection days when you get dismissed. In one Florida circuit, jurors who do not get their regular salary from an employer receive $15 a day for the first three days and $30 a day from day four on, struck or seated.
| Court | Daily rate | Not-selected days |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | $50 ($60 on long trials) | Paid, every required day |
| Kentucky state court | $12.50 | Paid, selected or not |
| Florida circuit (unpaid by employer) | $15, then $30 from day 4 | Paid |
| California Superior Court | $0 day one, $15 from day two | Paid from day two, plus 34 cents a mile |
The day-one exception worth knowing
California is the one that catches people. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 215, jurors get nothing for the first day of service, then $15 a day starting on day two, plus 34 cents a mile round trip. So if you report Monday, get struck in voir dire, and never come back, California pays you zero dollars. Most other jurisdictions start paying on day one. If your whole service is a single selection day, your state is the whole ballgame.
What your employer owes you for those days
Nothing, under federal law. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, and jury duty counts as time not worked. About a dozen states have their own employer-pay rules, and plenty of large employers pay your salary during service as a policy. But in most of the country, a selection day where you are struck at 11 AM is an unpaid day at work unless your employer's handbook says otherwise. The court's $12.50 or $15 is not replacing your wages. It never was.
Frequently asked questions
Do you get paid if not selected for jury duty?
Yes. Courts pay for attendance, not for being seated on a jury. Every day you are required to report, including voir dire days when you are dismissed without being selected, counts as a service day for the court's daily rate.
How much do you get paid for jury selection days?
The same daily rate as any other service day in your jurisdiction: $50 a day in federal court, $12.50 a day in Kentucky state court, $15 a day in many Florida circuits. One notable exception: California pays nothing for the first day of service, then $15 a day starting on day two.
Does your employer have to pay you for jury selection days?
No federal law requires it. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, including jury duty. About a dozen states have their own employer-pay rules, and many large employers pay voluntarily, but in most states it is your employer's policy, not the law.
How long does jury duty pay take to arrive?
Weeks. Most courts compute payment after your service ends and mail a check. Federal courts typically take 30 to 60 days. Los Angeles mails checks within a few days of completion, and those checks are only honored for six months from the issue date.
Is jury duty pay taxable if you were not selected?
Yes. Jury duty pay is taxable income regardless of whether you were seated on a jury. Report it on Schedule 1 of your 1040. If your employer paid your salary and required you to turn over the court fee, you can deduct the amount you remitted.
Run the numbers for your situation.
The Jury Duty Pay Calculator estimates your court pay by state, including daily rates, mileage, and employer rules.