How Much Does Jury Duty Pay in North Carolina? The Three-Tier Answer

Published October 19, 2026

How much does jury duty pay in North Carolina? Three numbers: $12 for the first day, $20 for each of the next 4 days, and $40 a day from day 6 onward. That tiered schedule comes from state law, N.C. General Statutes 7A-312, and it applies to state court. Federal court in North Carolina pays a flat $50 a day. The employer part is the painful one: North Carolina law says your employer cannot fire or demote you for serving, but it does not require them to pay your wages while you are gone.

Service length	State court pay	Federal court pay
1 day	$12	$50
2 days	$32	$100
5 days	$92	$250
10 days	$292	$500

Run the state-court math for a full week of a trial, 5 days: $12 + 4 times $20 = $92. Stretch the trial to 10 days and the second week is 5 times $40 = $200, for $292 total. A 2-day appearance pays $32. Grand jurors get $20 a day flat. Federal court: $50 a day, so 5 days is $250 plus mileage reimbursement round trip, with checks normally cut and mailed within about a week of finishing. The federal number is more than double the state number for a one-week trial, which is why the first question after "how much" is always "which court."

How much does jury duty pay in North Carolina: the employer gap

North Carolina is one of the states where the employer owes you nothing beyond not firing you. The statute bars termination or demotion for jury service, and a few other protections ride along, but there is no requirement to keep paying your salary. Many employers do pay, through salary continuation, PTO use, or a jury-duty leave policy, so the first call after the summons goes to HR, not the clerk. If your employer requires you to turn over the court payment while paying your salary, the IRS lets you deduct the surrendered amount as an adjustment to income; you do not get taxed twice on the same day.

Payment logistics are county-specific. In Mecklenburg County, juror pay goes onto a prepaid debit card activated with the contact information from the eResponse questionnaire; some counties still mail a check from the clerk of superior court. Harnett County's clerk office publishes the same $12/$20/$40 schedule and mails checks. The practical point: update your contact information when you respond to the summons, or the card or check goes to the wrong place and your $92 takes 6 weeks to find you.

Mileage is the part people forget to claim. State jurors are generally reimbursed mileage, and federal jurors in the Eastern District are reimbursed round-trip mileage plus parking per the instructions that come with the summons. On a 30-mile round trip across 5 days, that is real money relative to the $92 in juror pay. Save the summons paperwork with the reimbursement instructions; the clerk's office will not chase you to pay you.

If the timing is bad, North Carolina counties are generous with deferrals and strict with excusals. Mecklenburg County generally allows 2 deferrals through the eResponse system, as long as you complete service within 6 months of the original date. Full excusals outside the statutory categories (72 or older, certain disabilities, non-residency) require documented compelling hardship submitted at least 5 business days before the report date. One rule people get burned by: no response to a deferral request does not mean approval. If you have not heard back 24 hours before your date, show up.

Court rates and employer-pay rules change. The $12/$20/$40 schedule is the current published state rate; verify it with your county clerk's jury office before relying on it.

Five days of a state trial: $92, taxable, plus mileage, against whatever your employer does or does not pay. Five days in federal court in Raleigh: $250 plus mileage. Run the real decision, which is the lost wages, not the juror pay. The jury duty pay calculator compares the court rate against your actual daily earnings, so you can see the five-day cost before the summons arrives. And verify the current rate with your county clerk before you rely on any of these numbers, because the legislature changes them and the internet does not always notice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does jury duty pay per day in North Carolina?

$12 for the first day, $20 for each of the next 4 days, and $40 per day after 5 days, under N.C. General Statutes 7A-312. Grand jurors receive $20 per day.

Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in North Carolina?

No. North Carolina law prohibits firing or demoting an employee for jury service, but it does not require the employer to pay wages during service. Many employers pay as a matter of policy, so check with HR.

How much does federal jury duty pay in North Carolina?

$50 per day in the Eastern District of North Carolina, with round-trip mileage and parking reimbursement. Checks are normally mailed within about a week of completing service.

Is jury duty pay taxable in North Carolina?

Yes. The IRS treats juror pay as ordinary income reported on Schedule 1 of Form 1040. If your employer pays your full salary and requires you to turn over the court payment, you can deduct the surrendered amount as an adjustment to income.

Can I be excused from jury duty in North Carolina for financial hardship?

Hardship usually earns a deferral, not an excusal. Counties like Mecklenburg allow up to 2 deferrals through the eResponse system. Excusals require documented compelling hardship submitted at least 5 business days before your report date.

Run your own numbers on the Jury Duty Pay Calculator

One jury-duty explainer a month: subscribe to the newsletter.