You got the summons. You did the math. Five dollars a day, and your rent doesn't care. How much does jury duty pay in New Jersey? Petit jurors get $5 a day for the first three days of attendance, and then the rate jumps to $40 a day starting on day four. That two-tier structure is the whole story of New Jersey jury pay: one of the lowest starting rates in the country, paired with an escalation clause that only matters if the trial runs long. Which tier you land in depends entirely on how many days you serve.
The numbers come from N.J.S.A. 22A:1-1.1, and the state courts publish them plainly. Every juror gets $5 per day of attendance. On top of that, each juror gets an additional $35 for every consecutive day of attendance beyond three, which is how you arrive at $40 a day from day four on. "Consecutive" has a specific legal meaning here: Saturdays, Sundays, state holidays, and days the trial is in recess do not count. A trial that spans two calendar weeks with a weekend in the middle does not give you seven consecutive days. Grand jurors are the exception that proves the rule: they get $5 a day, flat, with no escalation at all.
How much does jury duty pay in New Jersey: the worked math
Serve three days of selection and go home: $15. Get seated on a five-day trial: $15 for the first three days plus $80 for days four and five, $95 total. Draw a ten-day trial: $15 plus seven days at $40, $295. Now set that against a $25-an-hour job, $200 a day. The five-day trial costs you $905 in net lost wages. The ten-day trial costs you $1,705. The court's $40 rate from day four is more generous than most states manage, and it still covers a fifth of a working day.
The grand jury math is the bleakest corner of the system. County grand jury panels run 8 to 20 weeks, usually one day a week, at $5 a day. State grand jury runs 16 to 20 weeks, one day a week, at $5 a day. A full state grand jury term pays $80 to $100 in total, spread across four or five months. The $40 escalation never kicks in because no single week reaches four consecutive days.
For perspective on what a state can do when it decides juror pay matters: Arizona built a Fair Jury Improvement Fund that replaces lost earnings up to $300 a day for trial jurors, from day one. New Jersey has no equivalent fund. Its answer to a juror losing $200 a day is $5, then $40, and the hope that the employer covers the rest.
The employer rule
New Jersey does not require private employers to pay your regular wages while you serve. Some do it voluntarily or under union contracts, but there is no state mandate. What the state does require, under N.J.S.A. 2B:20-17, is that your employer cannot penalize, threaten, or coerce you for attending court. Fire you, cut your hours, or retaliate in any other way, and you can sue for economic damages, reinstatement, and reasonable attorney's fees. The employer can also face criminal charges as a disorderly persons offense.
Two details people miss. First, the lawsuit clock: you must file within 90 days of the violation or the completion of your jury service, whichever comes later. Ninety days runs fast when you are job hunting. Second, if your employer does pay your salary during service and requires you to hand over the court's juror fee in return, that handoff has tax consequences. Jury pay is federal taxable income, reported on Schedule 1 of Form 1040, line 8h, and the amount you turn over to your employer is deductible on line 24a. Keep the paper trail.
The day-one checklist
Tell your employer the day the summons arrives, in writing. Ask HR directly whether jury leave is paid and whether they require you to surrender the juror fee. Count your consecutive days carefully, remembering that weekends and holidays do not advance the $40 tier. If serving would be an extreme financial burden, contact the jury management office in writing immediately and document the hardship; do not wait for your report date. And mark the 90-day retaliation clock the day the summons arrives, not the day something goes wrong. If your employer retaliates, the deadline to file runs from the violation or the end of your service, whichever is later, and it is the one number in this whole system that works in your favor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does New Jersey pay jurors per day?
Petit jurors receive $5 per day for the first three days of attendance, then $40 per day for each consecutive day beyond three, under N.J.S.A. 22A:1-1.1. Weekends, holidays, and recess days do not count toward the consecutive total. Grand jurors receive $5 per day with no escalation.
Does New Jersey require employers to pay during jury duty?
No. New Jersey does not require private employers to pay regular wages during jury service. But N.J.S.A. 2B:20-17 bars employers from firing, demoting, or retaliating against employees for serving, with civil damages and possible criminal charges for violations. You must file a retaliation claim within 90 days of the violation or the end of your service, whichever is later.
Is jury duty pay taxable in New Jersey?
Yes, it is federal taxable income. Report it on Schedule 1 of Form 1040, line 8h. If your employer pays your salary during service and requires you to turn over the juror fee, you can deduct the turned-over amount on Schedule 1, line 24a.
How long does jury service last in New Jersey?
Petit jury service is typically one day of selection or one trial to its conclusion. Grand jury panels run 8 to 20 weeks, usually one day per week. State grand jury service runs 16 to 20 weeks, one day per week.
What if jury duty is a financial hardship in New Jersey?
Extreme financial burden is a recognized excuse category, but you must notify the jury management office in writing and document the hardship. Contact the court as soon as the summons arrives rather than waiting for your report date.
Run the numbers for your situation.
The Jury Duty Pay Calculator estimates your court pay by state, including daily rates, mileage, and employer rules.