Jury duty pay in California depends on which court summoned you. State Superior Courts pay $15 per day starting on your second day of service, plus mileage. Federal courts in California pay $50 per day from day one. Private employers have no legal obligation to pay your wages while you serve, though some do so voluntarily.
What California State Courts Pay
A California Superior Court summons gets you $15 for each day you attend after the first. The first day is unpaid. The flat $15 covers the whole day no matter how many hours you spend at the courthouse, and it applies to both civil and criminal matters.1California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 215
Mileage reimbursement follows the same schedule: 34 cents per mile for the round trip between your home and the courthouse, starting on the second day. If you take public transit, you can claim up to $12 per day for your fare, and that reimbursement is available from the first day.2Judicial Branch of California. Jury Service
Not everyone collects the $15. Government employees whose regular pay continues during jury service are ineligible for the daily fee. That exclusion covers federal, state, and local government workers, including employees of public entities like school districts.1California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure CCP 215
What Federal Courts in California Pay
A U.S. District Court summons pays considerably more. Federal jurors receive $50 per day starting on day one. If a trial runs longer than ten days, the presiding judge can raise the daily fee to $60.3United States Courts. Juror Pay
Mileage reimbursement is also higher in federal court. For 2026, the General Services Administration set the standard privately owned vehicle rate at 72.5 cents per mile, and federal courts in California follow that rate.4U.S. General Services Administration. Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Mileage Reimbursement Rates Federal employees called to serve keep drawing their regular salary rather than the attendance fee.3United States Courts. Juror Pay
Does Your Employer Have to Pay You
California law does not require private employers to pay you while you serve. Whether you keep getting a paycheck depends entirely on company policy, so check your employee handbook or ask HR before your service date.5Judicial Branch of California. Employer Information
One federal wage rule changes the picture for salaried exempt employees. An employer cannot dock your salary for a partial-week absence caused by jury duty. The employer can, however, offset the jury fees you received against your salary for that week. If you serve Monday through Wednesday and return Thursday, your employer must pay you for the full week but may subtract the $30 in state jury fees from what it owes you.6eCFR. 29 CFR 541.602 – Salary Basis
Many larger employers and most public agencies do pay normal wages during jury service as a matter of policy. Some pay full wages for a set number of days and then switch the employee to unpaid leave. These arrangements vary widely. The only reliable way to know what you’ll receive is to ask before your service begins.
Separate from pay, California prohibits any employer from firing, threatening, or discriminating against you for responding to a summons, regardless of company size or how long you’ve worked there.7California Legislative Information. California Government Code 12945.8 Keeping your job and getting paid are two different questions, and only the first one has a guaranteed answer.
Taxes on Jury Duty Pay
Whatever you receive is taxable. The IRS treats juror fees as “other income” that you must report on your federal return. If your total jury fees for the year reach $600 or more, the court will send you a 1099-MISC. Below that threshold, you still owe tax on the income; you just won’t get a form.
If your employer paid your full salary during jury service and required you to turn over the fees you received from the court, you can deduct what you handed back. Report the jury pay as income, then enter the amount you repaid on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 24a as an adjustment to income. The two entries cancel, so you aren’t taxed on money you never kept.8Internal Revenue Service. Publication 525 – Taxable and Nontaxable Income
If the Pay Isn’t Enough to Serve
California courts recognize that $15 a day doesn’t cover much, and they allow you to request either a deferral to a later date or an outright excuse based on undue hardship. Deferral is much easier to obtain. Courts prefer postponing service to excusing it, so if you just need a different month, ask for that first.9Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1008 – Excuses From Jury Service
To be excused for extreme financial burden, put your request in writing and explain why a deferral won’t fix the problem. The court will weigh your household income sources, whether your employer pays during service, how long the trial is expected to run, and whether serving would genuinely compromise your ability to support yourself or your dependents. Ordinary inconvenience isn’t the standard; the court is looking at whether service would destabilize your finances to a degree that works against the interests of justice.9Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1008 – Excuses From Jury Service
Federal courts in California handle hardship requests under their own district policies. Each federal district sets its own rules for excuses and deferrals, and the decision is entirely at the court’s discretion. If a federal summons would cause real hardship, contact the specific district court listed on the summons.10United States Courts. Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses