Published October 12, 2026
How much does jury duty pay in Texas? It depends on when you are reading this, because the answer just changed for the first time in half a century. For 52 years, Texas jurors got $6 a day, a number set when a gallon of gas cost a quarter. A new law raised the rate to $40 a day, effective January 1. It is still not a living, but it is finally a number you can see.
The raise came after a Houston law firm study found that in Dallas and Houston, only 19 percent of summoned jurors actually showed up. When jury pay covers one fast-food combo, skipping the summons is a rational economic decision for an hourly worker, and the state finally admitted the math. Counties set the exact amount within the state minimums, so some pay more than the floor; the presiding judge can authorize higher reimbursement in specific cases. Mileage and parking reimbursement are set by the county commissioners court and vary locally.
One catch that surprises people: if your employer keeps paying your regular wages during service, you lose the daily juror reimbursement and get only the travel expenses. The court treats it as no harm, no pay. Your employer is not required to keep paying you, though. Texas law protects your job, and it is illegal for an employer to fire, threaten, or penalize you for serving, but the state does not require paid jury leave. The Texas Workforce Commission has confirmed that employers can make you burn your own PTO or vacation time for jury duty.
How much does jury duty pay in Texas vs. the lost wages
The raise does not change the core problem. Run an hourly example: you make $22 an hour, 8 hours a day, $176 a day. Five days of service at the new $40 rate is $200 from the court against $880 of lost wages. Even with an employer who pays your salary, the gap in most Texas jobs is measured in hundreds of dollars per week. At $40 a day the raise is meaningful symbolically, and it is a real improvement for the retired or the unemployed, but for a working parent it is still a financial hit.
Federal court pays better: $50 a day, rising to $60 after 10 days if the judge authorizes it. But most Texans are summoned to state court, where the state number applies. The comparison that matters is not state vs. federal. It is your daily wage vs. the court check, and the court check has been losing that fight since 1974.
My honest take on the reform: $40 a day is a PR win and a real raise, and it still leaves Texas in the bottom half of the country for juror pay. States like Colorado pay $50 a day after the first three days. The $6 number was an embarrassment that lasted two generations. The $40 number is a fix that will feel dated in ten years. Indexing juror pay to anything, inflation, the minimum wage, anything at all, would be the actual reform.
Two things to do before your service date. First, read your employee handbook. Some Texas employers offer paid civic-duty leave separate from PTO, entirely voluntarily, and you will not know unless you check. Second, do not ignore the summons because the pay is low. Ignoring it carries a $100 to $1,000 fine for failing to answer, plus possible contempt charges and up to 6 months of jail time for continued non-compliance. The cheapest response to a summons is showing up.
Run your own numbers: the Jury Duty Pay Calculator compares the court stipend against your actual daily wage, state by state.
Frequently asked questions
How much does jury duty pay in Texas per day?
Texas raised juror pay from $6 a day to $40 a day, the first increase in 52 years, effective January 1. Counties set the exact amount within state minimums, and some pay more than the floor.
Does my employer have to pay me during jury duty in Texas?
No. Texas law protects your job but does not require paid jury leave. Your employer can make you use PTO or vacation time, and if that runs out, the time is unpaid.
Can I be fired for jury duty in Texas?
No. Texas law makes it illegal for an employer to fire, threaten, or penalize you for jury duty. Violations can bring contempt-of-court sanctions and damages.
What happens if I ignore a jury summons in Texas?
You can be fined $100 to $1,000 for failing to answer the summons, and continued non-compliance can mean contempt of court with up to 6 months of jail time.